Systems and Methods for Efficient Bill Payment

1 . A method comprising:

receiving information identifying an invoicing party, specifying an amount owed to the invoicing party; and an account identifier associated with a prepaid debit card;

submitting the invoicing party identification, the amount owed to the invoicing party, and the account identifier to a service provider; and

collecting a convenience fee.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving information comprises receiving the information via a user interface.

3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein collecting the convenience fee comprises collecting the convenience fee in cash.

4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein collecting the convenience fee comprises collecting the convenience fee from the service provider.

5 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving a transaction summary from the service provider.

6 . A method according to claim 5 , wherein the transaction summary includes an amount paid to the invoicing party and the convenience fee collected.

7 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing a remaining balance associated with the prepaid debit card.

8 . A method for bill payment comprising:

servicing a prepaid debit card, the prepaid card having an associated identification number;

receiving from a retail establishment account information associated with the bill, a payment amount, and the identification number associated with the prepaid debit card; and

remitting a convenience fee to the retail establishment.

9 . A method according to claim 8 , further comprising sending a confirmation of the bill payment to the retail establishment.

10 . A method according to claim 8 , further comprising sending a confirmation of the bill payment to the retail establishment, wherein the confirmation comprises one or more of the group consisting of: a payment date, the account information, the payment amount, the convenience fee charge, and a balance remaining on the prepaid debit card.

11 . A method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

deducting the amount owed and the convenience fee from a balance associated with the prepaid debit card;

crediting the amount owed to an account associated with the invoicing party; and

crediting the convenience fee to an account associated with the retail establishment.

12 . A method according to claim 8 , wherein paying the convenience fee comprises:

deducting the convenience fee from a balance associated with the prepaid debit card; and

crediting the convenience fee to an account associated with the retail establishment.

13 . A method comprising:

providing to a retail establishment information relating to an invoicing party, an amount owed to the invoicing party, and account information associated with a prepaid debit card; and

receiving a confirmation of the bill payment from the retail establishment, the confirmation comprising a payment date, the account information, the payment amount, a convenience fee charge, a balance remaining on the prepaid debit card, or a combination thereof.

14 . A method according to claim 13 further comprising paying the convenience fee charge in cash to the retail establishment.

15 . A method comprising:

receiving from a retail establishment information relating to an invoicing party, an amount paid to the invoicing party, and account information associated with a prepaid debit card;

deducting the amount paid from a balance associated with the prepaid debit card;

crediting the amount paid to an account associated with the invoicing party;

deducting a convenience fee from the prepaid debit card; and

crediting the convenience fee to an account associated with the retail establishment.

16 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein account information associated with the prepaid debit card includes an identification number.

17 . A method according to claim 15 , further comprising providing a transaction summary to the retail establishment, the transaction summary including information including one or more chosen from the group comprising: a payment date, the amount paid to the invoicing party, the convenience fee paid to the retail establishment, a balance on the prepaid debit card.

18 . A method according to claim 15 , further comprising crediting an additional incentive fee to the account associated with the invoicing party.

19 . A method according to claim 15 , further comprising issuing the prepaid debit card to a user.

20 . A method according to claim 19 , further comprising maintaining an account associated with the prepaid debit card.