A VOUCHER BASED PAYMENT SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS THEREOF

摘要

A voucher based payment system is provided for services (2, 3, 4) that are delivered by way of prepayment meters (8, 9) of the type requiring tokens to be inputted from time to time with each token being adapted to result in the supply of a limited quantity or value of the relevant service and wherein the tokens are acquired in exchange for monetary value. The tokens are of a type that can be transmitted by wireless or landline communication means. The payment system comprises a plurality of voucher vendors (11) each of which is enabled to sell to consumers vouchers that each have a predetermined or consumer selected value and a voucher identifier that uniquely identifies the voucher. The voucher identifier is also capable of wireless or landline transmission. The system includes at least one voucher processing centre (1) that is enabled to dispense to a consumer by wireless or landline transmission a token or a numeric code (as defined), or both, selectively, in exchange for a voucher identifier transmitted to it by wireless or land line transmission.