Verification of a benefit purchase incident to a computer system purchase

A service tag is generated and stored on a computer when a make-to-order computer is assembled. When a user receives a computer and attempts to access the internet, a unique number, the service tag, is provided by the computer to an internet service provider's (ISP's) host server. The host server provides the key to a proprietary server, such as a server operated by the manufacturer of the computer. The proprietary server compares the service tag number received from the ISP server to a list of valid service tag numbers. If the service tag number is valid the proprietary server returns a purchase plan to the ISP server, allowing the user to obtain previously agreed benefits. One embodiment provides internet access as the previously agreed benefits.