Is this IPO invoice genuine?
Pause payment and compare the request with your application records, agreed adviser fees and renewal diary. Verify it through independently obtained IPO or adviser contact details. Do not pay misleading invoices; report doubtful requests to the IPO. This guide is from Cambridge China Bridge.
Identify what the invoice actually offers
After protecting an imported range, route unexpected registration or renewal invoices to the person who manages your intellectual property. Read the service description and small print. Treat offers of directory publication, register inclusion or renewal monitoring as prompts to investigate, rather than instructions to pay.
Ask whether the requested service matches something you authorised. Keep protection decisions separate from invoice approval. For planning the original application, see UK trade mark costs and choosing classes.
Match the request to your own records
Compare the rights owner's name, application or registration reference, product or brand, requested service and claimed deadline with your own file. A matching reference is a starting point for checking, not sufficient approval. Ask whoever handled the application to explain any unexpected charge.
Keep an internal renewal diary with the responsible person and supporting correspondence. When an invoice arrives, check your diary and application file independently. Do not replace your recorded deadline with the date printed on an unsolicited demand.
Verify the sender before releasing payment
Find the IPO's contact details independently through the government website, or contact your appointed adviser using details already in your records. Ask them to confirm the service, payment recipient and whether action is due. For reassurance, the IPO gives its contact number as 0300 300 2000.
A private adviser may legitimately charge for separate services. Match their invoice to your agreed instructions and ask for official fees and adviser charges to be explained separately. Apply the independent contact checks in avoiding sourcing scams if payment details have changed.
Hold and report doubtful requests
The IPO's guidance says not to pay misleading invoices. For reassurance or further information, contact misleadinginvoices@ipo.gov.uk. Keep the original letter, envelope or email and send a copy of the request with a short explanation of what concerns you.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, confirm the appropriate reporting route with the relevant police authority. If you have already paid, contact your bank immediately and ask it to attempt a recall. Preserve the payment record and reporting reference.
Keep the genuine work moving
Holding a doubtful invoice should trigger a separate check of the underlying application or renewal. Ask your adviser or the IPO what genuine action remains outstanding, then record the verified instruction and payment route. Mark the suspect invoice so another colleague does not approve it.
Keep intellectual property correspondence separate from factory invoices and product compliance documents. If the request actually concerns substances in imported goods, start with UK REACH for importers rather than treating it as an intellectual property renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Does my trade mark number prove an invoice is genuine?
No. Match it to your file, then verify the sender, service and payment recipient independently with the IPO or your appointed adviser before approving payment.
Are all private trade mark renewal invoices scams?
No. Private representatives can legitimately charge for separate services. Check that you instructed the sender and that the invoice matches your agreed work.
Where do I send a suspicious IPO invoice?
Contact misleadinginvoices@ipo.gov.uk for reassurance and provide a copy of the request. Keep the original correspondence and your application records.
What if I have already paid a misleading invoice?
Contact your bank immediately and ask for a recall. Preserve the evidence and confirm the appropriate route for reporting suspected fraud with the relevant police authority.