A processing system and method for processing purchase orders between a purchaser and a merchant across a public network. The processing system including a purchaser account database for storing purchaser account information for each purchaser and including at least a purchaser identifier and delivery data associated with the purchaser identifier, a programming for monitoring the status of the purchaser account database and disabling the account database in response to a monitored change in the purchaser account information, and a processor for receiving the purchase orders and processing the orders.