InventHelp Reviews

They only revealed two related items, and one of them was for an animal. Our product is for people. After two years our contract with invent Help ended. We subsequently decided to have a local patent attorney firm, do another patent search and product assessment. Within three weeks they had a report ready for us with there findings. They had found several similar invention ideas, and one product that was basically the same idea my partner and I had. Invent Helps patent searches we feel are inadequate at best, and incompetent at worst. Buyers beware. The total amount my partner and I are out is $13,000.00.

They stepped out of the office for 10 minutes or so and he said that there’s what they have in mind. He said that they have a video crew next door. They are going to video this idea and said to call them in 2 weeks. I called back and the receptionist said that the man I talked to is gone! This is only the start. I'll be happy to talk to some one in person. I’m so upset. This was 3 years ago and my idea is in this person's hands. Please call me somebody. My invention is hot and one of a kind. I’ve been beside myself and this has affected my health tremendously. Please, is there any body that really cares? God I hope so.

I never received any feedback, so I took it upon my self to review where my file stands and what step it was at after calling the corperate office. I found that he never submitted any of my paperwork, so I asked the woman I spoke to from the corporate office what I had to do to resolve my issue. She said I had to deal with him.

So I called, and he had every excuse in the book to try and calm me. I told him politely the situation and that I would rather deal with someone else who would help me and not want to deal with him. Now he will not leave me alone repesded calls text messages. I haven't heard anything in 6 weeks. And after I tried to report my issue, he called me over 10 times within an hour, trying to explain his self. I refused to talk to him, and he texted messages to me.

Then 5 minutes later, he has another rep call me saying that corporate emailed him my file saying that he was in charge of my case. Then he slipped and said corporate will FedEx him my case the following day. Needless to say, I paid them to do nothing; and they never submitted my paperwork. I feel i have been robbed. Where did my money actually go? These guys are a bunch of wannabe con men till they met me. Now, they will not leave me alone. I don't know where to go from here. Please help me. I can explain more over the phone. I'm not really sure I got everything in this letter.

For years prior to my visit to their office, I queried the internet to see if my product or something similar was already being made or sold. There was never any hits. Strangely enough, after about a year of my visit to ISC, there it was on the internet! In another country and then another! Crazy enough, I discovered that these two countries are affiliated countries of ISC. Now, isn't that a coincidence? It isn't in the US but the description and the product is so similar it is amazing. They almost use my description "word for word" and it reflects in my paperwork. I did print off the pages that I could of the product online. I am so upset! I held onto my idea for over 20 years and then trusted them and this is the thanks I get. Talk about a company ripping of the consumer.

In my opinion, I can prove they stole my idea and are using/selling it in their associated countries (I had a relative that knew a patent attorney that searched for my idea. The report ISC gave me did not bring up a search that came close but this other attorney said he doesn't see how they could have missed it, but it was closer than the ones they included in their report). Just many other interesting actions they did in the beginning was strange. I am out money and feel violated knowing that my idea is selling in other countries and like I said, it is almost word for word that I explained to them. I am afraid that someone will think that I am trying to steal their idea now if I proceed to develop/market/attempt to license here in the US.

After three years and many nights of researching InventHelp, I decided to call their HQ today and spoke with a woman named Sarah **. I asked her to please fax me all progress reports including proof that my invention has been marketed or at least DISCUSSED with companies, shown at the INPEX show, as well as the Concept Catalog. She (along with a woman named Mara) informed me that they do not keep copies of the letters that they mail out to companies, nor do they do any type of proof of mailing or anything of the sort, and that instead, I would have to take a leap of faith that what they're telling me they've done is true.

I blatantly told her that if that was the case, then she should have just taken a leap of faith on the concept of me paying them rather than to charge me upfront, to which she slyly replied that I could at any time stop making payments to them. This simply is NOT true; or rather, it is, but not if you want your credit report to go unaffected by them. Aside from a few confirmation letters, a book, and a brochure, I have not received any of the services promised to me the day I signed the contract. Not to mention that it's damn near impossible to contact any of the companies that allegedly do business with InventHelp, and the ones that I have found, don't know my invention at all. Sarah informed me that this may be because they sent my marketing proposal over a year ago, and so of course they would forget. Sound bogus yet?

The most they promised me they could do, is try to find out who was at the Galleria show, get their hands on one of the exclusive brochures since they're in such limited quantities, and re-send me the correspondence letters that they've sent. I told her that this simply isn't good enough, because my mother and I invested $12,000 of hard-earned cash that we didn't have and at the end of the day, there's NOTHING to show for it. She even tried to get me to sign up for further marketing/promotion efforts on their behalf. No thanks!

Sarah then tried to explain to me that they wouldn't lie about the work they've done because they've been in business for over 20 years and have never had a problem, to which I informed her that I'm aware of the FTC ruling of 1994. She then tells me that they were found to have done no wrong in that case, to which I asked her that if this was true, then why did they have to dish out $1.2M in settlements to various unhappy clients? I don't think I ever got that question answered.

I told her that unless I'm getting a refund, I will be filing charges and complaints with the BBB, FTC, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, USPTO, and my own personal attorney and seek litigation against this company. The most she promised me? That she would pass on my suggestion of keeping better and more accurate records. I cannot believe that a company like this can still exist and scam people the way that they do. Inventhelp is a scam; they are in violation of the consent decree covered under the FTC violation from 1994 where they agreed to no longer rip people off through their sales/representative tactics.

Me & my Investor (My step-dad) sat down with a Inventhelp Rep. who told us that we had a wonderful invention (Which we already knew before we walked in the office). He also stated that it is a great invention and he said that it can be on the shelves in a years time if we hurried the payments and got the ball rolling. I had already paid the first cost ($945) out of my own pocket, before involving my step-dad. I only involved my step-father because the Rep. (George Palmer) said it would be better to find a family member to invest in my invention, rather than placing an Ad in the paper for an Investor, which would only make someone else rich!!

We were then convinced to pay them over $13,000 to start everything we needed to get our invention and patent rolling. It was paid in full the day me and my investor left his office. Since that day it has been nothing but a lie, and a scam. The companies they had contacted, they didn't. They sent my information to companies that had nothing to do what so ever with the invention (i.e..Winchester Systems Or Motorola.). There was never an address or phone number or any information to say they contacted these people or any proof that they even contacted them. .

I contacted some of those companies and some of them stated that they threw away that junk from that company (Quote) .Some said that they never got anything at all and never heard of the InventHelp company. This set off alarms.

InventHelp said that there are so many companies in there Data Bank (Which is not true). They were quick to take my family's money but not so quick to send out information as requested. I believe they send letters out, and could care less to who or if they even exist!!!. The companies are not in any way affiliated with their services. I also believe they lied about having all the resources that they say they have. They are just a bunch of ink and paper scam artists who represent themselves as a legit inventor service. They can care less if their customers succeed, they already won, all they had to do is cover their backs by sending papers and collecting their fee's, without caring or providing a genuine service.

This company has misrepresented themselves.You know what makes me mad the fact that people work hard for their money and no person or company has the right to misrepresent themselves or their company. I intend to tell the world about Inventhelp Co. I will contact the news media and everyone who will listen in all the internet forums across the globe!!. I will also seek legal advice. I want all of my money, not half, but all!

Don't Deal With InventHelp, they are a fraudulent company. They are in violation of FTC-94 which can be read here:

ftc.gov/opa/predawn/F95/invention-2.htm

We paid them over 13,000 to start everything and it was paid in full. Since that day it has been nothing but a lie all of it. The companies they stated they had they didn't, they sent my information to companies that had nothing to do what so ever with the invention.(Furniture Store_Example) There was never an address or phone number or any information to say they contacted these people . I contacted some of those companies and some of them stated that they threw away that junk(Quote from that companie).Some say they never got anything. They said that There were so many companies in there Data Bank(Lied Again).Many calls were made and each time they lied again .They were eagered to take customer money but not eagered to send out information when requested or do there job correctly.

All companies that has contacted Inventhelp has come from me alone.This company has misrepresented themselves.They even had the nerve to send in a Regional Director who said she was coming in to see us,well she came in just to collect the money and leave.(ZULA BERRY).