US 20030001005A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2003/0001005 Al
Risafi et al. (43) Pub. Date: Jan. 2,2003
(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING A PREPAID CARD
(75) Inventors: Nicole N. Risafi, Stamford, CT (US);
Burnett D. Hunter, Elmsford, NY
(US); Kevin McKenzie, O'Fallon, MO
(US); Janice Wiggins, New Fairfield,
CT (US); Brian Stangle, New Fairfield,
CT (US)
Correspondence Address:
BAKER & BOTTS
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK, NY 10112
(73) Assignee: MasterCard International Incorpo-
rated
(21) Appl. No.: 10/234,558
A system for using a prepaid card permits a card user to purchase a card, issued by an issuer such as a bank, through an agent at a retail establishment via a terminal, select a PIN, have the card activated at the point of purchase, use the card to purchase goods and services, and reload the card for future use. The system uses a communications network for issuance, activation, and accounting, and activation is accomplished on a real-time basis, either one account at a time or in a batch mode. The card can be used to purchase a wide range of goods and services including telephone services. The card can also be used to make cash withdrawals at an ATM or a point-of-sale terminal.
