Apparatus and methods for correlating magnetic indicia data with database records

1. A method of correlating magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) data with related check transaction data, the method comprising:

receiving over a network check MICR data for a first check drafted by a customer, the check MICR data including an account number corresponding to the customer's checking account;

receiving over the network the customer's driver's license data in association with the check MICR data;

storing in computer readable memory the check MICR data in association with the driver's license number in a first database record;

electronically submitting the check for settlement, the submission including at least a portion of the check MICR data;

receiving a communication indicating that the check failed to clear, the communication including at least the account number;

locating the first database record using the account number as at least a portion of a first search key when the check failed to clear;

using the customer's driver's license data to search for other check transactions, subsequent to the check transaction, in a transaction database to obtain additional identification information or transaction information; and

reading the driver's license data from the first database record; and

transmitting at least a portion of the driver's license data and any additional identification or transaction information to a recipient.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the driver's license data includes a driver's license number.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the driver's license data includes an address associated with the customer.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first search key includes at least the account number and a routing number.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

locating a second database record using at least a portion of the driver's license data from the first database record; wherein at least a portion of the driver's license data is used as at least a portion of a second search key;

reading the second database record; and

transmitting at least a portion of the second database record to the recipient.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

locating a second database record using at least the account number from the first database record, wherein at least a portion of the driver's license data is used as at least a portion of a second search key;

reading the second database record; and

transmitting at least a portion of the second database record to the recipient.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

storing a merchant identifier in the first database record; and

transmitting the merchant identifier to the recipient.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising locating the customer based at least in part on the portion of the driver's license data transmitted to the recipient.

9. A method of locating information related to a check transaction customer, the method comprising:

receiving a communication indicating that a check transaction initiated by a customer failed to clear, the communication including at least an identifier;

locating a first transaction record using the identifier when the failed check transaction failed to clear, the first transaction record including transaction information related to a transaction by the customer, the transaction information including at least a first separate customer identifier;

using the customer identifier to search a transaction database for check transactions subsequent to the check transaction to obtain additional identification or transaction information; and

reading at least the first separate customer identifier from the first transaction record; and

transmitting at least a portion of the first separate customer identifier to a recipient.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the customer is contacted based at least in part on the portion of the first separate customer identifier.

11. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the first separate customer identifier is a checking account number.

12. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the first separate customer identifier includes information from a driver's license.

13. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the recipient is a merchant who is the designated payee with respect to the failed check transaction.

14. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the recipient is a guarantor of payment with respect to the failed check transaction.

15. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the first transaction record further includes a check transaction amount.

16. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the first transaction record further includes a merchant identifier that identifies to whom a check used in the failed check transaction was drawn to.

17. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the failed check transaction is performed using a check card.

18. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the failed check transaction is performed using a paper check.

19. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the failed check transaction is performed using an electronic check.

20. A method of locating information related to a check user, the method comprising:

receiving a communication indicating that a check drawn on an account by a user failed to clear, the communication including at least account information;

locating, when the failed check failed to clear, a record using the account information, the record including transaction information related to a check, the transaction information including a personal identifier for the user;

using the personal identifier to search a transaction database for additional check transaction subsequent to the failed check transaction to obtain additional identification or transactional information; and

reading at least the personal identifier from the record; and

providing information related to the personal identifier to a recipient.

21. The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein the failed check includes MICR data.

22. The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein the failed check is in the form of a check card that includes a magnetic stripe that stores an account number.

23. The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein the failed check is in the form of a check card that includes a bar code that stores an account number.

24. The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the account information was optically read from the failed check.

25. The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the account information was manually entered by a point of sale terminal operator.

26. An apparatus for locating information related to a check drafter, the apparatus comprising:

a first instruction stored in computer readable memory, the first instruction configured to receive a communication indicating that a check drawn on an account by a drafter was not honored, the communication including at least an identifier;

a second instruction stored in computer readable memory, the second instruction configured to locate, using the identifier, a first database record, the first database record including transaction information related to a first check, the transaction information including personal identification information for the drafter of the first check;

a third instruction stored in computer readable memory, the third instruction configured to read at least a portion of the personal identification information from the first database record; and

a fourth instruction stored in computer readable memory the fourth instruction configured to search a transactional database for additional check transactions subsequent to the first check transaction for additional identification or transactional information; and

a fifth instruction stored in computer readable memory, the fifth or transactional information instruction configured to provide at least the portion of the personal identification or transactional information to a recipient.

27. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 , further comprising:

a merchant identifier stored in the first database record, wherein the merchant identifier is transmitted to the recipient.

28. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 , wherein the check is in the form of an electronic check.

29. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 , wherein the check is in the form of a check card.

30. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 , wherein the check is in the form of a paper check.