A verification system for verifying that a consumer seeking to conduct a
transaction with a merchant using an account is authorized to use the
account. A voice response unit records a voice print of the customer,
e.g. when the account is established, and associates the voice print with
the customer account. In a subsequent transaction, such as where a
customer changes telecommunications provider, the customer voice print is
used to verify that a voice approval given by the customer is in fact
from the customer.