AU2012100982A4 - A system for the recovery of debt and location of people and property - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for the recovery of debt, credit reporting and location of people and property. Using either direct data transfer, telephone Call Centre listing services, or the worldwide web, a client can create a listing that remains on a dedicated website for a predetermined amount of time, or until the matter is settled in a satisfactory manner. The objective of a listing on the website is to encourage the public to come forward with valuable information or a debtor to pay their debts no matter how old or how small that debt is. The present invention also offers insurance companies and victims of crime a cost effective means of locating and recovering missing or stolen items through private enterprise. tCI13N rF EIBATI flT[Nf SERVIAN PRV DEANC[EDI O{CCURVIY LISTINO? RE ITT I E IDTING P B L]SFWI) ON WEFBFOT AND MA DI AA[TABLE TOOPPRATDRS A~ I(Al, I. C. NUDE LINFO PROVfIDED A~Th BI inFORATCON ARTSiLTRY V El IVIE1 s A CT I RACYV OF NO INFOMU O IN*IhAINRWAT *T* RLS FiurA

Description

Background of the invention The greatest frustration in the recovery of debt is the inability to locate debtors or secured property, because of high cost or lack of resources. For businesses and individuals alike, the high cost of debt recovery eats into profitability and even affects morale. Invariably, the cost is passed on to consumers through increased charges or decreased services. The investigation industry is an industry where currently the needs are many and the innovative solutions are few. Businesses, albeit unwillingly, accept that a certain level of loss will be sustained as a result of theft or fraud. Similar to the effect of bad debt this loss is passed on to consumers through increased charges or decreased services. For example, about 20% of all insurance claims are accepted as being fraudulent and there is very little that can be done about it as often the cost outweighs the benefit. Insurance companies also accept that once a claim is paid out the likelihood of recovering the lost or stolen goods is minimal. Considering the resources that society can afford to provide to them, the police and our legal system are remarkably efficient at detecting, apprehending and bringing to trial people who transgress the law. However, there are a vast number of law-breakers who wittingly or unwittingly fall into the category of being too small to worry about- too hard to locate and apprehend. For example, in a report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Victims of Recorded Crime- Outcome of Investigations the First 30 Days, an average of only 31.8% of crimes resulted in the offender having proceedings commenced against them. If a company is pursuing a debt of less than $1,000 and cannot immediately find the debtor, the chances are that the debt will be written off as being too costly to recover. Furthermore, say a business operates on a profit margin of 10% it will need to bring in $1,000 in new business to recover from the loss of $100 in bad debt or stolen property. For many small businesses the cost of unpaid or "bad" debt can mean the difference between viability and closure. 1 Almost 75% of investigation and collection agencies use semi-manual based systems or off-the-shelf software rather than custom developed software. As a result interfacing with their clients usually requires an outside contractor to provide a customised solution, which is labour intensive and costly. In house software solutions often involve costly server installations and network infrastructures as well as ongoing data administration costs. It is an object of the present invention to overcome some of the abovementioned problems or to at least provide the public and businesses with a useful alternative. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for the recovery of debt which combines investigation services with debt recovery services and a credit reporting service. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an affordable, efficient, highly accessible, technology-driven listing service for recovering debt and locating people or property. Summary of the Invention Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a system for the recovery of debt, property and the like, said system characterised by: a primary service provider; at least one service recipient seeking to recover said debt, property and the like; a means of storing and allowing public access to listings submitted by said at least one service recipient, each listing being reflective of said debt, property and the like sought to be recovered; 2 a means of processing information submitted by one or more people or entities in relation to said publicly accessible listings; a means for payment debts online and through an IVR system; a means for automatically accepting payment arrangements online; a means for automatically sending letters, emails and the like to debtors and service recipients; a means for service recipients to provide and submit information online; and a means for said primary service provider to investigate and verify submitted information as being accurate. Preferably said system further includes a means of collecting said debt, property and the like which is sought to be recovered by the service recipient. In preference said system further includes a means of rewarding said person or entity who submits verified information. In preference said system further includes a means for said primary service provider to create a trust account between said service recipient and said person or entity submitting verified information. Preferably said system further includes a means for said service recipient to place a predetermined reward amount in said trust account for said person or entity submitting verified information relevant to their listing. In preference said reward amount is recommended by said service provider based upon the value of the submitted information. 3 Preferably said verified information is not forwarded to said trust account until the person or entity responsible for submitting the verified information has agreed to the reward amount. Alternatively said person or entity submitting the information suggests a suitable award. In preference said means of investigating involved cross referencing data from one or more other sources of information. In preference said means of storing listings is in the form of a central database hosted by said service provider. Preferably said means of allowing public access to the listings, and submittal of information in relation to listings, includes through a website hosted by said service provider. In preference said means of allowing access to the listings, and submittal of information in relation to listings, includes through one or more call centres hosted by said service provider. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the components of a particular system embodying the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart depicting a process embodying the present invention; 4 Figure 3 illustrates an example of a displayed search result for a DebtPayable listing; Figure 4 illustrates the displayed details of the DebtPayable listing of Figure 3 when the listing is for an Unpaid Debt; Figure 5 illustrates the displayed details of the DebtPayable listing of Figure 3 when the listing is for a Skipped Debt; Figure 6 illustrates an example of a displayed search result for a Wanted Person listing; Figure 7 illustrates the displayed details of the Wanted Person listing of Figure 6; Figure 8 illustrates an example of a displayed search result for a Wanted Person of Interest listing; Figure 9 illustrates the displayed details of the Wanted- Person of Interest listing of Figure 8; Figure 10 illustrates an example of a displayed road incident web listing; Figure 11 illustrates an example of a displayed search result for a Secured Property Wanted listing; Figure 12 illustrates the displayed details of the Secured Property Wanted listing of Figure 11; Figure 13 illustrates an example of a displayed search result for Stolen Motor Vehicle listing; Figure 14 illustrates the displayed details of the Stolen Motor Vehicle listing of Figure 13; and 5 Figure 15 illustrates an example of a generated claims history Report. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. The present invention relates to a system for credit reporting and the recovery of debt referred to at times herein as the DebtPayable system and the location of people and property, referred to at times herein as the "Wanted World Wide" system. The unprecedented reach of the Internet, together with the provision of cash rewards for quality information are significant factors in the present invention. Using either direct data transfer, telephone Call Centre listing services, or the worldwide web, a client can create a listing that remains on the DebtPayable or Wanted World Wide website for a predetermined amount of time (for example ten years), or until the matter is settled in a satisfactory manner. The objective of a listing on the website is to encourage the public to come forward with valuable information or a debtor to pay their debts no matter how old or how small that debt is. The detail of a listing, when matched with information from the public and other widely available sources of data about an individual through a powerful database, provides investigators, locators and collections staff with a significant advantage in tracking and recovering missing property or persons and outstanding debt. 6 The greatest frustration in the recovery of debt is the inability to locate debtors, through high cost or lack of resources. The present invention provides a system that enables clients to locate missing debtors and people cost effectively, as will become apparent. No other systems known to the Applicant are capable of this. Equally frustrating to insurance companies or victims of crime and the like is the inability to locate or recover stolen goods or identify witnesses or suspects. The present invention offers insurance companies and victims of crime a cost effective means of locating and recovering missing or stolen items through private enterprise. Often forgotten money remains just that - forgotten money- as organisations responsible for holding the funds lack the resources or capability to locate the true owners or beneficiaries of funds. The present invention works to locate the owners of forgotten money at no cost to the organisations holding those funds. The present invention also has advantages in connection with retrospective recovery. The price advantage and power of the present system allows previously abandoned investigations to be listed for a low investment in terms of both time and money. Once a passive investigation reveals information, a client can choose to re-open the investigation or act on the information received. Similarly, written off debts (for example up to six years old in Australia), can be listed employing the systems' passive collection process for what will typically be a low once off fee. Once a listing draws the debtor to the system or reveals information as to the whereabouts of the debtor, a client can give instructions to actively collect the debt or wait for the listing to work for them. 7 Through the inventions centralised and unified global database the invention is able greatly increase the effectiveness and decrease the cost of traditional services in the areas of bad debt recovery and investigation of fraud. For example it is expected that most debts will be collected without any human contact from a call centre. Most interaction is by automatically generated letters, a web based enquiry and automated payment processing facility and an integrated interactive voice response (IVR) system. The cell centre exists mainly for the small proportion of matters that cannot be dealt with automatically. The call centre will be staffed with Customer Service Officers. The system is not only able to collect debt by itself but to also locate people, property with much lower overheads and greater profitability than conventional agencies. The invention provides a centralised database with unmatched depth, coverage and reporting capabilities. The invention incorporates a highly automated data matching system. There is a central database which manages the listing and searching of all of the matters that have been submitted by clients. A primary service provider is able to input and retrieve data from the database as well as retrieve data from any number of other remote sources of information. Listings on the central database are made accessible by the service provider for searching via a publicly accessible website which allows clients and the general public to search the vast store of information for matters that concern them, or for which they may be able to provide information. The invention allows us to store and gather enormous amounts of information in relation to a variety of services and as a result of the use of the internet has a global reach. The system seeks to involve not just a local community but the international community, worldwide exposure and database capabilities being made available for the benefit of the community at large. Low cost services are provided to the community to assist in the solving and deterrence of crime and the recovery of stolen and lost goods. 8 Insurance companies can also list claims paid out in previous years in an effort to recover lost or stolen property. For example, say an insurance company paid out $50 million in claims for any one year and the average claim was $10,000 this would mean a potential listing of 5,000 investment by the insurance company of $100,000. The system of the present invention would only need to recover 1% of the $50 million to provide the insurance company with a $500,000 return on their investment. It is envisaged that a 10% return on the initial investment is achievable, providing the insurance company with a $5 million return on their investment. Referring back to the statistics mentioned in the preamble of the invention, the system of the present invention is based on the principle that individuals, motivated by frustration over the current civil and criminal legal systems will welcome a service which allows them to participate in the investigation and recovery process. It is also based on the principle that a person may through social responsibility, a belief that a person's actions are morally wrong, or the motivation of a cash reward, provide information. The present invention has been established using advanced information exchange technology which shall be described in more detail below. The technology provides a cost effective means of enhancing and modernising the international Investigation and Debt Recovery and credit reporting industries and providing a general location, information storage and exchange service to the community at large. Turning now to the key components of the system 10 shown in Figure 1, there is a central database 12 which manages the listing and searching of all of the millions of matters that have been submitted by clients 14. A primary service provider 16 is able to input and retrieve date from the database, as well as retrieve data from any number of other remote sources of information 18. Listings on the central database 12 are made accessible by the service provider for searching via a publicly accessible website 20, which allows clients 14 and the general public to search the vast store of information for 9 matters that concern them, or for which they may be able to provide information (information providers 22). It is envisaged that such a search will be free of charge. The website 20 further allows clients 14 and the public 22 to place listings, access reports and provide information directly via the website 16. It is in the interest of the public to get to know and search the database 12 for matters that concern them. A cash reward will be paid within days of providing verified information. For many people who are close to (or know of) people involved in nefarious activities, the present system 10 will become a source of ready cash. Figure 2 shows a flow chart which is indicative of the general process embodying the present invention. The process involves the submission of a listing by a client 14, the submission of information relevant to that listing by an information provider 22, the verification of such information by the service provider 16, the recommendation of a suitable reward amount by the service provider 16, the placing of the reward amount by the client 14 into a system trust account (not shown), and finally, acceptance of the reward amount by the information provider 22 and forwarding of information to the client 14. Not everyone will always have access to the Internet and the present invention therefore provides a Call Centre application to support call center operations which will respond to callers. The call 10 centre, which is referenced using the same reference number as the website 20, will offer similar services to those which are offered on the website. Provision of a Call Centre facility in addition to web access ensures that a full service is provided to all potential callers regardless of their interaction method. The Call Centre 20 also provides an immediate Helpdesk facility for all users. The intuitive nature of the web environment, replicated in the Call Centre support application, diminishes the need to provide any form of training to clients about the use of databases - they are led through the process from start to finish. The Call Centre 20 will service general search inquiries and process 10 information from clients and the general public. The system will be accessible, easy to communicate with, and highly visible. The present invention further provides for collection services which work hand in hand with its debt listings. Preferably through a franchising structure, the system 10 offers investigation and debt recovery field services at any stage of the listing process. Action can be taken immediately on a valid matter, taken concurrently with the listing, or taken once information is received and verified. Information passed to the system will be quickly verified by investigation staff utilising industry best-practice investigation techniques. Any person who provides information remains anonymous. Therefore, the main objectives of the system 10 of the present invention are summarised as follows: - To provide a single point of access to the widest possible range of information consistent with maintaining accepted standards for individual privacy. - To reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of debt recovery with the objective of: o increasing the success rate for recovery of current bad debts; o making the recovery of bad debts more cost effective; and o provide a cost effective opportunity for the recovery of bad debts previously written off; and o minimize the risk of future loss through bad debt. - To reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of claims recovery with the objective of: o reducing the incidence of fraudulent claims; o increase the success rate for recovery of lost or stolen goods; and o provide a cost effective opportunity for recovery on previously paid claims. - To contribute to the reduction of the incidence of loss, both financial and emotional. 11 - To utilise worldwide exposure and database capabilities for the benefit of the community at large. The present invention utilises purpose built software which may be accessed via the website 20. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, this software shall now be described with reference to four main categories of listings. (1) DEBT RECOVERY OR "DEBTPAYABLE" LISTING Services offered under this category include: - Unpaid Debt Listing Where the person listed has a debt, which remains outstanding to a client despite reasonable opportunity being provided for the person to make payment or payment arrangements. - Skipped Listing Where the person listed has failed to notify a client of their change in address and has a debt or debts, which remain outstanding to the client despite reasonable opportunity being provided for the person to make payment or payment arrangements. Debt listing forms (not shown) may be printed from the web site, filled out and submitted online or requested by calling the call centre. One needs to simply complete a listing form and attaching proof of debt, all steps taken to date in attempted recovery of that debt including any offers or correspondence and any other relevant information, and forward via email, facsimile or mail along with payment or payment authorisation. Clients 14 must be able to show that they have taken every reasonable step to recover the debt and allowed the debtor every reasonable opportunity to make payment or arrangements for payment prior to listing the debt. The service provider 16 has the right to refuse a debt listing, and any disputes in regards to a debt listing will be referred back to the client. 12 It is recommended that the client 14 offers a reward to entice the public 22 to provide information and maximise the chances of recovery. Where the system holds more than one listing the total reward will be shown. Information as to the whereabouts of this person may be provided anonymously. The system respects the right to anonymity of individuals and has in place strict controls to protect that right. Persons providing information will be provided with an identity code and if need be no names will be used. Where an individual providing information wishes to claim a reward, the system will verify the accuracy of the information and then advise the client that information has been offered and make a recommendation as to the amount and conditions based on the accuracy and extent of the information offered. Our client will then place the reward into the system trust account (not shown). The system will then advise the person 22 providing the information of the reward offered and conditions (if any) and arrangements made for payment. Only once the person providing the information has accepted the reward conditions is the information forwarded to the client 14. The client 14 will not be provided with the identity of the person providing the information. Once the information has been forwarded to the client, if further investigation or action is required the client may choose to instruct the system or the client's agent of choice. The main database 12 therefore acts as a DebtPayable or Wanted World Wide listings database which can be searched via the web or by calling the Call Centre 20 to have an operator conduct the search and advise the caller of the result. An example of a search result where a DebtPayable listing is shown in Figure 3. When "View Details" is opened, details of the listing are displayed. For example, Figure 4 illustrates search results where an "Unpaid Debt" listing (where the whereabouts of the debtor is known, however the debt remains outstanding) is opened, and Figure 5 illustrates search results 13 where a "skipped" listing (where a debtor provides false address information when incurring a debt or fails to notify of change of address) is opened. The system 10 also offers collection services that work hand in hand with its debt listing services providing clients with a complete end-to-end debt collection solution. Collection services can be provided on a fee service basis, or a fee for success basis. Monies collected on behalf of clients are managed through a fully integrated trust account 10 management module. Clients may instruct by mail, facsimile or email, or select from online forms and links to provide instructions online. Clients may also view the status of their collections and trust account transactions, communicate directly with managers and receive updates on their matter in real time through a centralised communication portal. Once a client's matter is resolved, they may view their reports and invoices and even pay their invoice using the secure payments system through the same portal. The DebtPayable system offers clients and franchisees the very best in Internet services through a centralised communication portal including: - Online instructions - Online case management - Real time reporting - Real time invoicing Further services offered under this category include collection services, as mentioned above, and a range of broader debt recovery services which may be provided under a franchising structure, including: - Field Calls - Collection of outstanding debts; - Collection of arrears - Collection of credit cards/cheque books - Dishonoured cheques - Process Service 14 - Repossessions This aspect of the invention could equally well be applied to a range of other applications such as child support debt recovery, whereby in order to remove any child support debt listing from the system, the paying parent will need to make satisfactory payment or arrangement for payment of that debt to the client. A further application is in the property market where the aim is to hinder tenants who are evicted from a property and leaving rental arrears unpaid or damage from immediately securing another property with the new property manager totally unaware of their previous history or debt. In such circumstances, no details as to the number of debts listed with the system of the creditors owed will be given, only details of the debt to the individual or business owing the debt. A still further application may include video hire debts and the like. (2) LOCATION LISTINGS Services offered under this category may include: - Wanted - Long Lost Family/Friend - Wanted- Birth Parent/Adoptee - Wanted- Missing Person - Wanted- Parental Abduction o Including Private Message Service - Wanted - Person of Interest - Wanted - Illegal Immigrant The location service works not only to bring together family and friends, but also to locate persons who may hold the key to resolving a matter on behalf of our clients or in the interests of the community as a whole. The system 10 uses the information stored in the central database 12 and the far-reaching powers of the Internet to locate persons on behalf of clients 14. In doing so, the system seeks to involve not just a local community, but the International community in working to reduce the impact of loss on our clients. 15 The individual sought by the client is entered into the database 12 and a listing promoted on the web site 10. The system 10 then gathers information in several ways. Through a strong public awareness campaign members of the public are encouraged to browse the web site. These browsers may have a general interest or a specific concern about an individual they have met and browse the web listings to settle that concern. There will be an extensive range of clients utilising the search functions in conjunction with every day dealings with people. At any time if the person a client is seeking undertakes dealings with another client 14 and a search is conducted, that client will be alerted to the wanted listing. The person conducting the search may then advise the primary service provider 16 of the current whereabouts of that person. Again, the application of a reward increases our client's chances of locating the wanted person as it encourages the public to come forward with information as to the whereabouts of that person. In many cases the person sought, out of curiosity or concern, will browse the web site or conduct a search to see if they are listed. Once they see the listing the chances of contact are greatly increased. The system ensures that the clients don't infringe on a person's right to anonymity, it is encouraged that clients enter a plea to the wanted person to encourage them to come forward. This plea if of a general nature may be included on the web site or if of a private nature can be posted on a secure private bulletin board, which only the person sought is given access to. Clients must be able to show that they have genuine reason for the location listing and in some circumstances may need to provide documentation from the appropriate authorities prior to listing the person sought. The primary service provider 16 reserves the right to refuse a location listing. 16 Figure 6 illustrates a search result when a "Wanted Person" is searched, and Figure 7 illustrates the relevant listing when the "View" icon is opened. Similarly, Figure 8 illustrates a search result when a "Wanted- Person of Interest" is searched, and Figure 9 illustrates the relevant listing when the "View" icon is opened. For a small fee, the primary service provider 16 may also provide a client 14 with a secure private bulletin board which can only be accessed by entering a security code known only to the client and the person that they wish to correspond with. Clients who have made location listings may also wish to include a private message to the person that they are seeking. This message may be a letter to a loved one or a note to explain the reasons for the listing. Where a private message is included with a listing a note appears on the bottom of the listing and the person invited to contact the primary service provider. Proof of identity can be provided by way of a question provided to the service provider which only the recipient could answer or a more formal form of proof if appropriate. Once the intended recipient is able to provide proof of their identity, staff will advise them of their security code and the person is then able to directly access that message via the Internet. Service provider staff may, if required, read out that message or arrange to have it forwarded to the person. The recipient of the message may respond via the bulletin board and contact may continue as long as the bulletin board is rented. A further application which may utilise this system is in the location of suitable blood/organ donors. The system 10 provides a service to assist in the location of suitable donors on behalf of clients within the medical profession, or individuals with the advice and support of their medical practitioner. The service provider 16 places the appeal on the web site 20 along with all 17 relevant information and calls upon the International community to answer that appeal. (3) WITNESS INFORMATION WANTED LISTINGS - Road Incident Listings - Personal Injury Listings - Criminal Incident Listings The system provides a public service whereby crime or incident related information is received and dispatched. Information can be submitted by information providers via the website, by email or by completing an online form, walking information providers through the entire process. Witnesses to a crime or people who discover information about a crime will be given a 'safe' medium by which to further investigate the incident and will scan the web site. The incident report will then go to work by prompting that person to provide the primary service provider 16 with the information they hold and settles any uncertainty by providing them with an immediate, simple, non-threatening method of providing that information. Information may be provided anonymously. Persons 22 providing information will be provided with an identity code and if need be no names will be used. The person providing information then uses that identity code each time follow up contact is made. Where an individual providing information wishes to claim a reward, the service provider 16 will verify the accuracy of the information and then advise the client that information has been offered and make a recommendation as to the amount and conditions based on the accuracy and extent of the information offered. Naturally if the information is extensive and leads to the perpetrators being apprehended then the full reward applies. 18 Incident report forms may be printed from the web site, completed on line or requested by calling the call centre. Complete the report form including a description of the circumstances surrounding the incident, all steps and action taken to date in resolving the incident and any other relevant information, and forward via email, facsimile or mail along with payment or payment authorisation. A service provider consultant will then liaise with the contact person named in the report in regards to the layout and appropriate information to display on the web site. The system 10 is sensitive to the issues involved for clients and will at all times respect our client's rights to control the web listing process. All incidents reported and listed with Wanted World Wide will include a location and date of that incident. The system 10 extracts this statistical information and maintains data for the separate categories of incident reports. Crime watch groups or local interest groups will be able to conduct searches via the web site by locality for any given time period and ascertain the reported crime rate of the target area. Incident reports are categorised and listed on the web site as follows. In instances where the name of a witness is taken at the scene, however the person's whereabouts is unknown the clients may place a location listing with Wanted World Wide. Where unknown witnesses or information are sought in regards to a road incident, clients may display a report on the web site and invite the public to respond. In some instances witnesses to a road incident will not be offered a reward, however the client may agree to meet any reasonable expenses witnesses may incur by coming forward. An example of a road incident web listing is shown in Figure 10. Other applications relevant to this category may be in connection with witness/information wanted in relation to stolen motor vehicles, vandalism/graffiti, arson, theft, armed robbery, home invasion, criminal assault, murder, etc. 19 (4) REGISTERS - National Stolen Property Register - Will Related Listings - Central Will Register - Central Superannuation and Life Policy Register - Beneficiary Location Listings - Information Wanted Listings - Will and/or Last Testament - Deceased Estate Claims/Assets - Protection of Secured Property - National Secured Property Register, including but not limited to: o Motor Vehicles/Motor Bikes o Commercial Vehicles o Farm and Earthmoving Equipment o Caravans/Trailers/Mobile Homes o Boats o Aircraft o Household Electrical Goods o Business and Shop Equipment o Mobile Telephones o Secured Property Location Listing o Bankruptcy Register - Public Service Listings o Medical Appeal o Lost Property o Lost Pets o Forgotten Money, including but not limited to: - Beneficiary Entitlements - Bank Accounts - Employer Contributed Superannuation - Life Insurance, Superannuation and Annuities - Utility and Government Bonds 20 - Investment Funds Industry Employment Register o Employment Wanted o Employee Wanted The Registers to which the primary service provider 16 has access may be publicly accessible Registers of information, or they may be Registers established by the primary service provider 16 to maintain the database 12 with relevant and up-to-date information. For example, the National Secured Property Register mentioned above has been established by the present Applicant to protect the credit providing industry from loss as a result of fraudulent conversion of secured property. The same applies to the National Stolen Property Register, which provides a free service to the public as a protection against purchasing stolen property, and allows for the recovery of stolen property. Referring to the secured property register for the purpose of brevity, often it is not until a contract falls behind in payment and the credit provider is forced to repossess property, that they discover the property is no longer in the possession of the debtor. The property may have been sold and used to meet other commitments, while the contract debt remains unpaid. The secured property may be difficult to locate and in some circumstances not cost effective to pursue. Owners of secured motor vehicles transferring the vehicle between certain states can also slip the net, as the registration transfer does not pick up if the vehicle is secured. The unsuspecting purchaser may not be aware of the vehicle's interstate history and conduct a search in the state the vehicle is currently registered in only. In many cases this vehicle check will not pick up the interstate security and a potential loss situation is presented for either the purchaser or the credit provider, as the vehicle is difficult and expensive to locate. 21 Until now little or no affordable solution has been available to the credit provider of smaller secured items and no nationally coordinated solution has been available to the motor vehicle industry. The National Secured Property Register provides a service to the community never before offered. Secured property registers are maintained on items previously unprotected and Wanted World Wide brings to the market an unprecedented national coverage on secured motor vehicles. Secured property listed with Wanted World Wide is recorded on the register with all identifying details such as make, model and serial numbers, engraved or permanently marked identification numbers. Secured vehicles have recorded the registration number, engine number, chassis number and vin number and any other identifying codes or part numbers applicable to that vehicle. The National Secured Property Register offers a dual benefit as it provides a free service to the public as a protection against purchasing secured property. The purchaser of secured property gains no better title to that property than the debtor selling it did. Through an extensive market awareness campaign the public will be educated to conduct a search with the system 10 whenever they are purchasing second hand property. Second hand dealers, pawnbrokers and cash converters alike will also be strongly encouraged to search all items offered for sale or loan. The search will ensure that the property that they are about to purchase or trade is not listed with Wanted World Wide as either secured or stolen. Where a search is conducted and property is discovered as secured, the primary service provider 16 will request the details of the persons offering the property for sale and the sale price and will immediately notify the credit 22 provider. The client 14, or credit provider, will then be able to monitor and possibly avoid a bad debt situation. The effectiveness of the national motor vehicle register is further enhanced by the service provider's commitment to monitoring sales of motor vehicles nationally through all major newspapers and trading papers. By entering the registration number and any other details provided into the database 12, the service provider 16 is able to cross reference to secured property listings and immediately detect and advise clients where secured vehicles are advertised. A Secured Property Wanted listing notes that a debtor has a debt secured against property, the debtor may be behind in payments and have made payment arrangements, however the contract is still in part outstanding and the whereabouts of that secured property are unknown. The client 14 offers the reward listed for accurate information provided to the primary service provider 16 as to the whereabouts of the secured property. The primary service provider 16 provides a separate listing where a debtor has disposed of secured property to maximise the client's chances of recovery of that property. Again, the decision to apply a reward and the amount of the reward offered is at the discretion of the clients. A search result for "Secured Property Wanted" is shown in Figure 11, and the corresponding listing is shown in Figure 12. The public will be educated to search on items or vehicles they are intending to purchase prior to making an offer. A search on a vehicle will ascertain whether that vehicle is registered with the system as encumbered or has been listed as stolen. An example of a search result where a "Stolen Motor Vehicle" listing is held is shown in Figure 13. Again, selecting the "View"' button will open the listing as shown in Figure 14. This aspect of the system 10 also brings to the insurance industry a centralised database with an unmatched depth and coverage combined with 23 unprecedented cross-referencing capabilities and support services. It offers insurance providers comprehensive, easy to read historical insurance data on individuals and businesses, providing vital information in assessing a client's risk. The service provider 16 will be committed to achieving a comprehensive history of all insurance claims lodged by individuals and businesses for the benefit of insurance providers. To achieve this goal, the database 12 will not only list all registered insurance providers current claim files, but also all completed claim files. This insurance claims history will be further strengthened by the cross-referencing capabilities of the database, providing the system 10 with unprecedented insurance investigation and reporting capabilities for the benefit of registered insurance providers. The system of the present invention therefore provides its registered insurance providers with quick, economical and easy access to general services, as well as providing a dedicated reporting service to the insurance industry to assist the insurance provider in the areas of risk assessment, settling of claims and control of insurance fraud. For example, insurance providers are able to list Incident Reports on the web site for any incident giving rise to an insurance claim, as a means to apprehend offenders, recover stolen property and guard against fraudulent claims. By offering a reward the insurance provider gives the public a strong incentive to come forward with information that will lead to the recovery of stolen property or establishment of insurance fraud. The result is reduced claim pay out and increased profitability. Through the application of the National Stolen Property Register in conjunction with the National Vehicle Sales Monitor, the present system 10 services insurance providers by maximising opportunities for recovery of stolen property. 24 Through the Incident Reports and Law Breakers Information Handling Service, the present system 10 is able to collate information from the public to solve crimes. This is of particular relevance to the insurance provider where that crime gives rise to an insurance claim or where the claim itself is fraudulent. For the insurance client the benefit is two fold. Where the claim is genuine an opportunity for recovery is provided and apprehension of the offenders a benefit to the industry as a whole. Where the claim is fraudulent the insurance company is protected from the cost of false claims and made aware of perpetrators of insurance fraud. The National Stolen Property Register also allows insurance providers to search stolen property being assessed under current claims to check if they have been previously reported stolen. This serves as a further guard against fraudulent claims. The National Vehicle Sales Monitor provides a service to the insurance industry as it maintains a motor vehicle history as a reference source for motor vehicle claims. Insurance providers registering with the present system 10 will preferably be provided with access codes that will be used for all requests for reports. Reports can be requested via the web site. In preference, high volume users will able to enter data and conduct searches online, allowing high quality information to be available in an instant with significant cost incentives. Complete claims history files for individuals and businesses will be maintained in the database. Registered insurance providers access these history reports at two levels. This history report will contain an insurance claims history in brief for an individual or business, listing all claims registered with the system 10. The insurance provider will be able to see the number and types of claims lodged including, the date of the loss or injury, the date the claim was lodged, the type of policy that was claimed against, the policy number, the claim number and the amount of the claim. If the policy was jointly held or held by a person 25 other than the claimant then details of the policy holder will be given as well as the claimants relationship to that person. Eg spouse or employee. The insurance provider will also be able to ascertain from this report the amount paid out on the claim, the date the pay out was made and current status of the policy and if no longer current the reasons. Eg no longer an employee, lapsed, renewal refused etc. This history report contains vital information for the insurance provider at the point of assessing a client's potential risk. The insurance provider will be able to check the accuracy of client's disclosure when assessing insurance proposal forms. Where non disclosure is discovered the underwriter will not only be able to factor in the risk given full disclosure, but also the potential risk of the non-disclosure. Incident Reports listed with the system 10 by insurance providers will included details of the related insurance claim and be linked to the insured's history file by the claim number. This information will not be accessible to the public, but will allow insurance providers to inspect the relevant Incident Report by simply selecting the field. An example of a claims history Report is shown in Figure 15. The Claims History File gives the insurance provider a complete history of the individuals or businesses previous claims and offers the insurance industry in depth access to the files of individual claims. It also contains vital information for insurance providers at the claims assessing stage. Contained within the history file of each individual claim will be a copy or relevant extract from the original policy proposal, the current claim form, the assessors report, any quotes received, the adjusters or investigators report and any other correspondence received from any other parties in relation to the insured's file. Claims History Files may be requested for individual claims of interest as listed on the client's Claims History Report or multiple files as required. The 26 insurance provider is able to request the files if on line by simply highlighting the required files and selecting the Request Claims History File button. Alternatively a file or files can be requested in writing by email or facsimile providing details of the individual or business from the Claims History Report and the relevant claim numbers. Due to the private nature of the information that is contained within the Claims History File the insurance provider will need to have the insured complete a consent form to access the information. Consent forms are available from the service provider 16 or may be incorporated into the insurance providers standard proposal and/or claim forms and the insurer will need to ensure that this consent is obtained prior to accessing the history file. It is recommended that registered insurance providers incorporate consent forms into standard insurance claim forms. Claimants completing the forms would then be required to strike out the consent to access Claims History Files if they deny permission to do so. This serves to streamline the processing and investigation of claims and decrease the likelihood of a claimant withholding consent. It is also recommended that registered insurance providers also incorporate the consent forms into insurance proposal forms. This works in the same way to allow insurance providers unrestricted access to client's files in assessing potential risk and for possible future claims. Other applications in this listing category may include bankruptcy orders made against individuals, whereby in order for a bankruptcy listing to be removed, the individual will need to provide to the primary service provider an Insolvency and Trustee discharge certificate. Employment services will be focused on the investigation, collection and security industries. Qualified job seekers and client businesses will be able to capitalise on the 'high hit rate' for the website, thereby acting as an industry specific employment matching service. 27 It is to be understood that the above overview of possible applications covered by the present invention for recovery of information, is not considered exhaustive and other applications which have not been mentioned may equally fall within the scope of the invention. By automating as far as possible the business processes, the present software achieves two things, efficiency and the lowering of costs. It provides its clients with complete flexibility in the way they conduct business as users can login to the application and action their cases from any location with access to the Internet. The software also allows for the way a client wants to do business, the client sets their own business rules and parameters as they utilise the service to meet their specific business needs. The potential and scope is enormous whether a client operates on a local basis, statewide, nationally or even globally. The arrival of a new case creates an instance of a workflow within the system. The software from this point will manage and instigate the processes which need to be conducted within the organisation in order to bring the case to a successful conclusion. For example, a newly arrived debt collection case may require the generation and mailing out of a debt collection notice to the debtor. In this case the system will automatically generate a form letter for mail out on a batch basis. After a set period of time (which is pre-configured in the system) a tele operator maybe prompted to ring the debtor about the debt notice. The system will display a 'conversation script' for the operator and make suggestions for how they can successfully close the case over the phone. For example, the operator may be given the option of reducing the debt by some percentage. Payment plans can also be constructed (in agreement with the debtor) and recorded in the system. When problems arise, they can be automatically escalated to a manager who is given more options in dealing with a case. When a case is not successfully handled by automation and/or direct 28 interaction with the debtor, the system may automatically take further actions for example it may list the debtor on the website. As is illustrated in the above examples, many complex business rules and processes have been captured in the system. This knowledge represents many years experience in the industry. By codifying this knowledge into their computer systems, the cost of handling cases is dramatically reduced. Tele operators, for example, are much cheaper to train and retain than skilled traditional investigators. The software provides relevant graphical analysis tools that tap directly into all the case data that is collected through the system, and translate and summarise that data into multiple formats to deliver timely and accurate management information. Administrative activities connected with the procurement of information to provide management reports is virtually removed as data is sourced directly from the point of service provision. The skilled addressee would realise that access from the Internet gives a greater section of the community an avenue not only for providing information for which they may be rewarded, but also to list matters about which they seek information or to conduct investigations in their own right. Providing a range of relevant or associated sources of additional public information from a single point of access will increase the effectiveness of the service and encourage still wider participation by corporate and private clients. It is also envisaged that a dedicated television program (not shown) will be established to call upon the public to give information and not only reward quality information with cash, but equally rewarding will be knowing the difference the information made as a successful story is broadcasted. A wide range of investigation and collection services are provided for within the system software including specialised services in the areas of fraud investigation, defence investigation, surveillance, undercover operations, 29 document service and security services with the flexibility to deliver services as the licensee or via a seamless franchise system. The system preferably also provides service providers with the support of an online operations manual available 24 hours a day 7 days a week forming an 'online adviser' to management and staff operating the system. The Intranet sets the standards from how to investigate a matter to how to report to a client and as well as describing the unique elements of the system it provides ready access to all relevant acts and industry guidelines. An approved e-commerce billing environment is incorporated into the information listing and delivery systems to enable credit card transactions over the web or via the Call Centre. A purpose built back office system provides the interface between this environment and corporate accounting (including trust accounting) systems. This environment identifies and accurately logs all financial transactions at both corporate and franchisee level and conducts end of shift reconciliation to ensure that all trust accounting practices are correctly followed. A flexible reporting module summarises transaction and financial information to provide accurate and comprehensive management reports at all levels of the business. Financial transactions logged at franchisee level capture vital information for management of franchise fees based on sales revenues and interact with corporate accounting systems to provide seamless financial management of franchise fees. The system integrates work flow management and financial transactions to ensure that franchisees utilise the system for all invoicing and cash management functions, greatly reducing the need for onsite audits. The advantages of the system 10 should now be apparent and are summarised as follows: - Through the application of television, the Internet and advertising to investigation and debt collection the present invention applies tools never before utilised in the industry. Through purpose built software, a dedicated Call Centre application and innovative processes these tools 30 are applied utilising the public, when investigating or attending to debt recovery. When acting on behalf of clients, the present system is able to draw on a comprehensive source of information within the vast store of information contained within the database, as well as having ready access to public sources of data. When conducting a credit check or background check on an individual or enterprise, the system has the advantage of a far more comprehensive crosschecking database than traditional sources of credit reference. - The system of the present invention also has a distinct price advantage over existing systems. At this point in time no systems known to the Applicant can match the value for money to the client for the same result and remain viable, or offer a like service. The target market of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, the insurance industry, banks, the finance industry, telecommunications, the public sector, the corporate sector, chains, franchises and licensees, small to medium business enterprises, clubs and associations, and the investigation and debt collection industry. In fact the present invention excludes no sector of business or the community in that it offers a service which every business, from corporate to small business and individuals will have a need for at some point in time. Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. 31

Claims (5)

1. A system for the recovery of debt, property and the like, said system characterised by: a primary service provider; at least one service recipient seeking to recover said debt, property and the like; a means of storing and allowing public access to listings submitted by said at least one service recipient, each listing being reflective of said debt, property and the like sought to be recovered; a means of processing information submitted by one or more people or entities in relation to said publicly accessible listings; a means for payment debts online and through an IVR system; a means for automatically accepting payment arrangements online; a means for automatically sending letters, emails and the like to debtors and service recipients; a means for service recipients to provide and submit information online; and a means for said primary service provider to investigate and verify submitted information as being accurate.

2. A system as characterised in claim 1 further including a means of collecting said debt, property and the like which is sought to be recovered by the service recipient.

3. A system as characterised in claim 1 or claim 2 further including a means of rewarding said person or entity who submits verified information. 32

4. A system as characterised in claim 1 or claim 2 further including a means for said primary service provider to create a trust account between said service recipient and said person or entity submitting verified information.

5. A system as characterised in claim 4 further including a means for said service recipient to place a predetermined reward amount in said trust account for said person or entity submitting verified information relevant to their listing. 33