Corporation Division

Assumed Business Name Renewal Service scam

Assumed Business Name Renewal Service
UPDATE: May 28, 2008 – Oregon’s Attorney General has notified us that the company Assumed Business Name Renewal Service has decided to stop doing business in Oregon. As this company has a pattern of popping-up every couple of years, we will continue to educate Oregon business owners to beware of this and other suspicious solicitations. 

We have had numerous reports of a solicitation from a company called Assumed Business Name Renewal Service that are perceived by many Oregon businesses to be "confusing", “deceptive”, or “a scam.” This solicitation warns of pending assumed business name expiration, cites Oregon Law, and offers to prepare and file all necessary documents to renew the business name with the Secretary of State Corporation Division for a fee of $100. Click here to see a recent example of this solicitation.

This solicitation uses carefully worded language to avoid violating any known state or federal laws. In a typical example, for $100 this company will forward the required $50 fee to the Secretary of State Corporation Division to complete the two-year renewal, and keep the balance for providing the service. If you paid this company to perform the renewal service for you and they failed to complete the renewal with the Secretary of State Corporation Division, then you should immediately contact the Oregon Department of Justice, Financial Fraud and Consumer Protection Section.

What to do if you recieve one of these solicitations.

1.  Do not reply to the solicitation or send any money.
      Assumed Business Name registrations are renewed every two years for a fee of $50 payable to the
      “Corporation Division.” The Secretary of State Corporation Division does not believe that anyone
     should ever have to pay extra or use a third party service to complete this simple transaction. We
     suggest that you save yourself the extra money and renew the business registration directly with the
     Secretary of State Corporation Division.

2.  Verify when your business registration is due for renewal.
     Use the Secretary of State Corporation Division’s Business Name Search to search for your
     business name online. If your assumed business name registration is due for renewal, you will see
     the due date and an option to Renew Online by credit card. 

EXAMPLE

3.  Renew directly with the Secretary of State Corporation Division.
     The Secretary of State Corporation Division has made the process of renewing your business
     registration easy and convenient. Our Annual Reports and Registration Renewals page provides
     more detailed information and instructions to renew a business registration directly with the
     Secretary of State Corporation Division.

Renew Online Option
Renew Online is safe, and the fastest way to renew your Assumed Business Name registration.

Renew By Mail Option
45 days prior to the anniversary date, the Corporation Division will mail an APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL to the business' mailing address.

Download Renewal Instructions
How to Renew Your Business Name flyer

Call or E-Mail if you have any questions.
The Secretary of State Corporation Division is here to help.
Please contact us at 503-986-2200, or e-mail us at BusinessRegistry.sos@state.or.us

	If you paid ABNRS to renew your business name - PLEASE NOTE A business owner who believes they were confused or mislead by the ABNRS solicitation may be able to request a refund directly from the company by calling the number listed on the solicitation (503-581-3373).

If ABNRS refuses to issue a refund, business owners may want to consider filing a complaint with the Oregon Attorney General’s office at 1-877-877-9392, or file a complaint online at www.doj.state.or.us/finfraud/concompform.shtml.