Systems and methods of on-line credit information monitoring and control

Abstract

Systems and methods of on-line credit information monitoring and control. In one embodiment, a server computer accesses and retrieves credit information relating to a consumer. The server computer may also provide a user interface with active links associated with credit items. The links may allow the consumer to communicate directly with a credit service. The server computer may offer additional credit-related services such as credit report retrieval, credit monitoring, notifications, identity theft management, interest rate calculations, historical archives, and account management.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized method of determining estimated loan terms for a first user, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer system having one or more computer processors, from a user computer, a request to determine an estimated loan interest rate for the first user, the request comprising information associated with the first user and information associated with a loan type;   accessing, in response to receiving the request to determine an estimated loan interest rate for the first user, by the computing system, from a first remote credit reporting system storing credit information for a plurality of users, a first collection of credit information relating to the first user, the first collection of credit information comprising a plurality of first credit items, each first credit item being associated with a corresponding trade line;   generating a credit score of the first user based at least in part on the accessed first collection of credit information relating to the first user, wherein the accessed first collection of credit information used to generate the credit score of the first user includes at least a quantity of derogatory credit items of the first user;   determining a loan amount for the first user;   accessing, from a first institution remote interest rate computing system, loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by a first institution for the loan type identified in the request from the first user;   calculating, by the computer system, based at least in part on the generated credit score of the first user, the determined loan amount for the first user, and the accessed loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by the first institution, a first estimated interest rate for the first user, the first estimated interest rate associated with a loan amount for the first user at or below the loan amount;   generating, by the computing system, user interface data configured to be rendered on the user computer to display a user interface on a display of the user computer, the user interface indicating at least:   the determined loan amount;   the first institution; and   the first estimated interest rate;   the user interface further comprising a first active link associated with the first institution, wherein the first active link is configured to enable the user computer to communicate directly with the first institution regarding the first estimated interest rate in response to activation of the first active link associated with the first institution; and   transmitting, from the computing system to the user computer, the generated user interface data, the transmitted user interface data renderable by the user computer to display the user interface on the display of the user computer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a request to determine an estimated loan interest rate for the first user further comprises receiving information associated with a loan purpose including at least one of a home loan, a car loan, a personal loan, and a credit card loan. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a request to determine an estimated loan interest rate for the first user further comprises receiving information associated with the loan type including at least one of a fixed interest loan and an adjustable interest loan. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing, in a non transitory computer-readable storage medium, the first collection of credit information relating to the first user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calculating, by the computer system, based at least in part on the generated credit score of the first user, the determined loan amount for the user, and the accessed loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by the first institution, a plurality of first estimated interest rates for the first user, the plurality of first estimated interest rates associated with a loan amount for the first user at or below the determined loan amount wherein each of the plurality of estimated first interest rates is associated with a loan term. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calculating, by the computer system, based at least in part on the generated credit score of the first user, the determined loan amount for the user, and the accessed loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by the first institution, a second estimated interest rate for the first user, the second estimated interest rate associated with a loan amount for the first user above the determined loan amount. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calculating, by the computer system, based at least in part on the generated credit score of the first user, the determined loan amount for the user, and the accessed loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by the first institution, a plurality of second estimated interest rates for the first user, the plurality of second estimated interest rates associated with a loan amount for the first user above the determined loan amount wherein each of the plurality of estimated second interest rates is associated with a loan term. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing, from a second institution remote interest rate computing system, loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by a second institution for the identified type of loan; and   calculating, by the computer system, based at least in part on the generated credit score of the first user, the determined loan amount, and the accessed loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by the second institution, a third estimated interest rate for the first user, the third estimated interest rate associated with a loan amount for the first user at or below the determined loan amount,   wherein generating user interface data further comprises generating user interface data indicating the second institution and the third estimated interest rate, and   wherein the user interface further comprises a second active link associated with the second institution, wherein the second active link is configured to enable the first user to communicate directly with the second institution regarding the third estimated interest rate by selecting the second active link associated with the second institution.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising calculating, by the computer system, based at least in part on the generated credit score of the first user, the determined loan amount for the user, and the accessed loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by the second institution, a plurality of third estimated interest rates for the first user, the plurality of third estimated interest rates associated with a loan amount for the first user above the determined loan amount wherein each of the plurality of estimated third interest rates is associated with a loan term. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing, in response to receiving the request to determine an estimated loan interest rate for the first user, by the computing system, from a second remote credit reporting system storing credit information for a plurality of users, a second collection of credit information relating to the first user, the second collection of credit information comprising a plurality of second credit items, each second credit item being associated with a specific trade line; and   compiling the first and second collections of credit information relating to the first user into a merged collection of credit information relating to the first user,   storing, in the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the merged collection of credit information relating to the first user;   accessing, from the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the stored merged collection of credit information relating to the first user;   generating a credit score of the first user based at least in part on the accessed merged collection of credit information relating to the first user, wherein the accessed merged collection of credit information used to generate the credit score of the first user includes at least a quantity of derogatory credit items of the first user; and   determining, based at least in part on the accessed merged collection of credit information relating to the first user, a loan amount.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating, by the computing system, user interface data configured for rendering on the user computer to display a user interface on a display of the user computer, further comprises generating user interface data indicative of the generated credit score of the first user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating, by the computing system, user interface data configured for rendering on the user computer to display a user interface on a display of the user computer, further comprises generating user interface data indicative of:
 the generated credit score of the first user;   a first loan duration; and   a percentage of a loan amount associated with the first estimated interest rate to be charged as a transaction fee.   
     
     
         13 . A computing system to determine estimated loan terms for a first user, the system comprising:
 one or more computer processors operable to execute software instructions;   a non-transitory storage device storing a plurality of software instructions to cause the one or more processors to:   receive, from a user computer, a request to determine an estimated loan interest rate for the first user, the request including information associated with the first user and information associated with a loan type and a loan purpose;   access a first remote credit reporting system storing credit information for a plurality of users;   retrieve a first collection of credit information relating to the first user, the first collection of credit information comprising a plurality of credit items associated with the first user, each credit item associated with a particular trade line, and a quantity of derogatory credit items;   store, in a non-transitory storage device, the retrieved first collection of credit information relating to the first user;   access the stored first collection of credit information relating to the first user;   calculate a credit score for the first user based at least in part on the accessed first collection of credit information relating to the first user;   determine a loan amount for the first user;   access, from a first institution remote interest rate computing system, loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by a first institution for the identified loan type and loan purpose;   calculate, based at least in part on the generated credit score of the first user, the determined loan amount for the first user, and the accessed loan interest information indicative of loan interest rates offered by the first institution, a first estimated interest rate for the first user;   generate user interface data to be presented on a display of the user computer, the generated user interface data indicating:   the determined loan amount;   the first institution;   the first estimated interest rate; and   a first active link associated with the first institution; and   transmit, to the user computer, the generated user interface data to be presented on the display of the user computer,   wherein the first active link, in response to being activated, enables direct communication between the user computer and the first institution regarding the first estimated interest rate.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first estimated interest rate is associated with a loan amount that is at or below the determined loan amount. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first estimated interest rate is associated with a loan amount that is above the determined loan amount. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the information associated with a loan purpose comprises at least one of a home loan, a car loan, a personal loan, and a credit card loan. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the information associated with a loan type comprises at least one of a fixed interest rate loan and an adjustable interest rate loan. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the generated user interface data further comprises user data indicating:
 a loan term; and   a percentage of a loan amount associated with the first estimated interest rate to be charged as a loan transaction fee.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of software instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 access, from a second institution remote interest rate computing system, loan interest rate information indicative of loan interest rates offered by a second institution for the identified loan type and loan purpose;   calculate, based at least in part on the generated credit score of the first user, the determined loan amount for the first user, and the accessed loan interest information indicative of loan interest rates offered by the second institution, a second estimated interest rate for the first user;   generate user interface data to be presented on a display of the user computer, the generated user interface data indicating:   the second institution;   the second estimated interest rate; and   a second active link associated with the second institution,   wherein the second active link, in response to being activated, enables direct communication between the user computer and the second institution regarding the second estimated interest rate.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of software instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 calculate, based at least in part on the generated credit score of the first user, the determined loan amount for the first user, and the accessed loan interest information indicative of loan interest rates offered by the first institution, a plurality of first estimated interest rates for the first user, each first estimated interest rate being associated with at least one of a loan duration and a percentage of a loan amount associated with the first estimated interest rate to be charged as a loan transaction fee; and   generate user interface data to be presented on a display of the user computer, the generated user interface data indicating:   the plurality of first estimated interest rates;   the loan duration associated with its respective first estimated interest rate; and   the percentage of a loan amount associated with the respective first estimated interest rate to be charged as a loan transaction fee.