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BBB Business Review

This Business is not BBB Accredited

Intelius Inc

Phone: (425) 974-6100Fax: (425) 974-6199View Additional Phone NumbersPO Box 808, Bothell, WA 98041-0808http://www.intelius.com! There is an alert for this business !

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BBB Accreditation

Intelius Inc is not BBB Accredited.

Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.

To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.

Reason for Rating

BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.

Factors that lowered Intelius Inc's rating include:

  • Government action(s) against business.

Factors that raised Intelius Inc's rating include:

  • Length of time business has been operating.
  • Complaint volume filed with BBB for business of this size.
  • Response to 1580 complaint(s) filed against business.
  • Resolution of complaint(s) filed against business.
  • BBB has sufficient background information on this business.

Customer Complaints Summary

1580 complaints closed with BBB in last 3 years | 409 closed in last 12 months
Complaint TypeTotal Closed Complaints
Advertising / Sales Issues365
Billing / Collection Issues781
Delivery Issues8
Guarantee / Warranty Issues1
Problems with Product / Service425
Total Closed Complaints 1580

Complaint Details | Definitions | BBB Complaint Process | File a Complaint

  • Government Actions

    The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.

    On August 10, 2010, the Washington State Attorney General's Office entered into a Consent Decree in the Superior Court of the State of Washington, King County, with Intelius, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (Defendant). The State of Washington (Plaintiff) and the Defendant agree that this Consent Decree does not constitute evidence or an admission regarding the existence or non-existence of any issue, fact, or violation of any law alleged by the Plaintiff. Intelius Inc. has agreed for settlement of the matters alleged in the Complaint, and to the entry of this Consent Decree without the need for trial.

    Intelius Inc has permanently enjoined and restrained from directly or indirectly engaging in the following acts or practices:
    A) Displaying on any website that is owned, operated, and/or controlled by Intelius or on any third-party website any offer for a membership program involving a free-to-pay conversion that does not clearly and conspicuously inform the consumer of the membership program they are accepting or declining. Any offers must disclose clearly and conspicuously all material terms to the offer and cancellation terms, and must be easily legible.
    B) Accepting advertising for membership or subscription products from Vertrue, Inc., WebLoyalty, Inc., or Affinion, or from any of their successors, subsidiaries, or affiliates to the extent that the subsidiary, or affiliate engages in marketing practices similar to those in the State's Complaint. All third party programs presented by Intelius must be clearly notated to the consumer as to what they are signing up for and must give a clear of an option to accept or decline.

    Consumers who have unknowingly signed up for any third party memberships through Intelius, Inc., may have the right to restitution. For further information on the restitution being offered and for full details of the Consent Decree, you may view through the Washington State Attorney General's Office at:

    http://www.atg.wa.gov/uploadedFiles/Home/News/Press Releases/2010/InteliusConsentDecree2010-08-10.pdf.

    Washington consumers are eligible for refunds if they 1) enrolled in Identity Protect before Aug. 12, 2009, (the period when the state felt the ads were deceptive), 2) have not received full refunds and 3) have not used any member-enabled benefit. Intelius will contact eligible consumers by mail and e-mail with instructions on how to submit a claim. (The settlement does not apply to consumers in other states or those who purchased memberships from any third-party marketer. You are not eligible if you enrolled in Identity Protect after Aug. 12, 2009, although you may file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Resource Center for informal mediation.)

    Eligible consumers can submit claims online at https://www.inteliusrefundprogram.com. You must provide your unique claim code provided in your e-mail or postcard, as well as your zip code or e-mail address. (Please note: The legitimate claim Web site does NOT request financial information.) Claims must be received by Nov. 8, 2010.

    What government actions does BBB report on?

  • Advertising Review

    BBB has nothing to report concerning Intelius Inc's advertising at this time.

    What is BBB Advertising Review?

Additional Information

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BBB Has received a pattern of complaint from Consumers alleging that they were not aware of a monthly fee when signing up for a one-time purchase. Consumers claim that the monthly fee is from an Identity Protect Service enrollment which includes a 7 day free-trial period and monthly charges of $19.95 after the trial period.

According to BBB files, Intelius has worked with BBB to improve the language on their website to clearly and conspicuously disclose all terms to consumers regarding their Identity Protect Service, and has updated their purchase page to require consumers opt-in to this program as well as to create a username and password.

BBB file opened: 01/28/2008Business started: 01/01/2003
Type of Entity

Corporation

Incorporated: July 2005, WA

Contact Information
Principal: Shane Stendell Naveen Jain (CEO) Ele Macapia
Business Category

Searchers of Records, Screening - Background & Employment

Products & Services

This company offers a search program for public records.

Alternate Business Names
Intelius Screening Solutions, Talent Wise, PublicRecords.com
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