CheckFree Health & Fitness Introduces Managed Data Services

-- Club owners can simplify membership management, billing and payment processing with a fully-integrated club management solution -- 


ATLANTA and LAS VEGAS, March 20  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IHRSA 2006 Booth #1259 -- CheckFree Health & Fitness, a business unit of CheckFree Corporation (NASDAQ:CKFR), today announced the introduction of Managed Data Services from CheckFree and Aphelion, a comprehensive membership management solution that combines online club management software, electronic payment processing and outsourced management of billing and member services. Managed Data Services provides club owners with the tools to realize operating efficiencies and enhance monthly cash flow while providing more personalized service. For club members, Internet and in-club kiosk access to personal accounts and workout plans helps maximize use of club services and deepen membership value.

Managed Data Services is available in three scaleable service tiers, allowing clubs of any size to customize the solution to handle membership management tasks ranging from contract storage, to website updates, to full- service call center support for billing and member issues. Managed Data Services utilizes Internet-based club management software, eliminating the need for a costly in-house computer network infrastructure. The club management software uses the latest data encryption technology, ensuring member privacy and security. Clubs maintain control of their member and business data and can securely access updates in real-time via the Internet. CheckFree handles updates to member data, billing tasks, including overdue accounts and exceptions management, and payment processing. Payments processed by CheckFree's EFT system are deposited directly to the club's account.

A monthly report generated by CheckFree for Managed Data Services customers provides an in-depth summary of monthly club activities. Among other capabilities, monthly reports can identify missed billings, revealing opportunities for additional revenue, and provide a profile of the club's most profitable members, assisting with targeted marketing efforts.

"The integration of all elements of Managed Data Services is seamless, from the Internet-based club management software to the billing and EFT payment processing platforms," says Matt McKernan, Senior Vice President, CheckFree. "This integration means all billing and payment processing issues experienced by CheckFree and Aphelion clients are immediately reflected in the club software interface. Returned items and NSFs can be identified and addressed promptly, speeding the revenue collection lifecycle. And, because CheckFree handles these collection tasks, club owners can focus on serving their members rather than mundane billing details."

"Managed Data Services from CheckFree and Aphelion allows our staff to concentrate on member service, rather than being bogged down in the back- office," says Sean Paxton, COO, Gold's Gym Fitness Alliance. "CheckFree executes our clubs' billing and payment processing according to our policies and procedures, and we have the assurance that billing files will be processed on the day we specify. It's nice to not have to worry about a staff member calling in sick and delaying the monthly billing. In addition, our members are happy with the customer service CheckFree provides when they have billing questions or concerns."

Clubs using Managed Data Services can customize the service by choosing from a variety of add-on services to fit their needs.  Enhancements to the three standard service tiers include:

  - Online Member Services - Allows members to access their account and
    workout information via a password-protected link on the club website.
    Members can update personal information, view billing and check-in
    history, receive e-statements and respond to surveys.
  - Workout Partner - Trainers can quickly and easily tailor specialized
    workouts to individual members. Members can track their workouts and
    view progress from a kiosk in the workout area.
  - Membership Sales - Eliminates errors in membership contracts through
    enforced business rules for discounts, calculation of prorated fees and
    finance rates. The member's signature and the agreement are
    electronically stored and quickly retrieved, saving time and money.
  - Management Dashboard - Club owners and managers can view critical daily
    and monthly business information real-time and measure club performance
    with easily accessible POS, membership sales and billing information.

  As part of Managed Data Services, CheckFree and Aphelion can also manage:
  - Automated courtesy calls and e-mails
  - Management of renewals for paid in full members
  - Reporting and analysis for member, prospect, sales, attrition and
    retention data
  - Member services call center for changes, freezes, cancellations and
    member issues



For more information on Managed Data Services from CheckFree and Aphelion, visit http://www.aphelion.net/.

About CheckFree Health & Fitness (http://www.checkfreeclubmanager.com/)

CheckFree Health & Fitness, a business unit of CheckFree Corporation, has delivered targeted applications designed to meet the operational, financial and membership needs of the health and fitness industry since 1981. The unit is the single source for improving cash flow, expediting financials, and managing membership contracts and reservations. CheckFree Health & Fitness' complete suite of solutions enables clubs to grow and retain membership while helping to minimize day-to-day costs.

In November 2005, CheckFree acquired Aphelion. Aphelion's mission is to design software and systems from the user's standpoint - intuitive and easy to use, while maintaining extensive functionality. Aphelion has a long-standing reputation of excellence in commitment to customer support and consistently develops new technology to provide leading edge products to customers in the fitness and process industries.

About CheckFree (http://www.checkfree.com/)

Founded in 1981, CheckFree Corporation (NASDAQ:CKFR) provides financial electronic commerce services and products to organizations around the world. CheckFree Electronic Commerce solutions enable thousands of financial services providers and billers to offer their customers the convenience of receiving and paying their household bills online or in person through retail outlets. CheckFree Investment Services provides a broad range of investment management solutions and outsourced services to thousands of financial services organizations, which manage about $1.3 trillion in assets. CheckFree Software develops, markets and supports software applications that are used by financial institutions to process more than two thirds of the 12 billion Automated Clearing House transactions in the United States. The division also provides operational risk management, financial messaging, corporate actions, and regulatory compliance software to more than 1,500 organizations across the globe.

Certain of CheckFree's statements in this press release are not purely historical, and as such are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or projections of the future. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the various risks inherent in CheckFree's business, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in CheckFree's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including CheckFree's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2005 (filed September 2, 2005), Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 (filed November 8, 2005), and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2005 (filed February 8, 2006). One or more of these factors have affected, and could in the future affect CheckFree's business and financial results in future periods, and could cause actual results to differ materially from plans and projections. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made in this press release will prove to be accurate, and issuance of such forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by CheckFree, or any other person, that the objectives and plans of CheckFree will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information presently available to management, and CheckFree assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. 

DATASOURCE: CheckFree Corporation



CONTACT:  Ann Cave of CheckFree Corporation, [phone], or

 



Web site:  http://www.checkfree.com/

http://www.aphelion.net/

http://www.checkfreeclubmanager.com/ 

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