JPH0546821A - Method and system for issuing prepaid card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the issuing method and issuing system of a prepaid card, where a device can be miniaturized, input work is facile at the time of issuing the new prepaid card and the new prepaid card can easily be issued even at a store. CONSTITUTION:Since data is transferred between a host computer 22 which intensively manages customer data and prepaid card terminal equipments 2 and 2b by an online system through a memory card 18 or the online system in a communication means, identification information on a customer coresponding to customer special data is called from the memory card 18 or the host computer 22 connected by online when customer special data on a member number is inputted on the side of the terminal equipments 2 and 2b issuing the prepaid card 4. When an issuing amount is inputted, identification information on the customer corresponding to customer special data is written into a magnetic recording part and the new prepaid card 4 can be issued.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prepaid card issuing method and an issuing system capable of easily issuing a new prepaid card at a store.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a prepaid card system has been developed which enables the purchase of goods and the like by presenting a prepaid card instead of paying money. This prepaid card is beginning to be actively used in specific shopping districts, employee cafeterias, and chain stores nationwide. In this case, the prepaid card has a structure in which a magnetic recording portion is entirely applied to a card made of paper or plastic, or a stripe-shaped magnetic recording portion is partially provided. Information about the balance and the number of transactions is magnetically recorded in a predetermined format. For example, in a prepaid card purchased for 10,000 yen, 10,000 yen is magnetically recorded as the balance at the beginning of purchase, and if you present this prepaid card and purchase a product for 5,000 yen, A prepaid card presented by a customer is inserted into a prepaid card terminal device connected to an ECR (electronic cash register) or the like, and the remaining amount magnetically recorded on the prepaid card is rewritten to 5,000 yen. And, in the usage history display column of the prepaid card,
Each time it is used, the prepaid card terminal device sequentially prints the remaining amount after reducing the usage amount. This allows the user to know the remaining amount, which is the monetary value of the current prepaid card.

Recently, a system using a POS system has been adopted as a system using such a prepaid card. In the prepaid card system incorporating the POS system, the prepaid card is not simply a cash voucher, but also has a function as an ID card. Therefore, the information for identifying the customer to be used is also written in the magnetic recording section and the display field of the prepaid card.

[0004]

By the way, in the system using the above-mentioned prepaid card, when a new prepaid card is issued in response to a customer's request,
Traditionally, the customer's name, member number, issuer name, issue date,
The customer identification information such as the expiration date is input from the input device each time a new card is issued, and is written in the magnetic recording unit and the display list of the prepaid card.

However, such a method requires an input device for inputting the customer's name and the like in Kanji, and the device becomes large in size to be installed at each store, and the work for inputting is required. It is complicated, and there is an inconvenience that the work of issuing a new prepaid card is complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.
A prepaid card issuing method that enables downsizing of the device installed at the store, and is extremely easy to input when issuing a new prepaid card, and that can easily issue a new prepaid card at the store. The purpose is to provide an issuing system.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, in the method of issuing a prepaid card according to the present invention, a storage medium in which identification information for each customer is stored is attached to a prepaid card terminal device, and a membership number. When the customer identification data such as is input, the customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data is called from the storage medium, and when the issue amount is input, at least the customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data is input. It writes to the magnetic recording unit and issues a new prepaid card. Further, the prepaid card issuing system of the present invention, at least for each customer, identification information for identifying the customer, such as the customer's name, and usage history information regarding the balance and the number of times of use, which are sequentially updated according to the transaction. A host computer to be managed, a movable storage medium in which all or part of the information for each customer stored in this host computer is stored, the storage medium is mounted, and customer specific data such as a membership number is input. In this case, the customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data is
It has a prepaid card terminal device that writes out the customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data in at least the magnetic recording unit and issues a new prepaid card when calling from this storage medium and inputting the issuance amount. In the prepaid card issuing system according to the present invention, the storage medium may be used as an online connection to connect the host computer and the prepaid card terminal device online without using the connection.

[0008]

According to the above construction, the host computer for centrally managing the customer data and the prepaid card terminal device can be operated offline via a storage medium or online via a communication means such as RS232C. Since the data is exchanged, on the terminal device side that issues the prepaid card, data such as customer's name, card number, issuing store name, issue date, expiration date, etc., which is identification information unique to the customer, It is not necessary to enter each time a new prepaid card is issued. That is, when customer identification data such as a membership number is input, the customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data is called from a storage medium or a host computer connected online, and the issue amount is input, The new prepaid card can be issued by writing at least the customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data in the magnetic recording unit.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is an overall schematic view of a prepaid card issuing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the prepaid card terminal device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
5 to 8 are front views of the prepaid card according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts showing a method of issuing the prepaid card according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a prepaid card issuing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of prepaid card terminal devices 2 placed at a store, and an ECR (electronic cash register) placed at the store as well. 42 to the prepaid card terminal device 2b, and the host computer 2 to which the prepaid card terminal device 2a is connected.
2 and. To the host computer 22, a memory card read / writer 24 for mounting a memory card 18 as a movable storage medium is connected. Each prepaid card terminal device 2, 2b has a memory card slot 20 for mounting the memory card 18.

The memory card 18 is a memory card read / writer 24 connected to a host computer 22.
The card contents are read from there, and the information stored in the card 18 is centrally processed by the host computer 22. The data centrally managed by the host computer 22 is stored in the memory card 18 in whole or in part, and by inserting the memory card 18 into the slot 20, the data can be appropriately read by the prepaid card terminal devices 2 and 2b. That is, the host computer 22 and each terminal device 2, 2b
Are connected offline via a memory card 18.

The usage of the memory card 18 is not particularly limited, but for example, a usage history memory card for storing or updating usage history data for each customer, and an issuing memory card used for issuing a new prepaid card. Alternatively, it can be used as a parameter memory card in which a discount rate of each product or a product according to a customer is stored.

In the present embodiment, the prepaid card terminal devices 2 and 2b are devices that are placed at a store and are necessary for purchasing products or the like with the prepaid card 4. A prepaid card slot 6 is formed in each of the prepaid card terminal devices 2 and 2b, and a prepaid card 4 is inserted into the slot 6 to carry out various operations so that transactions can be carried out. In this embodiment, these prepaid card terminal devices 2 and 2b have a new prepaid card issuing function. The process of issuing a prepaid card will be described later.

The prepaid card of this embodiment is made of paper, plastic or the like, and a magnetic recording portion is formed on the entire surface or a part of the card. In this magnetic recording unit, at least information regarding the balance and the number of times of use, which are sequentially updated according to transactions, is magnetically recorded. As shown in FIG. 3, on the back surface of the card 4 on which the magnetic recording portion is formed, an identification information display column 8, a usage history display column 10,
The service stamp column 12 is displayed.

The identification information display field 8 displays fixed information such as the customer's name, issue amount, member number, card number, issuer name, issue date, and expiration date. Further, the usage history display column 10 can display information about the usage history such as the name of the shop where the card is used, the usage date, and the available balance. Further, in the service stamp field 12, service information corresponding to the amount of money used for the card is displayed. These pieces of information can be recorded in the magnetic recording section. Using this prepaid card 4, the prepaid card 4 displayed in the usage history display column 10
Are shown in FIGS.

The prepaid card 4 as described above is inserted into the prepaid card terminal device 2 or 2b to carry out transaction sale of products and the like. The difference between the prepaid card 2 and the prepaid card 2b is that one terminal device 2b is E
Connected to CR42, keypad 16 and LCD
Since the configuration is the same except that the (liquid crystal display) 14 is not provided, the prepaid card terminal device 2 will be described, and the description of the prepaid card terminal device 2b will be omitted. In the terminal device 2b, the keypad 1
6 and LCD 14 do not have these functions
This is because CR42 has it.

The prepaid card terminal device 2 has an LCD (liquid crystal display device) 14 for displaying the transaction amount and the like,
A keypad 16 for inputting transaction amounts and the like is attached. Further, the device 2 is equipped with a slot 20 for inserting the memory card 18.

In the present embodiment, the prepaid card terminal device 2 accommodates several hundreds of off-value cards having no monetary value, and predetermined printing is performed on the off-value cards to obtain various magnetic information. It also has a function of issuing as a new prepaid card 4 by writing.

Next, the internal circuit configuration of the terminal device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a CPU (central processing unit) 26 that performs various calculations and controls each unit is connected via a bus 29 to a ROM 27, a RAM 28, a memory card interface 30, a reading circuit 31, a writing circuit 33, and printing. Device 34, card carrier 35, RS
A 232C interface 36, an LCD driver 37, and a keypad 16 are connected. ROM27 is CPU2
6 is a read-only memory for storing programs and the like calculated in 6, and the RAM 28 is a random access memory in which various data are temporarily stored in the process of processing the programs.

The memory card interface 30 is designed to exchange various data such as customer information with the memory card 18, and is installed in the memory card slot 20 shown in FIG. The reading circuit 31 converts the information read from the magnetic recording unit of the prepaid card 4 via the reading head 32 into digital data to convert the information into CP.
Supply to U26. The writing circuit 33 includes the keypad 16, the memory card interface 30 or the RS 23.
Various customer information input through the 2C interface 36 or the like is written in the magnetic recording unit of the prepaid card 4 through the write head 38.

The printing device 34 is a device for printing predetermined information on the prepaid card 4, and is mounted in the prepaid card slot 6 shown in FIG. 1 together with the reading head 32 and the writing head 38. .. The printing device 34 is composed of, for example, a thermal head printer.

The card carrying device 35 is a device for setting the prepaid card 4 at a predetermined position in the slot 6 shown in FIG. 1 and discharging the card 4 which has been subjected to a predetermined process from the slot. The card carrier 35 also has the function of setting the off-value card built in the terminal device 2 in the slot 6 when issuing a new prepaid card.

The RS232C interface 36 is shown in FIG.
Various kinds of data are exchanged online with the host computer 22 shown in FIG. 1 or an ECR (electronic cash register) 42 installed in a store. In the present embodiment, the memory card 18 inserted into the memory card interface 30 is used as an off-line type,
Since information such as customer information is exchanged with the host computer 22, the ECR 42 or another terminal device 2, RS
The 232C interface 36 is not necessarily required, but is used together with the memory card interface 30. Depending on the case, only one of the memory card interface 30 and the RS232C interface 36 may be provided.

The LCD driver 37 is a circuit for driving the LCD 14 in response to a display command from the CPU 26. LCD
Information input from the keypad 16 and information recorded in the magnetic recording unit of the prepaid card 4 read by the reading circuit are displayed on the screen 14. From the keypad 16, transaction amount, customer information, operation command information for issuing a new prepaid card, etc. are input.

Next, the operation of processing the prepaid card 4 of this embodiment using the prepaid card terminal device 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, step 7
When the control starts at 0, the routine proceeds to step 71, where it is judged whether or not it is the processing for issuing a new prepaid card. If it is not the processing for issuing a new prepaid card, it is considered to be a normal transaction, so in step 72, it is judged whether or not the prepaid card 4 is set in the slot 6. If not set, the process returns to step 71. If it is determined that the card is set, the data magnetically recorded on the card is read, and step 7
3, the transaction amount is subtracted from the current balance, and the subtraction process is performed to calculate the balance after the transaction. Although the transaction amount is input using the keypad 16 of the terminal device 2, the transaction amount may be input using a bar code reading device without using the keypad.

Next, at step 74, the data to be printed is set in the above-mentioned usage history display column 10. In step 75, the data to be printed in the service stamp field 12 is processed. The processing content in step 75 is not particularly limited as long as it is a set of data for performing some printing on the service stamp field 12, but it is preferable to perform the processing shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, at step 84, it is judged if the total n of the stamps after the transaction is equal to or more than a predetermined value N ₁ at which the stamp column in the first round is full. If it is less than the predetermined value N ₁ , step 8
Go to 5. In step 85, the first stamp marks are set in the number to be printed according to the transaction amount and the transaction number. In this embodiment, the first stamp mark is a circle mark 90, as shown in FIGS. The second stamp mark, which will be described later, is a star mark 92, as shown in FIGS. The shape of these stamp marks is not particularly limited, and the first stamp mark may be an asterisk 92 and the second stamp mark may be a circle mark. By overlapping and printing these stamp marks,
The shape of the stamp mark is selected so that it is possible to distinguish between the first printing and the second printing.

After step 85, the routine proceeds to step 80 shown in FIG. 6, where the first stamp mark is printed and the usage history display column 10 is printed. In step 84 shown in FIG. 7, if n is determined to be N ₁ or more,
Go to step 86. In step 86, it is determined whether the stamp total n after the transaction is N ₂ or less. N ₂
Indicates the number of stamps that fill the service stamp column 12 by printing the second stamp mark in the second round.
If n is less than that, it is possible to print the second stamp mark of the second round, so the process proceeds to step 87, and the second step mark is set by the number corresponding to the transaction amount or the like.

Then, go to step 80 shown in FIG.
The second stamp mark is printed so as to overlap the blank portion of the first stamp mark. In addition, the usage history display column 10 is also printed. The state is shown in FIGS.

If it is determined in step 86 that n is larger than N ₂ , the second stamp mark cannot be printed. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 88, where a new prepaid card issuance process is performed and the new prepaid card is printed. After that, the service stamp is printed. The first stamp mark of the first round is printed on the new prepaid card. Since the relationship with the old card becomes a problem during the issuing process of the new prepaid card, like the process shown in FIG. 8 which will be described later, similar to the case where the printing column of the usage history display column 10 of the prepaid card is full. It is desirable that various processes be performed.

In step 80 shown in FIG. 6, as described above, the data set in steps 74 and 75 are printed in the usage history display column 10 and the service stamp column 12, respectively. At the same time, in step 81,
The printed data is magnetically recorded on the magnetic recording portion of the card. Next, in step 82, the prepaid card 4
Is discharged, and the control ends in step 83.

If it is determined in step 71 shown in FIG. 6 that a new prepaid card is issued, step 7
At 6, the off-value card accommodated in the terminal device 2 is pulled out and automatically set in the slot 6. next,
In step 77, it is determined whether or not the member number has been input from the keypad 16. If the member number is input, the process goes to step 78, and if not, step 77 is repeated. In step 78, the data regarding the identification information is read from the issuing memory card 18. These data are stored in the issuing memory card 18 using the host computer 22 and the memory card read / writer 24 shown in FIG.

Next, in step 79, the keypad 16
It is determined whether or not the issue amount has been input from. If the issue amount has not been input, step 79 is repeated, and if there is, the process proceeds to step 80. In step 80,
The set identification information data is printed in the identification information display field 8. At the same time, in step 81, the identification information data is magnetically recorded in the magnetic recording portion of the card. As a result, the operation of issuing the new prepaid card is completed, so that the card 4 is ejected from the slot 6 in step 82, and the control ends in step 83.

In this embodiment, on one surface of the prepaid card 4, an identification information display column 8, a usage history display column 10,
Since the service stamp field 12 is formed, at the time of transaction, the usage history information such as the remaining amount of the card should be printed in the usage history display field, and the service stamp according to the transaction should be printed in the service stamp field. You can Therefore, the user does not need to separately prepare a service card for imprinting the service stamp, and the burden on the card user and the clerk can be reduced.

When the service stamp column 12 is printed, even if the stamp column becomes full due to the printing of the first stamp mark in the first round, the second stamp mark in the second round is printed from above. Since it is printed, it is possible to use the stamp field twice. As a result, one card 4
Will print a sufficient number of service stamps.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the usage history display field 10 of the prepaid card 4 is full, but the remaining amount usable by the card remains,
The process is performed in the flowchart as shown in FIG.

That is, control is started in step 50,
In step 51, customer information, balance information, etc. are read from the magnetic recording section of the prepaid card 4. In step 53, the balance of the prepaid card and the transaction amount are compared, and it is determined whether or not the product can be purchased based on the balance. If it is not possible, the process proceeds to step 57, the card is ejected, and control is performed in step 58. finish. If possible, go to step 54 and subtract the transaction amount from the current balance,
Calculate the balance after trading. Next, at step 55, it is checked whether the number of times of use of the current prepaid card is a predetermined value Nmax or more. If it does not reach the predetermined value,
Since there is a blank print column of the usage history display column 10 of the prepaid card 4 shown in FIGS.
Go to step 56. In step 56, the writing circuit 33 shown in FIG. 1 writes the usage history information including the remaining amount information after the purchase of the product into the magnetic recording portion of the prepaid card. At the same time, the printing device 34 causes
Printed in the usage history column 10 shown in FIGS. 5 to 5 is usage history information such as usage date, store used, and balance. At that time, service information corresponding to the purchase price of the product, the number of times of use, etc. is printed in the stamp field 12. When printing on the stamp column 12, processing as shown in FIG. 7 is performed.

After that, the process proceeds to step 57, where the prepaid card 4 is sent out from the slot 6 by the card carrier 35, and the control ends at step 58. The usage information for each customer written in the prepaid card 4 is RS2.
It is sent to and managed by the host computer 22 shown in FIG. 1 online through the 32C36 or offline through the memory card 18.

When the prepaid card 4 is used many times,
As shown in FIG. 5, the print column of the usage history column 10 is full, and further printing is impossible, but the remaining amount may not be 0. In such a case, in this embodiment,
From step 55 to steps 59 and 60, a new prepaid card is issued in place of the old prepaid card 4.

That is, at step 59, the old prepaid card whose usage history display field is full is set so that the remaining usable amount becomes 0 so that the old prepaid card cannot be used. As shown in FIG. 5, a printout indicating that the remaining usable amount has become 0 as well as updating the information is displayed in the margin portion 9 of the identification information display column 8.
And eject the old card. Next step 6
At 0, the off-value card stored in the terminal device 2 is sent into the slot 6, and the new prepaid card 4 is created from the off-value card. At that time, in the new prepaid card, the identification information for each customer is recorded in the magnetic recording section, and the identification information is printed in the identification information display field 8. At this time, information is recorded in the magnetic recording unit so that the amount corresponding to the remaining amount of the old prepaid card is added and the card can be used, and the usable amount display is printed in the usage history display column 10.

The new prepaid card is step 57.
At slot 6, then step 57
The control ends at. As described above, such control can be similarly applied when the second round printing in the service stamp field 12 is also full.

In the method of issuing a prepaid card using the terminal device 2 as described above, when issuing a new prepaid card in place of the old prepaid card, it is clear that the remaining usable amount of the old prepaid card is 0. Since it is displayed in, the user will not misunderstand that the old card can be used. Moreover, since the balance of the old prepaid card is added to the new prepaid card, there is no need to change the money, which is convenient for the user and the operator of the apparatus.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the movable storage medium is not limited to a memory card, but an IC card,
Other storage media such as floppy disks can be used. Further, the prepaid card of the present invention only needs to have an identification information display column, a usage history display column, and a service stamp column, and the order of arranging these columns does not matter.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the terminal device 2,
Although data can be exchanged offline between the 2b and the host computer 22 using a storage medium such as a memory card, when the online connection is made and the customer number and the issued amount are entered from the keypad 16, the data is automatically transmitted. Alternatively, a new prepaid card may be issued. Communication means for online communication is not particularly limited, and RS
Other than 232C, a communication means using a modem and a telephone line or ISDN may be used. The communication means is not limited to one-to-one communication means, but may be N-to-N communication means between a plurality of devices.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the printing column of the usage history display column 10 of the prepaid card 4 is full, a new prepaid card is issued instead of the old prepaid card. It is also possible to issue the prepaid card 4 to which the additional amount has been added in the same manner as in the above-mentioned embodiment even when the remaining amount becomes small, even if is not full. In this example,
Instead of step 55 shown in FIG. 8, or step 5
Along with step 5, a step of determining whether or not the remaining amount of the prepaid card after the transaction is less than or equal to a predetermined amount is added, and if it is less than or equal to the predetermined amount, a new prepaid card may be issued. Further, without providing such a step, it is possible to issue a new prepaid card in which the remaining amount of the old prepaid card is added in response to a request from the customer. In that case, the keypad 1 shown in FIG.
It is necessary to input the instruction signal from 6.

When a completely new prepaid card is issued using the terminal device 2 described above, for example, the host computer 22 shown in FIG. 1 and the prepaid card terminal device 2a connected to the host computer 22 issue the new prepaid card. An intermediate card 4a in which identification information other than the amount of money is stored and printed is issued, and the intermediate card 4a is inserted into the slot 6 of the terminal device 2.
The completed new prepaid card may be issued by inserting it into the keypad 16 and inputting the issued amount from the keypad 16. The host computer 22 for issuing the intermediate card 4a does not necessarily have to be installed in the same store as the terminal 2, for example, but a common issuing association for a plurality of stores may be provided and installed there. good. The specific field to which the present invention is applied is not particularly limited, and it can be used in various fields such as a supermarket, a department store, an amusement park, a dining room, and the like.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The prepaid card is issued because the host computer that centrally manages customer data and the prepaid card terminal device exchange data via a storage medium in an offline or online manner. On the terminal device side, it is not necessary to input data such as the customer's name, card number, issuing store name, issue date, and expiration date, which are the identification information unique to the customer, each time a new prepaid card is issued. That is, when customer identification data such as a membership number is input, the customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data is called from a storage medium or a host computer connected online, and the issue amount is input, The customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data,
At least it is possible to write in the magnetic recording unit and issue a new prepaid card.

As a result, it is not necessary to prepare an input device for inputting characters or the like as an input device of the terminal device for issuing a new prepaid card, and the device can be downsized. Further, the input operation for issuing a new prepaid card is significantly facilitated, and it becomes possible to easily issue a new prepaid card at a store in response to a customer request.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a prepaid card issuing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the prepaid card terminal device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the prepaid card according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the prepaid card according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the prepaid card according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method of issuing a prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method of issuing a prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method of issuing a prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2, 2a, 2b prepaid card terminal device 4 prepaid card 6 slot 8 identification information display column 10 usage history display column 12 service stamp column 22 host computer 31 reading circuit 33 writing circuit 38 printing device 26 CPU 90 circle mark (first stamp 92) Star (second stamp)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G07F 7/08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A prepaid unit having a magnetic recording unit in which at least identification information for identifying a customer, such as the customer's name, and usage history information regarding the remaining amount and the number of times of use, which are sequentially updated according to transactions, are magnetically recorded. A method of issuing a card, which corresponds to customer identification data when a storage medium storing identification information for each customer is attached to a prepaid card terminal device and customer identification data such as a membership number is input. When the customer identification information is called from the storage medium and the issuance amount is input, the customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data is written in at least the magnetic recording unit,
A method of issuing a prepaid card characterized by issuing a new prepaid card. 2. A host computer that manages, for each customer, at least identification information for identifying the customer, such as the customer's name, and usage history information regarding the balance and the number of times of usage, which are sequentially updated according to transactions. A movable storage medium in which all or part of the information for each customer stored in the host computer is stored, and when the storage medium is mounted and customer identification data such as a membership number is input, the customer When the customer identification information corresponding to the specific data is called from this storage medium and the issuance amount is input, the customer identification information corresponding to the customer specific data is written in at least the magnetic recording unit and a new prepaid card is issued. A prepaid card issuing system having a prepaid card terminal device. 3. A host computer that manages, for each customer, at least identification information for identifying the customer, such as the customer's name, and usage history information regarding the balance and the number of times of use, which are sequentially updated in accordance with transactions. Connected to the host computer in an online manner, when customer identification data such as a membership number is input, customer identification information corresponding to the customer identification data is called from the host computer, and when the issue amount is input, A prepaid card issuing system comprising: a prepaid card terminal device for writing a customer identification information corresponding to customer identification data in at least a magnetic recording unit and issuing a new prepaid card.