System And Method For Communicating With A User At A Point-Of-Sale

Abstract

A computerized system, method, and automated rebate processing machine for handling reversal of a promotion-related transaction is provided. The automated rebate processing machine receives a rebate request for an amount due to a user, and receives account information associated with the user. The automated rebate processing machine stores the account information, and electronically transfers an amount due to the user to an account identified by the account information. The automated rebate processing machine subsequently receives an indication that the purchase transaction is being reversed, and electronically collects the transferred amount from the account identified by the account information.

1 . A computerized method in an automated rebate processing machine for handling reversal of a promotion-related transaction, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an automated rebate processing machine, a rebate request for an amount due to a user;   receiving, by the automated rebate processing machine, account information associated with the user;   storing, by the automated rebate processing machine, the account information;   transferring electronically, by the automated rebate processing machine, an amount due to the user to an account identified by the account information;   receiving subsequently, by the automated rebate processing machine, an indication that the purchase transaction is being reversed; and   collecting electronically, by the automated rebate processing machine, the transferred amount from the account identified by the account information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving the account information comprises extracting, by the automated rebate processing machine, the account information from a debit card or credit card that is provided to the automated rebate processing machine by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the automated rebate processing machine, in response to determining that the rebate request is validated, dispensing a new receipt to the user, wherein the new receipt indicates that the rebate request has been fulfilled. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of receiving the rebate request comprises the receiving, by the automated rebate processing machine, an inserted receipt that was generated by the purchase transaction before dispensing the new receipt. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving the rebate request comprises the receiving, by the automated rebate processing machine, a machine readable document that stores rebate validation data for the rebate request, and providing on the machine readable document an indication that the rebate request has been fulfilled. 
     
     
         6 . A computerized method in an automated rebate processing machine for processing a rebate-related transaction, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an automated rebate processing machine, a rebate request associated with a purchase transaction;   in response to determining that a rebate amount for the rebate request is transferred or is to be transferred to a user, storing, by the automated rebate processing machine, the rebate amount in a rebate report;   receiving, by the automated rebate processing machine, a request to reverse the purchase transaction;   in response to receiving the request to reverse the purchase transaction, searching, by the automated rebate processing machine for the stored rebate report to determine a purchase price and rebate amount associated with the purchase transaction;   deducting, by the automated rebate processing machine, the rebate amount from the purchase price to calculate a return amount; and   transferring electronically, by the automated rebate processing machine to the user, an amount that is based on the return amount.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining, by the automated rebate processing machine, a service fee that was charged for the rebate request; and   adding, by the automated rebate processing machine, the service fee to the return amount, wherein the transferred amount equals the sum of the service fee and the return amount.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting electronically, by the automated rebate processing machine to a rebate offeror, a request for reimbursement of the service fee. 
     
     
         9 . A computerized method of rebate processing in an automated rebate processing system, the method comprising:
 determining, by the automated rebate processing machine, account information corresponding to an account of the user;   receiving, by the automated rebate processing machine and from the user, authentication information associated with the account of the user;   outputting, by the automated rebate processing machine to the user, a plurality of rebate redemption options;   receiving, by the automated rebate processing machine from the user, a selection of a rebate redemption option from among the plurality of rebate redemption options, and   providing, by the automated rebate processing machine, an amount due to the user via the selected rebate redemption option.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of determining account information comprises:
 receiving, by the automated rebate processing machine, card information provided by a user; and   extracting, by the automated rebate processing machine, and based on the card information, the account information corresponding to the account of the user.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of receiving card information comprises receiving, at the automated rebate processing system, insertion of a card storing the card information or comprises scanning of the card. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selected rebate redemption option is an electronic fund transfer (EFT) option, and the providing step comprises providing the rebate amount to the account of the user via EFT. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the authentication information includes at least one of a user ID and a user password. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , the automated rebate processing system includes a kiosk that is configured to receive the authentication information and to provide the rebate amount to the user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the automated rebate processing system extracting rebate data directly from a machine readable document after a point-of-sale (POS) system has generated a receipt for a purchase corresponding to the rebate data and has transferred the rebate data onto the machine readable document, wherein the rebate amount is based on the extracted rebate data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the rebate data includes data necessary to validate a rebate claim.