There is provided a service providing system that is capable of preventing
personal information on a user who has used a service from being leaked
to other users without spoiling the convenience for the user, and
increasing the frequency with which the user uses the service. The
service providing system includes a service providing apparatus that
provides a service for the user, and a password issuing device that
issues a password with an expiration date that is made to correspond to
identification information held by the user in response to the payment of
a fee by the user. The service providing apparatus includes a memory that
stores setting data used for simplifying operations relating to the
service provided for the user, and a CPU. The CPU authenticates the user
according to the identification information on the user, the password
issued to the user, and the expiration date thereof, and gives the
authenticated user a permission to perform operations on the setting data
stored in the memory.