Proactive bill pay method and system

1 . A method for proactively obtaining authorization for and for performing automatic consumer bill pay migration in conjunction with the use of one or more computing devices which operate at least in part using computer software, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) utilize a computing device to detect accounts for which a customer is using an electronic bill pay service,

(b) utilize a computing device to encourage said customer to switch all such bill pay accounts to a new bill pay service provider,

(c) utilize a computing device to automatically facilitate the switch of said customer's bill pay accounts to the new bill pay service provider, and

(c) utilize a computing device to verify that said customer's bill pay accounts at the new bill pay provider are correct.

2 . A method for proactively encouraging and facilitating the transfer of a customer's computerized bill pay relationships to a new bill pay service provider comprising the steps of:

(a) electronically detect accounts for which a customer is using an electronic bill pay service,

(b) electronically identify all of such customer electronic bill pay accounts to the customer,

(c) proactively encourage the customer to switch all such electronic bill pay accounts to a new bill pay service provider,

(d) electronically facilitate the switch of said customer's electronic bill pay accounts to the new bill pay service provider, and

(e) on a periodic or ongoing basis, review the customer's electronic bill pay accounts and verify that all such existing accounts have been switched to the new bill pay service provider,

3 . A method as recited in step 2 where said step of proactively encouraging the customer is provided by offering a cash reward to the customer.

4 . A method as recited in step 2 where said step of proactively encouraging the customer is provided by offering a coupon to the customer.

5 . A method as recited in step 2 where said step of proactively encouraging the customer is provided by offering a discount to the customer.

6 . A method as recited in step 2 where said step of proactively encouraging the customer is provided by offering a free service to the customer.

7 . A method as recited in step 2 where said step of proactively encouraging the customer is provided by politely suggesting that the customer switch to an identified bill pay service provider.

8 . A method for proactively obtaining a customer's consent to migration of bill pay accounts comprising the steps of:

(a) using a computing device to identify a customer who has existing automatic bill pay relationships established,

(b) using a computing device, detect all automated bill payments that said customer has established and store such information in a Bill Pay Database,

(c) using a computing device to proactively incentivize said customer to authorize transfer of some or all accounts in said Bill Pay Database to a new bill pay service provider,

(d) using a computing device to display bill pay relationships from said Bill Pay Database to said consumer,

(e) using a computing device to obtain said consumer's consent to transfer the bill relationships display to the consumer in step (d) to said new bill pay service provider,

(f) using a computing device to at least in part automatically transfer bill pay relationships authorized by the consumer in step (e) to said new bill pay service provider,

(g) using a computing device to construct a Switched Bill Pay database of said transferred bill pay relationships from step (f),

(h) using a computing device to verify accurate transfer of the bill pay relationship contained on said Switched Bill Pay database, and

(i) allowing said consumer to monitor and manage automated bill pay relationships through said new bill pay service provider by use of a computing device.