The Western Union Company

Western Union Financial Services, Inc.

Stefan Ianta

Scott C Hansen

Humberto C Portillo

Marcus Nicholas Cudina

A method for facilitating the transfer of a payment for a computerized transaction between a buyer and a seller for the purchase of an item using a computer network, such as the Internet. The method includes the steps of communicating, from a seller's computing station to an agent computing system, data regarding the transaction between the buyer and the seller, wherein the data identifies the buyer, the seller, and the amount of the transaction. The agent computing system communicates transaction information displayable to the buyer, such as a confirmation number created by the agent computing system for identifying the transaction, an order number corresponding to a merchant order number provided by the merchant for identifying the transaction, an exchange rate between a first local currency usable to the buyer and a second currency usable by the seller, and a total price of the transaction expressed in the first local currency usable by the buyer. Receiving an actual payment from the buyer at a plurality of agent locations is provided for, the agent locations being in communication with the agent computing system. Upon receiving the actual payment from the buyer at one of the agent locations, a message is communicated to the seller that the actual payment for the transaction was received at the agent location, thereby permitting the seller to begin shipment of the item to the buyer. Funds are transferred to the seller preferably paid in the second currency usable by the seller.

Method for facilitating payment of a computerized transaction

Systems and methods for facilitating payment of a computerized transaction. One method according to an embodiment of the invention includes providing a money transfer system; receiving at the money transfer system an electronic payment request; assigning, by the money transfer system, a unique transaction number to the payment request; determining by the money transfer system a preliminary total amount required from the buyer; determining by the money transfer system a grand total amount; communicating information from the money transfer system to the seller computer system; receiving at the money transfer system a payment notification; communicating a message to the seller computer system that payment associated with the unique transaction number has been received at a payment location; and effecting completion of the electronic payment request by making payment via the money transfer system to the seller.

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Vienna, Austria

Stefan Ianta