IP Library Granted Patent US 7,542,993
Granted Patent B2
US 7,542,993 · App. 11/337,156 · Granted Jun 2, 2009

Systems and methods for notifying a consumer of changes made to a credit report

Assignee: Equifax, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,542,993
App. No.
11/337,156
Granted
Jun 2, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for monitoring unauthorized changes to a database and providing a notification to a user according to preferences set by the user. The user can select one or more data entries within a database to be monitored. When these data entries are changed, a notification is sent to the user. The user can also select a credit score or rating within the database to be monitored. When the credit rating changes, a notification can also be sent to the user. Notifications regarding interest rates, prices, and other financial information associated with a change in a credit score or rating can also be sent to the user according to preferences set by the user.

Claims (27)

1. A system for monitoring modifications to a credit score comprising a plurality of elements in a credit reporting database, the system comprising:

at least one computer program stored on a computer-readable memory, the computer program for continuously monitoring at least part of a plurality of credit-related elements for a modification to at least one of the plurality of credit-related elements,

wherein the modification to at least one of the plurality of credit-related elements comprises at least one of the plurality of credit-related elements modified by a datum collected from at least one financial entity, the datum comprising information associated with the individual; and

at least one server for generating an updated credit score for an individual using the plurality of credit-related elements after at least one of the plurality of credit-related elements is modified by the datum collected from at least one financial entity, the credit score for the individual and the plurality of credit-related elements being stored on the computer-readable memory;

wherein the system is capable of sending a notification that the credit score is updated to the individual substantially contemporaneously when the updated credit score for the individual is generated; and

wherein the system is capable of sending the notification to more than one destination specified by the individual.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the updated credit score for the individual comprises at least one of the following: a credit rating, a Fair Isaac score, a FICO score, a credit ranking, or a rating of the individual's creditworthiness.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises an e-mail server for sending the notification to the individual.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is further capable of determining whether the updated credit score for the individual affects a rate associated with a financial product, and sending a notification to the individual if the rate is affected.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the financial product comprises at least one of the following: home mortgage, auto loan, home equity loan, debt instrument, credit card, and a line of credit.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the plurality of credit-related elements correspond to at least one of: a bankruptcy indicator or a tax lien indicator.

7. A system comprising:

a database for:

storing a plurality of credit-related elements on a computer-readable memory, the plurality of credit-related elements being associated with an individual and modifiable by a datum collected from at least one financial entity, the datum comprising information associated with the individual; and

facilitating generation of a credit score for the individual using the plurality of credit-related elements after at least one of the plurality of credit-related elements is modified by the datum collected from at least one financial entity;

a server processor; and

a memory stored thereon comprising:

a monitoring module for continuously monitoring for a change to the credit score for the individual;

a generation module for generating a notification to the individual substantially contemporaneously to the change to the credit score for the individual, the notification comprising an identification of the change to the credit score for the individual and an identification of at least one financial product for which the individual is eligible based on the change to the credit score for the individual; and

a communication module for:

generating a secure message that includes content of the notification by encrypting the notification; and

transmitting the secure message to the individual,

wherein the communication module is capable of sending the notification to more than one destination specified by the individual.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the identification of at least one financial product for which the individual is eligible based on the change to the credit score comprises an identification of a home mortgage and a mortgage rate associated with the home mortgage.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the change to the credit score for the individual comprises the credit score for the individual is below a threshold selected by the individual.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the change to the credit score for the individual meets or exceeds pre-selected credit score criteria.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the notification comprises an identification of the datum collected from at least one financial entity.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2008
From: SATTERFIELD, MARKUS RAY; ELLIOTT-SINNOCK, JAN EILEEN; LESTER, JAMES DAVID, IV; ATWOOD, CHRISTOPHER COLIN PUCKETT; KILLEBREW, STEPHEN RAY
To: EQUIFAX, INC.
Reel/Frame 021597/0927 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 0985259700 · May 10, 2001
Related Publication 20060200396A1 · Sep 7, 2006