JP2004213167A - Refund settlement system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refund settlement system capable of rapidly and accurately executing a refund process in a refund company. <P>SOLUTION: A store 1 reads necessary information from a settling card and a refunding card issued from a management company 5 with respect to the same nominee as the settling card, and stored with information necessary for refund, and sends read data together with refund target money amount data and a purchase money amount data of a commodity or service to the refund company 4 executing the refund process via a wired or wireless line. The refund company 4 transmits both the data on the purchase money amount of the commodity or the service and data on a refunding fee of the refund company 4 decided on the basis of the refund target money amount data to a settlement card company 3 to execute settlement. When a customer purchases a commodity or the like in cash, the refund company 4 executes the refund process, and deposits an actual refund money amount calculated by subtracting a fee of the refund company or the management company from the refund money amount (a value added tax) in sale proceeds into a customer's bank account, or remits a check corresponding to the amount to the customer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a refund settlement system, and more particularly to a refund settlement system capable of efficiently and quickly refunding a value-added tax such as a consumption tax imposed on a commodity price purchased by a customer in another country.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Regardless of whether the purchaser is a resident of the country or not, the product purchased in a foreign country is subject to VAT such as consumption tax based on the laws of the country, Many countries have adopted a tax refund system after leaving Japan.
[0003]
When using such a refund system, when a foreign customer purchases a product, he or she will show the passport to the store and fill in a prescribed item on the tax exemption declaration prepared. Then, at the time of departure, show the purchased product and tax exemption form to the staff in charge, have the tax exemption form stamped, and mail it to a post installed at an airport or the like. The tax exemption declaration submitted in this way is sent to a refund company that has concluded a contract in advance, where a refund process is executed, and a predetermined refund amount is returned to the customer.
[0004]
This refund process differs depending on whether the refund is made by credit card, check, or cash. In the case of refund by credit card, after posting the documents at the airport etc., the amount of goods including tax exemption (value added tax) is first deducted from the customer's bank account by the normal settlement processing of the credit card company, Three months later, the refund will be credited to the bank account. In the case of refund by check, a check equivalent to the refund amount will be mailed to the customer two to three months after posting the document at the airport or the like, and the check will be sent to a bank for cashing. In the case of a cash refund, a stamped document can be presented at a bank at an airport or the like to receive a cash refund.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional refund settlement system described above, if the refund is made by credit card, check, or cash, the tax exemption amount (value added tax) by the normal settlement process of the credit card company after posting the documents at the airport etc. After the withdrawal of the commodity amount from the bank account, the refund amount will be deposited at least two or three months later, if there is a gap between the refund and the purchase settlement, it takes time until the refund, and in the case of refund by check, After posting the documents at the airport etc., there is the trouble that the check equivalent to the refund amount mailed after 2-3 months must be cashed at the bank, and the stamp at the airport etc. bank in case of cash refund Presenting the received documents and cashing them is complicated due to language obstacles in foreign countries and the like.
[0006]
In addition, customers must stamp their tax exemption declarations from retailers every time they purchase a product, which is not only complicated, but also requires a certain amount of purchase specified for each country to receive a refund. Is a condition, and customers often have to be conscious of the total amount of shopping and often feel complicated.
[0007]
In particular, in the conventional refund settlement system, the above-mentioned refund company process receives the stamped tax exemption return sent, performs the prescribed refund processing for each tax exemption return, and processes the tax exemption return. A refund process equivalent to the refund amount will be performed on the sent customer. However, the processing is mainly manual input to the computer for each tax exemption declaration, which is very complicated and time-consuming, and may cause erroneous input.
[0008]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a refund settlement system that can quickly and accurately perform a refund process in a refund company.
[0009]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a refund settlement system which is quick and accurate, and does not require complicated procedures such as filling in a tax exemption declaration for each product purchase and is highly convenient. .
[0010]
Still another object of the present invention is to prevent unauthorized use, and to automatically purchase when a certain amount or more is reached without paying attention to the total amount of shopping in order to purchase a certain amount or more necessary for receiving a refund. It is an object of the present invention to provide a refund settlement system in which refund processing is performed and a reliable refund can be received.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the refund settlement system according to the present invention employs the following characteristic configuration.
[0012]
(1) In a refund settlement system in which a customer setstle a purchase amount of goods and services at a store in a foreign area and a refund target amount to be refunded later with a settlement card, and then executes the refund,
The store reads necessary information from the payment card and a refund card in which information required for refund is issued by a management company for the same holder as the payment card, and the read data is read. Together with the purchase price of the product or service and the refund target amount data, to a refund company that executes a refund process, via a wired or wireless line,
The refund company transmits a refund settlement system that transmits both data of the purchase amount of the goods and services and a refund processing fee of the refund company determined based on the refund amount data to a settlement card company. .
[0013]
(2) The refund settlement system according to (1), wherein the refund company transmits to the settlement card company an amount obtained by further adding a commission amount of the management company determined based on the refund target amount to the settlement card company.
[0014]
(3) The refund settlement system according to (1) or (2), wherein the refund company transmits the purchase amount data only when the purchase amount is equal to or more than the amount to be refunded.
[0015]
(4) The refund settlement system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein information of at least one settlement card possessed by the customer is recorded on the refund card.
[0016]
(5) The refund settlement system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the store judges the legitimacy of the customer based on both card information read from the settlement card and the refund card.
[0017]
(6) The store according to (1) to (5), wherein the store determines the legitimacy of the customer based on both card information read from the payment card and the refund card and passport information possessed by the customer. Any refund settlement system.
[0018]
(7) The payment card company executes the refund process only when the total shopping amount of the customer in the foreign area is equal to or more than the amount to be refunded, the refund settlement in any one of the above (1) to (6). system.
[0019]
(8) The settlement card company notifies the customer of the fact that the total shopping amount of the customer in the foreign area does not exceed the amount to be refunded to the customer. Refund settlement system.
[0020]
(9) The refund settlement system according to any one of the above (1) to (8), wherein the settlement card is a credit card or a debit card.
[0021]
(10) A refund settlement system for executing a refund after a customer has settled a purchase amount of goods and services at a store in a foreign area and a refund target amount to be refunded later.
The store reads necessary information from a customer's refund card, which is issued by a management company and records information required for refund, and reads the read data into the purchase amount of the goods and services and the refund amount. Along with the data, send it to the refund company that performs the refund process via a wired or wireless line,
A refund settlement system in which the refund company refunds to the customer an amount obtained by subtracting a refund processing fee of the refund company determined based on the refund amount from the refund amount.
[0022]
(11) The refund settlement system according to (10), wherein the refund company refunds to the customer an amount obtained by further subtracting a commission amount of the management company determined based on the refund amount from the refund amount.
[0023]
(12) The refund settlement system according to (10) or (11), wherein the refund company transmits the purchase amount data only when the purchase amount is equal to or more than the amount to be refunded.
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a refund settlement system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a processing flow in one embodiment of a refund settlement system according to the present invention.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, for example, a foreigner (for example, Japanese) pays a value-added tax (for example, 20%) such as a consumption tax in Italy in the EC area and makes a purchase, and later pays the added value. An example of a tax exemption system that receives a tax refund will be described.
[0027]
In the present invention, as an important requirement for receiving a refund, there is a refund card issued by a management company that manages the refund process, and the customer uses the refund card together with the settlement card. Note that any payment card such as a credit card or a debit card can be used as the payment card. In the following description, an example in which a credit card is used as a payment card will be described.
[0028]
The refund card is carried by a person who wants to use the system of the present invention, and is a card using an arbitrary recording medium such as an ordinary magnetic card or IC card. This refund card can be purchased at a domestic travel company or the like before heading to the foreign country, or can be purchased at a sales office or consignment office of a management company in the foreign country. At the time of purchase, the customer's personal data to be used is input to the refund card. The personal data is input after confirming the identity based on the information of the passport possessed by the customer. The refund card can be purchased as a one-time use card, or it can be a card for a continuing member who can continue to pay for the annual membership fee.
[0029]
The refund card records predetermined information such as a card number, a name, a PIN as a personal identification number, a nationality, an address, an authorization number for credit verification such as identity verification, passport information (number, etc.). The refund card also records information on a payment card (for example, at least one credit card) used (held) by the customer.
[0030]
In the present invention, the refund company performs the basic processing for refunding the paid amount, such as the value added tax, to the purchaser later. The refund company and the management company have previously concluded a refund agreement with a credit card company or an acquirer. For example, the refund company and the management company should receive a predetermined rate of refunds received by the buyer, for example, 6% and 2%, as processing fees and management fees. Refund the customer a refund less any fees to be received. Actually, the amount obtained by subtracting the refund from the amount purchased by the customer using a credit card is deducted from the account of a predetermined bank or the like set by the customer.
[0031]
Referring to FIG. 1, a terminal (portable information terminal including a mobile phone) 11 for card payment and refund processing is installed in the store 1. The terminal 11 has a conventional credit inquiry and settlement function when using a credit card, and a function for a customer to input detailed data of a product purchased at a store as purchased product data such as a value added tax such as a consumption tax. Having.
[0032]
When a customer purchases a product, the terminal 11 first reads the contents of the customer's credit card. For example, personal data recorded on a credit card is read by passing the credit card through a magnetic reader installed in the terminal 11, or when recorded in another form, suitable for reading data in that form. To read. Thereafter, as will be described later, a credit inquiry to the credit card company is made to the credit card company, and (credit) sales data including a value-added tax is transmitted to the credit card company 3 via the acquirer 2 responsible for the settlement process. And sends it to the refund company 4 in charge of the refund processing.
[0033]
Now, the credit card company 3 receiving the data from the acquirer 2 has concluded a contract with the refund company 4 and the management company 5 as described above, and a predetermined amount of the product price purchased by the customer for the store. The amount of the rate is deducted as a commission of the credit card company 3 and transferred to a predetermined account of the store. As for the refund of taxes such as value added tax, the refund company 4 or the management company 5 is paid a refund processing fee or a management fee at a predetermined rate of the refund. Therefore, from the customer's account, the price of the product actually purchased is deducted, and the amount obtained by subtracting the fees of the refund company and the management company from the refund is also deposited at the same time. 4 and the fee of the management company 5 are simultaneously deducted from their own account.
[0034]
To explain this point more specifically, for example, in a country where a value added tax as a consumption tax is set at 20% of the shopping amount, a foreign customer purchases more than the tax exemption amount, for example, converted into Japanese yen. If the user purchases a 100,000 yen product, the value added tax is 20,000 yen, the total amount paid to the store (card payment) is 120,000 yen, and the customer signs and pays.
[0035]
At this time, in the conventional system, the customer presents the passport to the clerk of the store to get a tax exemption declaration, and asks the clerk to fill in predetermined items (such as the purchase price of the goods and the value-added tax). Each time a customer purchases a product or service in each location, the customer also has to fill out the tax exemption declaration form and show the product and tax exemption declaration form to the person in charge at the airport etc. at the time of departure from the country and get a stamp. Post it to the post provided later. As described above, in the past, the credit card company's settlement process deducted the sum of the purchased product amount and the VAT amount from the customer's bank account, and after a few months, added the VAT amount to the account. It was to be deposited.
[0036]
On the other hand, in the present invention, data such as the purchase amount and the value added tax are transmitted from the store to the refund company 4 and the acquirer 2. The acquirer 2 transmits data to the credit card company 3, and settlement processing is performed through the processing of the credit card company 3. Thus, assuming that the sum of the management fees of the refund company 4 and the management company 5 is 6% and 2% of the value added tax, from the customer's bank account,
(Purchase amount: 100,000 yen) + (Refund and management company fees: 1600 yen)
Will be debited. Therefore, the refund processing of the value added tax is performed at the same time as the processing of debiting the purchase amount, so that quick processing is possible.
[0037]
Here, after the amount of (purchased goods) + (value added tax) is initially deducted from the customer's account, (value added tax)-(commission) may be paid later.
[0038]
Further, it is needless to say that instead of debiting from the account, a bill may be issued to the customer and settlement may be requested by transfer or the like.
[0039]
Returning to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The process of the terminal 11 of the store 1 is performed according to the flow of the flowchart shown in FIG. When the customer purchases the product at the store 1 and hands the refund card and the credit card to the clerk, the refund card and the credit card are read by the terminal 11 (step S1), and the credit card recorded on the refund card is read. The information is obtained and collated with the read credit card information to determine the legitimacy of the customer's use (step S2). If determined to be valid, the sales amount is input (step S3), and credit sales data is transmitted to the credit card company 3. Here, if the clerk of the store 1 judges the legitimacy of the customer based on both the card information read from the payment card and the refund card and the passport information possessed by the customer, unauthorized use can be more reliably prevented.
[0040]
After the above processing, the clerk of the store 1 creates a sales slip, obtains a signature from the customer, and gives a copy to the customer (step S4). From the store 1, data such as credit sales data and value-added tax such as consumption tax are transmitted to the refund company 4 and the acquirer 2 via wireless or wired lines. If it is determined in step S2 that the information is not valid, the user is notified using visual or auditory means.
[0041]
The credit card company 3 responds to the inquiry about the credit card credit based on survey materials prepared in advance.
[0042]
Conventionally, the refund company 4 manually inputs the refund process based on the tax exemption report sent to the computer, but in the present embodiment, the data from the store is directly refundable as electronic data. The data is transmitted to the company 4 via a wired or wireless line, and the refund company 4 takes the received data into a computer and executes a refund process. Thus, a quick and accurate refund process is performed. These series of processes may involve the management company 5 as a whole.
[0043]
Thus, the refund company 4 calculates a refund to be returned to the customer based on the transmitted sales data and the value-added tax data, and transmits the data (refund data) to the acquirer 2.
[0044]
Here, the sales data transmitted from the store 1 to the refund company 4 can be transmitted only when the sales amount is equal to or more than the amount to be refunded. Each time the purchase is made, the refund company 4 can transmit the information to the refund company 4 and execute the refund process when the total purchase amount of each customer reaches or exceeds the refund target amount.
[0045]
As described above, the refund company 4 receives a predetermined rate (for example, 6% of the refund amount) as a refund processing fee for the refund processing, but the management company 5 also issues a refund card. It is possible to receive a management fee for a predetermined rate (for example, 2% of the refund amount) as a management fee for management and management of the system.
[0046]
More specifically, the refund company 4 executes the refund process based on the sales data including the refund information received from the store 1, and 6% of the refund amount is provided to the refund company 4 by 2%. Each is paid to the management company 5 as a commission.
The data is transmitted to the acquirer 2 so that the actual refund amount obtained by subtracting the total of the 6% and 2% commissions of the refund amount (value added tax) in the sales amount from the refund amount can be returned to the customer. The acquirer 2 receives the data transmitted from the refund company 4 and transmits an amount obtained by subtracting a commission from the sales amount to the credit card company 3. The credit card company 3 debits the customer based on the data received from the acquirer 2 from the customer's account by adding the actual purchase price of the merchandise without VAT and the total amount of the above fees. To end the payment processing. In other words, the amount obtained by subtracting the actual refund amount from the amount paid to the store including the refund is deducted from the customer's account.
[0047]
FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing a processing flow in another embodiment of the refund settlement system according to the present invention. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in which payment is basically performed by a credit card, the present embodiment is a system in which payment is performed by cash. In FIG. 3, components having the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 1 are components having the same functions.
[0048]
In the present embodiment, the processing of the acquirer 2 and the credit card company 3 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is basically not performed. The refund process will be executed by the refund company 4.
[0049]
Data from the store 1 is transmitted as electronic data to the refund company 4 via a wired or wireless line, and the refund company 4 takes the received data into a computer and executes a refund process. Therefore, a quick and accurate refund process is performed. These series of processes may involve the management company 5 as a whole.
[0050]
That is, the refund company 4 executes the refund process based on the sales data including the refund information received from the store 1, and 6% of the refund amount is assigned to the refund company 4 and 2% to the management company 5, respectively. Paid as commission. Deduct the total refund amount of 6% and 2% of the refund amount (value added tax) in the sales amount from the refund amount and deposit the actual refund amount into the customer's 6 bank account or check the equivalent amount. Send to
[0051]
Thus, the refund company 4 calculates a refund to be refunded to the customer 6 based on the transmitted sales data and the value-added tax data, and refunds the customer a refund based on the data (refund data). The refund to the customer 6 can be made by transfer to the customer's bank account, or directly to the customer by cash or check. Here, information such as a customer's bank account and an address for direct sending to the customer can be recorded as information on a refund card, for example, or notified by any other means. be able to.
[0052]
As described above, the sales data transmitted from the store 1 to the refund company 4 can be transmitted only when the sales amount is equal to or more than the amount to be refunded. Each time the sales (purchase) is made, it is transmitted to the refund company 4, and the refund company 4 can execute the refund process when the total purchase amount of each customer reaches or exceeds the refund target amount. Also, the refund company 4 receives a predetermined rate (for example, 6% of the refund amount) as a refund processing fee for the refund processing, but the management company 5 also issues a refund card, Further, a management fee for managing the present system can be received at a predetermined rate (for example, 2% of the refund amount).
[0053]
By the way, a card to which a privilege is given to a user of the system of the present invention is issued so that the user of the card can be discounted by a predetermined rate when shopping at a system subscription store, for example. Can be given a privilege.
Issuance, sale, and management of this card; management and reuse of a customer database; sale and management of terminals installed in stores; management company 5 handles store information and the like, and the management company 5 has its own income. Business model can be established.
[0054]
In addition, at the office where the management company has established an office at the airport, etc., or at the office where the management company has consigned the contract, exchange money at a more favorable rate than the general public for those who have a refund card issued by the management company. Providing various services not only ensures the superiority of this system, but also promotes widespread use.
[0055]
Although the preferred embodiment of the refund settlement system of the present invention has been described above, this is merely an example, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made in accordance with a specific use. For example, it is needless to say that the foreign country is not limited to one country but may be a region of the same economic sphere (eg, EU).
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the refund settlement system of the present invention, the following remarkable effects can be obtained.
[0057]
(1) Unlike in the past, data transmission and refund processing are performed electronically, unlike handwritten processing on tax exemption declaration documents and manual processing in a refund company, so processing in the store and refund processing are performed. Not only simplification and speeding up, but also the possibility of falsifying documents is eliminated, which is effective in preventing fraud.
[0058]
(2) Based on the customer's product purchase amount sent from the store and the VAT amount to be refunded, from the customer's account, (purchase amount of the product) + (refund company fee) or further management of the management company The additional amount of the fee will be deducted. Therefore, as with the processing of the settlement card, only by processing the refund card, the refund processing of the value-added tax is performed at the same time as or later than the settlement processing of the purchased goods, so that a quick and reliable refund processing can be performed. it can. In the case where the customer purchases a product or the like in cash, the refund process is executed by the refund company 4, and the fee of the refund company or the management company is subtracted from the refund amount (value added tax) in the sales amount. Since the actual refund amount is paid to the customer's bank account or a check corresponding to a substantial amount is sent to the customer, quick and reliable refund processing can be performed.
[0059]
(3) Since the payment card information used by the customer (owned) is recorded on the refund card, the customer's use is justified by reading the payment card and the refund card information at the store terminal. Sex can be determined, and unauthorized use can be prevented. Further, by referring to the passport information possessed by the customer, a more accurate unauthorized use prevention effect can be obtained.
[0060]
(4) The customer does not need to have the stamp stamped on the tax exemption declaration form every time the product is purchased, and can receive the necessary refund just by using the refund card, as in the case of credit card processing. It is very convenient because no special procedures are required.
[0061]
(5) For customers, there is no need to wait at customs counters for a long time at the time of departure for refund, and convenience is greatly improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a processing system diagram showing one embodiment of a refund settlement system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a terminal 11 on the store 1 side in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a processing system diagram showing another embodiment of the refund settlement system according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 store 2 acquirer 3 credit card company 4 refund company 5 management company 6 customer 11 terminal

Claims (12)

In a refund settlement system for executing a refund, after the customer has settled the purchase amount of goods and services at a store in a foreign area and the refund target amount to be refunded later with a settlement card,
The store reads necessary information from the payment card and a refund card in which information required for refund is issued by a management company for the same holder as the payment card, and the read data is read. Together with the purchase price of the product or service and the refund target amount data, to a refund company that executes a refund process, via a wired or wireless line,
The refund company transmits to the payment card company both the purchase price of the goods and services and the refund processing fee of the refund company determined based on the refund target amount data, and performs settlement. A refund settlement system. 2. The refund settlement according to claim 1, wherein the refund company transmits to the settlement card company an amount obtained by further adding a commission amount of the management company determined based on the refund amount, and performs settlement. system. 3. The refund settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the refund company transmits the purchase amount data only when the purchase amount is equal to or greater than a refund target amount. 4. The refund settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein information of at least one settlement card held by the customer is recorded on the refund card. The refund settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the store judges the legitimacy of the customer based on both card information read from the settlement card and the refund card. . 6. The shop according to claim 1, wherein the store determines the legitimacy of the customer based on both card information read from the payment card and the refund card and passport information possessed by the customer. Refund settlement system described in Crab. The refund according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the payment card company executes the refund process only when the total shopping amount of the customer in the foreign area is equal to or more than the amount to be refunded. Payment system. 8. The payment card company according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when the total purchase amount of the customer in the foreign territory does not exceed the amount to be refunded, the payment card company notifies the customer of the fact. Refund settlement system. 9. The refund settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the settlement card is a credit card or a debit card. After the customer has settled the purchase amount of the goods and services at the store in the foreign region and the refund target amount to be refunded later, in the refund settlement system for executing the refund, the store is issued from the management company, Refund that reads the necessary information from the customer's refund card in which the information required for the refund is recorded, and executes the refund process with the read data together with the purchase price of the goods and services and the refund target amount data. To the company over a wired or wireless line,
A refund settlement system, wherein the refund company refunds to the customer an amount obtained by subtracting a refund processing fee of the refund company determined based on the refund amount from the refund amount, as a refund. . The refund according to claim 10, wherein the refund company refunds the customer an amount obtained by further subtracting a commission amount of the management company determined based on the refund amount from the refund amount. Payment system. The refund settlement system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the refund company transmits the purchase amount data only when the purchase amount is equal to or more than the amount to be refunded.

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