Electronic bill payment with variable payment options

Abstract

A system for bill payment services includes a computer system for accessing biller data, the biller data comprising at least an account identifier, an amount due, and a nominal bill due date. A payment option generator is configured for developing at least one payment option, where a payment is specified responsive to a difference between a proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date. A payer interface is configured for presenting the payment option to the payer, and for accepting a payer option selection and payment funding confirmation. A payment execution controller is responsive to the payer option selection and funding confirmation, for initiating payment to a biller account on behalf of the payer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a computer system comprising a data processor with a payment option generator and payment execution controller, the computer system configured for accessing a storage database with payment option rules and biller data from a plurality of billers, the biller data including payer account records for a payer in relation to a selected one of the plurality of billers, the biller data for the payer comprising at least one account identifier, a payment amount due, and a nominal bill due date;   wherein one or more of the payment option rules is associated with each of the plurality of billers, the payment option rules defining variable payment options for the associated billers, at least one of the payment options for defining the payment amount due based in part on a difference between a proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date;   the data processor in communication with a rules management portal for access to parameters of the payment option rules, including parameters for the payment amount due, the payment option generator configured for accessing the one or more payment option rules associated with the selected biller and developing at least one payment option for the payer based on one or more of the payment option rules associated with the selected biller, wherein the at least one payment option comprises the payment amount due based in part on the difference between the proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date;   the data processor in communication with a payer interface for staging a money transfer to make payment to the selected biller, the payer interface configured for presenting the at least one payment option to the payer and for accepting a payment option selection and a payment funding confirmation for the payment amount due and payment date, wherein the computer system builds a staging record based on the payment option selection;   wherein the variable payment options are available for the payer to pay early relative to the nominal bill due date and to pay later relative to the nominal bill due date and the payment amount due is validated responsive to the proposed payment date; and   the payment execution controller responsive to the payment option selection and the payment funding confirmation for receiving the payment amount due, wherein the bill payment staging record is updated to a fulfilled payment record, the payment execution controller configured for applying fee and settlement rules established between the payer and a provider of bill payment services and initiating the money transfer to make payment to the selected biller on behalf of the payer.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the payment amount due decreases if the proposed payment date is earlier than the nominal bill due date. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a discount is applied to the payment amount due when the proposed payment date is within a predetermined timing window associated with a payment option for early payment. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the payment option generator determines the difference between the proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date; and   when the proposed payment date is after the nominal bill due date, a payment option generated waives a late fee.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the payer interface is provided on a website. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the money transfer is fulfilled to make the payment to the selected biller in response to payer identification information entered at the website. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the data processor is further configured for:
 receiving from the payer at the website information including at least a biller identification of the selected biller, a proposed payment amount, the proposed payment date, and the nominal bill due date;   verifying at least a portion of the received information against payer account records;   calculating the difference between the proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date; and   presenting to the payer the at least one payment option, wherein the payment amount due is responsive to the calculated difference between the proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date and the payment option rules associated with the selected biller.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further configured for receiving a selection of the at least one payment option from the payer at the website. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further configured for determining that proper payment is provided based on confirming receipt of a payment from the payer to fund the selected payment option. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further configured for crediting the payment to the selected biller, the credited payment comprising a share of fees computed based on the established fee and settlement rules. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further configured for delivering the payment to the selected biller at a time separate from receiving payment from the payer as determined by the established fee and settlement rules. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured for notifying the selected biller of the payment at a time substantially commensurate with receiving payment from the payer. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is accessible via a payer computer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is provided on a mobile phone or mobile platform. 
     
     
         15 . A method for payment services comprising:
 with a computer system comprising a data processor with a payment option generator and payment execution controller, accessing a storage database with payment option rules and biller data from a plurality of billers, the biller data including payer account records for a payer in relation to a selected one of the plurality of billers, the biller data for the payer comprising at least one account identifier, a payment amount due, and a nominal bill due date;   wherein one or more payment option rules is associated with each of the plurality of billers, the payment option rules defining variable payment options for the associated billers, at least one of the payment options for defining the payment amount due based in part on a difference between a proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date;   communicating between the computer system and a rules management portal for access to parameters of the payment option rules, including parameters for the payment amount due;   with the data processor, accessing the one or more payment option rules associated with the selected biller and developing at least one payment option based on one or more of the payment option rules associated with the selected biller, wherein the at least one payment option comprises a payment amount due based in part on the difference between the proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date; and
 staging a money transfer to make payment to the selected biller in communication with a user interface configured for presenting the at least one payment option and for accepting a payment option selection and a payment funding confirmation for the payment amount due and payment date; 
   with the computer system, building a bill payment staging record based on the payment option selection, wherein the variable payment options are available to pay early relative to the nominal bill due date and to pay later relative to the nominal bill due date and the payment amount due is responsive to the difference between the proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date;
 responsive to the payment option selection and the payment funding confirmation for receiving the payment amount due, updating the bill payment staging record to a fulfilled payment record; 
 applying fee and settlement rules established between the payer and a provider of bill payment services; and 
 initiating the money transfer to make payment to the selected biller on behalf of the payer. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the user interface is provided on a website. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the user interface is provided on a mobile platform. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the user interface is provided on a mobile phone. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the payment amount due decreases if the proposed payment date is earlier than the nominal bill due date. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the payment option generator determines the difference between the proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date; and   a discount is applied to the payment amount due when the proposed payment date is within a predetermined timing window associated with a payment option for early payment.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the payment option generator determines the difference between the proposed payment date and the nominal bill due date; and   when the proposed payment date is after the nominal bill due date, a payment option generated waives a late fee.