Method for electronic transaction settlement
A method implemented in an electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant. The communication system receives through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer and a transaction amount from the merchant, contacts the customer through a second electronic communication path to allow the customer to select a payment method, and sends through a third electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the customer to a financial services provider associated with the payment method.
1 . A method implemented in an electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant, the method comprising:
receiving in the system from the merchant through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer at the settlement house and a transaction amount;
contacting in the system the customer through a second electronic communication path to allow the customer to select a payment method; and
sending in the system through a third electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the payment method to a financial services provider associated with the payment method.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
transmitting in the system an approval response from the financial services provider to the customer; and
transmitting in the system customer approval from the customer to the financial services provider.
3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
sending in the system a transaction record to a bank associated with the merchant.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second account identifier is one of a credit card number and a debit card number.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the financial service provider is a bank.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the financial services provider is not a bank or credit provider.
7 . A method implemented in an electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant, the method comprising:
receiving in the system from the merchant through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer at the settlement house and a transaction amount;
contacting in the system the customer through a second electronic communication path to allow the customer to select a first payment method;
sending in the system through a third electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the first payment method to a first financial services provider associated with the first payment method;
transmitting in the system a denial response from the first financial services provider to the customer;
receiving in the system from the customer the selection of a second payment method; and
sending in the system the transaction amount and a third account identifier of a third account associated with the second payment method to a second financial services provider associated with the second payment method.
8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising:
transmitting in the system an approval response from the second financial services provider to the customer; and
transmitting in the system a customer approval from the customer to the second financial services provider.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:
sending in the system a transaction record to a bank associated with the merchant.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the second account identifier is one of a credit card number and a debit card number.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first financial services provider is a bank.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first financial services provider is not a bank or credit provider.
13 . A method implemented in an electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant, the method comprising:
receiving in the system from the merchant through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer at the settlement house and a transaction amount;
sending in the system through a second electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the customer to a financial services provider associated with the second account; and
receiving in the system through a third electronic communication path an approval of the customer of the electronic transaction.
14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
transmitting in the system an approval response from the financial services provider to the customer.
15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising:
sending in the system a transaction record to a bank associated with the merchant.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second account identifier is one of a credit card number and a debit card number.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the financial services provider is a bank.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the financial services provider is not a bank or credit provider.