You”™ve probably seen the cartoon caveman about to chisel a stone wheel on InventHelp”™s late night TV advertisements.
Julie Zanotti of Putnam Valley and Ronese Brooks of Yonkers saw the ads and were inspired to submit their invention ideas. But now the would-be inventors say it was they who were chiseled.
They claim that InventHelp bilked them and many others into paying millions of dollars for invention promotion services that were not provided. They are demanding $36 million in damages in a class-action lawsuit filed on Jan. 25 in Westchester Supreme Court. They are being represented by Julie Pecherski Plitt of Oxman Law Group in White Plains.
InventHelp did not respond to a request for comment.
The Pittsburgh company”™s website promotes itself as the “honest invention company.”
“Our approach is straightforward and does not mislead or misinform,” the company states. “This is what separates us from unscrupulous, double-talking organizations who profess to ”˜help”™ inventors.”
The women describe themselves as naïve, aspiring inventors who were lured by slick TV and internet advertisements, assured that their ideas were unique, told that their inventions were potentially lucrative and offered the means to making their ideas real.
They claim they were strung along by a series of seemingly independent entities that were actually acting in concert, including promotion companies, a money lender, patent attorneys, licensing companies, manufacturers and distribution companies.
The web of companies “created the impression that they have successfully helped other inventors, and thus that they are reliable and reputable,” the complaint states. “In truth and in fact, defendants fail to fulfill almost every promise they make to consumers.”
Zanotti, a hair stylist, came up with an idea she called the Liqui Comb, where a styling solution could be put in a hollow chamber and distributed evenly on hair through the comb”™s teeth.
She saw the caveman spots on TV in 2014, called InventHelp and was referred to the Invents Co. affiliate in Iselin, New Jersey. She claims she was told that her idea was novel and had an excellent opportunity for profit and that Invents would partner with her for $7,950.
When she said she could not afford the fee, she was referred to Innovation Credit Corp. in Manhattan. She claims Invents told her she could get an interest-free loan, but the loan she got carried an annual interest rate of 18 percent.
Zanotti alleges that Invents agreed to “commercialize” her concept with press releases, a web page, infomercial, airtime in major markets and contacts with manufacturers; but the services were not provided.
She was referred to a Florida attorney who charged $4,490 to obtain a patent. But her idea could not be patented, she said, because several companies already make and sell similar products.
Then Invents told her that Zambro Manufacturing in Milwaukee was interested in the Liqui Comb. She signed a manufacturing and licensing agreement and agreed to a $2,000 down payment that was charged to her credit card by Global Express Manufacturing of Milwaukee.
Zambro and Global, she alleges, are sham companies.
Ronese Brooks tells a similar story about her concept of eyeglasses with detachable and adjustable arms.
She met with an Invents representative in the Manhattan office in 2016. She claims she was told that her idea was worth “billions.” The representative left the room to conduct a “feasibility study.” When he returned, he allegedly said her invention had scored 93 percent because it was unique, easy to produce and would realize huge profits. In all his years with Invents, he allegedly said, only one other product had received a feasibility score greater than 90 percent.
Brooks said she was overjoyed. She paid $595 for an initial patent search and project summary, and Invents, she said, told her there were no similar patents.
Invents offered to do business with her for $10,000. She asked for time to review the agreement with an attorney, she claims, but the representative told her she would lose a $1,050 discount for doing so. She signed and paid $8,950 for promotion and marketing services.
She claims the work was not done.
Then she was referred to an Arizona patent consulting company. But her invention was not patentable, she discovered, because similar products were already on the market.
For months, Brooks said, Invents did not respond to her phone calls. Then Global Express offered to manufacture her invention for $5,000.
Brooks had become suspicious and declined the offer. In all, she paid $12,000 for services that she claims were not provided.
InventHelp claims to be the largest invention submission company in the country and perhaps in the world.
It is part of the Invention Submission Corp. and shares the same address in Pittsburgh with Technosystems Service Corp. Technosystems Consolidated Corp. and Western Invention Submission Corp. Robert J. Susa is president of the companies. The lawsuit also names Invents, Innovation Credit, three purported manufacturing companies and two patent attorney firms.
The women accuse the defendants of fraud, breach of contract, false advertising, violation of consumer protection laws, dealing in bad faith, unjust enrichment and conspiracy. The patent attorney and patent consultant are accused of breach of fiduciary duty.
Invention firms are required by federal law to disclose their success rates.
From 2015 to 2017, InventHelp states on its website, 6,564 clients have signed agreements, 166 have received license agreements and 49 clients, or 0.7 percent, have received more money than they paid the company for services.
It makes no promises, implies no likelihood of success, is upfront about fees, and does not evaluate inventions, its website states.
The invention game is a “high-risk endeavor,” InventHelp says, and “very few inventions make money.”
“Unfortunately,” the company says, “there are a number of fraudulent service providers who will tell you otherwise.”
Thank you for writing this and getting the word out about such companies. As a successful inventor myself and author of IDEA TO INVENTION, I let inventors know that THEY YOU CAN DO THE WORK YOURSELVES. My book tells them how -and if they don’t want to buy it, they can get it at their local library. Learn the steps before getting ripped off!
Please call Oxman Law in White Planes N.Y @9143689070 lawsuit in progress. We are here to help all of the victims
wow i too was ripped off and are still paying these people
I am a victim of inventhelp and in January i had up until November to continue to pay them 300 plus dollars a month and i stopped for 3 years they’ve done nothing but steal my money and im hurt and embarrassed by it but i trusted them seeing there commercial on t.v for around 30 years, if u like to contact me go ahead my e-mail is white.antoine29@yahoo.com 224-407-1432 I’m Antoine White
Im sorry you got caught up in this too.
Mine started in 2013 to present. Statue of limitation keeps renewing every time they call to pay them.
Is this true because I’m locked in with invent help now for 12000 to 16000 if I’m being scammed then somebody gone be paying with there life on got contact me if there’s something you can help me with on this subject
With a success rate of 0.7 % , that company should have been shut a long time ago. I have had my idea for years now . Until I can do it myself , the idea remains with me .
I am also a victim of invent help back in 2005. They went by Invention Submission Corporation. I went to them with a Laptop desk Idea. The desk would suspend the laptop over the users body and head, or if user wanted to stand the laptop you adjust to the user. I billion or trillion dollar idea. InventHelp connected me with patient attorney I never met, who lived across the United States on the east coast. Rushed the design process, not returning a fully functional CAD design. Showed the Design in a Invention showing on the other side of the country. And gave me a book indicating my invention was submitted and a few Demo disk of the 1 quarter functional design. Ended service just short of fabrication and $10,000 of $12,000 dollars later. After 2 years had passed, I started to see rip-offs of my desk circulating while I was looking for a way to fabricate my desk affordabily but most of the companies I went to wanted $21,000+ that I could not pay to get a prototype. No I see the same laptop desk rip-off with a few million views still selling the ripp-off of my desk and adding the accessories that were going to be on my desk. Feel totally angry, heartbroken, and victimized over 15 years later, knowing I am still working my butt off while someone else is making billions off my idea.
Hi am I too late? I was a victim since 2014, and couldn’t keep in touch with them, this is in Houston tx, went back to their office, only to find the office was empty, and the calls kept going to a car company, or a dating site, since then I gave up and thought I’d take a lost, until I stumbled into y’all, just this recent days I Google to see if they stollen my ideas, there was a product out at market quite similar to mines, I’d like to think it has to be them, I would like to sue, however I can’t get in touch with Ms. Julie Plitt, I left messages but not to be returned, am I too late? My name is Rohm Thongsonlone, please contact me at Facebook Rohm Thongsonlone, or my cell number. (346) 325-8651 thank you very much..
I’m a inventor who got involved with this shoddy organizing in 1997 and I had the unfortunate experience of seeing my invention sold in infomercials on tv w/o any gain on my part . Now I have another invention but I don’t want to get ripped off again.
Hi Nate , I went to an InventHelp office in Seattle in about 1999 with an idea for a carpenter’s tool (I’d already been a carpenter for many years and KNEW this tool was highly marketable and nothing like it existed).
Of course this jerk in a cheap suit told me something like, “Well, I’m no carpenter, but I can kinda see how this might be useful…†. He then went on to say that generally they need about $25k to get a simple tool tracked into the right channels , blah, blah,,,. All while looking carefully at my drawings… Of course he knew I didn’t have that kind of money and wished me good luck. Within about a year my tool was in EVERY Home Depot, Lowe’s, Eagle Hardware ,,, etc. . I was too crushed to go after them. I DID call one time and they made some lame excuse, saying that they can’t control what a disgruntled employee does with people’s ideas. Yes, it’s been a long time, but I think about this often and it just about destroys me when I think of how much someone has made off of MY idea, while I’ve been busting my ass working and with zero retirement. How can people LIVE with themselves ? You’ve seen this tool if you’ve ever been to the hand tool section at Home Depot. I’m sorry it happened to you too.
Really appreciate this alternative number provided. I called their mainline @ 914-422-3900 & the receptionist at Oxman Law Group named Patricia Wilson always answers the line stating she can’t transfer the call over to Julie Pechersky Plitt to return my phone call or either she’s out of the office. I called back different interval times of the day & it’s always the same bluff.
me too. This Judy you speak of I tracked her down. She married and moved to Jackson Hole Montana. She was to handle my patent and I paid her $1500 and then she disappeared. Many phone calls later and looking on line I found a picture of her address. It was a run down building made out of old cinder blocks. After that I found her on facebook and her location some months later. She is practicing some type of law. I contacted her for my money to be refund within a certain amount of time or a lawsuit would be next. So goes the story.
Sorry I was suppose to say near Montana. Jackson Hole is in Wyoming .
Mrs. Nolan-Brown, thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to post a comment. I was looking for a positive view and you provided me with one. I will be looking for your book so I can do research for several ideas I have (but have been too afraid to discuss with anyone and also worried about the costs associated with getting my ideas patented). You are an angel! Again, I really appreciate you taking a moment to let people know they can do this themselves with some or little hard work on their part! God bless you!
I’d like to thank you as well for posting this. I know that this article is about how InventorHelp scams people, but it is so refreshing to hear from the other side of the conversation. Someone actually going out of there way to extend help with no return expected
I am so glad they start this action. Is hard to have ppl renting offices to rip off the ideas that pll have. That i call steal
I used Invent Help a while ago and was wondering how to get in on the lawsuit to seek damages as well and maybe get my money back. Thanks for any advice.
Reporting is false.. not the same companies
They are still adding people to the class action. You just have to call Julie at Oxman Law to discuss. 914 422-3900. Good luck!
Oxman Law is taking care of this at @9143689070.
I would like to join the law suit. I believe I was deceived and ripped off by InventHelp.
What’s fraudulent is your article! InventHelp and “Invents” are two different companies! By your accounts you can have a complaint with Ford and then imply that Mercedes had something to do with it. Get your facts straight.. Invents was headquartered in Manhattan and is not affiliated with InventHelp. Nice reporting job.. Bill Hetzel that wrote the article.. you’re in the same irresponsible, careless and unprofessional boat as Invents. I guess it takes one to know one.
The relationship between Invests and InventHelp and other details in the story are based on the complaint in the lawsuit.
Your wrong
You don’t know what your talking about. As a victim of their scam. And so many others we have the facts . and are out thousands of $$$$ . they do nothing for you but steal your money
Are you a satisfied customer of theirs. If you are your the only one . they took over $10,000 from so many people. The bodies are stacking up .
Are your a satisfied customer? Did they help you? Their are so many others that have had their hard earned money stolen. And we want it back. I sued them in small claims and was suppose to get $5000 . all they did was ignore me.
Scotlyn Huh?!!
You DO realize you just called yourself “…irresponsible, careless and unprofessional..†right?
I dont care what their name is. Is it not IRONIC, that every detail listed IS what’s going on st INVENTHELP? The complaints are valid enough for a lawsuit. Open your eyes, honey.
… You are an … idiot. . . . To bad I’m personally going after all of inventhelps $$$ in more than legal means. Due to the nightmare they have caused I’m returning to them all 10fold….. everyone will get they’re pound of flesh.
I live in NC and recently met with the Charlotte regional sales manager to submit my idea for first stage. So this “free consultation” resulted in a $300 initial payment with the remaining balance of $675 to be collected with two separate deductions in the subsequent months. I was not prepared for this financially but was pressured to “begin the process” as it was “potentially worth millions” I have an innovative plan which is solely dedicated to a very lucrative marketplace. When I initially thought of the idea, the first, the one and only idea submissions firm that came to mind was invent help. I completed my written presentation, a time study evaluation, and objective feasibility report aimed at potential clientele. My invent help guy called me to schedule the second meeting. This is when I started an in depth research into.invent help and discovered the class action lawsuits as well as complaints to the BBB with the company’s responses. Accordingly I have decided to not enter into the next step of the process with invent help when we go to the second meeting. I plan to consult with a patent attorney then proceed from there.
I used inventhelp also they told me other day company was interested and said they would pay me 500 to look at it it feels like a scam especially since I seen another woman’s attachment to my email saying samething I still have this proof I’d like my money back and what profits I could have made possibly if I’m being scammed contact me matthewderitis3@gmail.com
Yes it is a scam
HELL YEA there a scam
Then who can I trust any one know
Are you a satisfied customer of theirs. If you are your the only one . they took over $10,000 from so many people. The bodies are stacking up
10,000…… I paid them $6900 for the first idea and another $14,000 for my second invention and will finally have paid them off this August 2018 Nothing has happened. Do I make the 2 last payments ? I have all the documentation. Felt like I got used and out a great chunk of money. Anything I can do ?
There are 2 Class Action lawsuits pending – they are trying to get back your $$ plus additional damages.
I have left a vm with Ms. Plitts’ office. I just signed a contract with IH two days ago and realize I should have done my homework in advance. I wasn’t intending to spend a dime until I understood what services they were to provide. Now I am committed to spending over $800 (have paid $200+ down already) and I’m not even sure what I am supposed to get in return. This sucks.
Don’t give them anymore money!!! Sorry for your loss. If your spend any more you will be out thousands. Instread of of couple of hundreds. Call the Oxman law firm. We are trying to get everyone’s money back
Please don’t give them any more of your money .better off with a small loss then looseing thousands. Tell them you want your money back .that you know they are a scam and you have the prof . see what they say and get back to us.
I have paid over 10,000.00 and have yet to see any results!
Invent Help new in advance that my idea was not original. Even so the agent that was setting things up for my file held papers from my attorney stating that I should not proceed with this idea. Therefore, I had to pay a large amount for research of patents that were already claimed.
Also, in the Charlotte area he will move his location to mislead more people.
HELLO MY NAME IS JESSE AND I WENT THROUGH { INVENTS COMPANY }I PAYED 10,000. THEY SUPPOSEDLY DID COMMERCIALS SOME WHERE ,NO ONE THAT I KNOW EVER SAW THE COMMERCIALS ; AND TOLD ME THAT MY IDEA DID BETTER THAT ANY OTHER IDEA. EVENTS SHOWED ME A BOOK STATING THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE MILLIONS . THEY DID A COMPUTER PROTOTYPE THAT WAS CHEAP AND LOOKED LIKE A TOY. I WAS A EASY TARGET BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN MY IDEA. BUT I KNOW I WAS CONNED OUT OF MONEY AND NOT JUST MONEY BUT ALSO CONNED OUT OF TRUST FOR OTHERS,,,,,ITS A SAD DAY . BUT IM ASKING GOD TO DO BACK TO THEM WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO OTHERS AND MORE. THEY SHOULD CALL THE COMPANY { BERNARD MADOFF }
There’s a web blog that tells the whole story about this pervasive invention promotion fraud: https://inventorwarning.wordpress.com/
It’s written by an ex-employee who gives you the “inside scoop” on how these companies really work.
You’ll be horrified!
Inventhelp promoted my product without my approval and they then said they made up for it by listing it the next year. The damage was already done as they promoted my product that was not finalized. I also paid for the premium package and they never provided me the prototype offered. They have asked me to settle for $2,500. I need help with this matter. Can anyone help me? I can be reached at russo.b@gmail.com. My name is Ben Russo. Thank you
They got me!
My experience with Invent help . Was exactly what happened. I contacted invent help, expressing a concept
By way of using a cell phone as a car alarm system. After supposedly doing a world wide search. This concept didn’t exist. Now today auto have cameras to assist drivers while in use of there vehicles. It was title : “The No Sleeper””.
Hello, Thank God for everyone of you, except scotlyn..he sounds suspicious, like maybe he’s in cahoots with invent help. Anyway ya’ll have saved me from what sounds like a big headache, and financial disaster. I pray to God, each and everyone of you get your money + back. Again Thank ya’ll so much, i was just fixing to do business with I H …wheeew.
I also was a victim back in 2013. My idea was espresso 4 babies which came to me in a dream back in 2002. a device that makes baby formula like a coffee espresso machine. It all checked out that it wasnt anywhere in the world. The confidentiality forms were signed by both parties and the following year my idea was on shelves in walmart target and many huge store chains. Selling @ over $100 a pop. They told me it was a multi million dollar idea. Well it was i knew it would be. I never seen a dime of it!! Davidsons is the company i reached out too. Beware!!!
They got me for 13, 000.00 . I would like to join this lawsuit as I want my money back. We need to shut them down and taking people’s hard earned money.
Call Oxman Law Group, Julie Plitt, – 2 federal lawsuits pending and still accepting plaintiffs – 1.914.422.3900
Got decieved into contract by Inventhelp. They told me it wasn’t a loan only a third party monitoring the transaction. I could stop at anytime without obligation. After I fired them, I get calls from Universal loan threating my credit if I dont continue to pay. My credit was high 600, now low 400. Because of Inventhelp I am now in the process of bankruptcy. #so sad.
I’m so happy I’m not alone it’s so embarrassing I’ve been trying to get finance for a used car I really need a car for work / but invent help has sent me to collections I try to tell them I did not borrow money that they made promises they are professional fast talking hustlers that feed you lyes until you sign the papers saying over & over you can have financial freedom just to tell the story over & over is humiliating & embarrassing!
After my time of representation by InventHelp ran out I saw my invention on hgtv a few months later. Think I got hosed
Same with me. My invention is now being sold by a family out of NJ. They filed for the Patent just 1 year after I gave my idea to InventHelp. When I went to InventHelp, there was nothing like my product that existed anywhere. It looks almost identical to mine and they are advertising almost verbatim, with the medical research I had done. If there is a connection, I want to find it so I can get their Patent revoked. Too bad the U.S. changed their Law in 2013 from a “first to invent†to a “first to fileâ€. I have all the proof that I was the Inventor.
It sounds like most of you are just upset that things didn’t go your way. Getting a company to license a new product is a very difficult thing to do. Its a gamble and I’m sure you signed non disclosure statements stating you understood this. Reminds me of when Trump won the seat and all the liberals were crying because things didn’t go their way. When I did business with them last year I knew it was a risk and didn’t spend money on a risky venture that I didn’t have. Even still I received a patent for my product and a foundation for getting my invention in front of companies. There’s no way I could have done what they’ve done on my own so im very thankful.
My father and I are victims as well. I will be reaching out to the attorneys office tomorrow, which is a voting day or Wednesday.
I would like to be added to the lawsuit as well. Paid out over $20,000.00. And no follow ups. The patent lawyer they had working on my patent quit the organization so no patent. Left messages no reply.
When I signed up was told I had a very unique invention with great potential. All along I had to keep
fixing their literature as was not the literature or pictures I had given them. Also not told where there were trying to market my product.
Please email me or text me at 705-627-5730 to let me know how to join this lawsuit.
Thank you Bill Jenkins
I would like to be added to the lawsuit as well. I paid 10,000 to get a patent from isc and never heard back from them. I have all my papers and contract that was breached by isc.
Wow this is crazy
They took me for over 1800.00$$$$$
Having many ideas and inventions I being nieve did not know how to get them to market
I went to invent help to try a fantastic invention and they scammed me so bad I haven’t tried again
And all my inventions and my ideas that people would so enjoy are going to waste
I gave up trying
I am not a rich man nor poor but trust is gone
I’m a Giver not a taker
Steve
Is it too late to join any one of the class action lawsuits against InventHelp, if not, how do I do it?
I called Oxford Law Offices and they said they can add me to the lawsuit, so you should be able to have yourself added as well. 914-422-3900
Are they still looking for people to add to this lawsuit? My husband and I had the same situation! We paid the for over 3 years and stopped when they told us our invention couldn’t be patented even though they said it would be initially. They’ve still been calling/writing us for the balance they are owed.
I paid this company $24,000 just to find out that my patent was already taken years before they did nothing for me but take my money I still have all the paperwork they sent me drawings promises just to find out that they were shut down and change their name to something else
I contacted Oxman Law Group 914-422-3900 and they said that I was able to get onto the lawsuit still so I recommend as many of you that have been scammed by this company to call and leave your info.
back about 2002 I went to invent help with my idea after explaining my idea to them. they told my idea was not invention but more like an experiment and that there was nothing they could do with it so i left. about 1 year later everybody had one for sale. my idea was the sphere magnet or a magnet shaped like a ball. well i called invent help they denied stealing my idea, but they did
Well i’m new with this and i payed 930 dollars and they say it take three weeks to get back the paper to see if this is good investment and i don’t thank this is good cause they told me that this could be good for me and we in march 2019 and i do good a lot to help others and don’t wanted to be played at all. Cause of i guess doing something good you think that will make you money. i just hope they would do the right thing cause i would back stab them right well have good one. and they told me that what this might make i didnt say anything to them about how much i wanted to make.
I would like to add to the lawsuit also, they got me too. Antoinette Scott
I had joined Invent Help base on the late night advertisements on tv. Its service was shaky and the agreement was questionable. I was asked to paid $350 out of pocket which is not documented in the agreement and when I could no longer pay the $350 they stop the invention process and reported me to collection agency call Universal Payment that destroyed my credit and caused me pain and unable me to move forward with my life.
I would also like to be added to the lawsuit, they got me to for some. They explain how wonderful they are and what connections they have. Then they have you sign a bunch of documents, and make you feel like you’re in a rush, because they have another appointment. So you don’t carefully read all of them. Fortunately I live in California so the biggest part I can rescind on it. California has a law that gives you 7 days. I am so……. glad you wrote this. Thank You
I too was scammed by invent tech of florida. They got 7,000 from me back in 2000. Is there anyway of recovering this money now?
Shame on the person who wrote this article. The details don’t match with InventHelp or it’s policies even remotely. These comments make even less sense… I worked with InventHelp and was clearly told they make no promises, that its a difficult process and IF I wanted to have the opportunity to get my idea in front of companies, despite the risk, they could help me do it. I did and signed several contracts stating over and over the RISK I was agreeing to, and the opportunity to cancel if I changed my mind. The RISK was stated SO many times, I made a joke to my representative that it sounded like they were trying to talk me out of it! The end result is that my idea went nowhere, but I went into it with my eyes open and accepted that possibility. Its a shame that a company that clearly does the right thing is being destroyed by shyster lawyers looking for a pay off fueled by ignorant people who don’t have or want any facts. Just blindly believe what you read …. unless it’s the truth. Then you don’t want to hear it or even consider that you might be wrong.
I am the inventor of the light up shoe for kids . I took my invention to LA Gear some 35 years ago . The president of that company claimed it was not of any interest to him and then two years later was selling the shoe as LA Lights . It is shameful when someone steals your work and claims it for their own .
hi my name is Jackie Johnson and Inventhelp got me to . I see my idea on the internet.
I want to join the lawsuit .
How can I join the lawsuit I’m a victim of invent help
Inventhelp stoled my invention too plus my money too! I want to join the lawsuit and get these crooks and get back my invention! I have proof of everything they sent me even though they said all my papers were destroyed!
I went to invent help paid for a patent search got the papers saying they may or may not patent it then I looked through the patent search booklet that their lawyer sent me all the ideas looked and do the same thing that I
drew up. They claim with these different people one in Canada and one in MN came up with the same idea how’s that I have never seen it anywhere now they say someone has already filed that’s a lie invent is evil they take peoples make diagrams and put other people’s names on it to steal and produce and market the inventions them selves I am looking for a lawyer this idea was a fad idea and they stole it. I need a lawyer to sue them for millions. Since they are going to make millions off my invention.
I believe they are shady. I went to them with a few ideas back in 2005. I signed a Statement Of Confidentiality And Non -Use contract. After they we talked about my ideas they gave me a high price to pay witch I couldn’t pay so told me just raise the funds and go back to them. I never did due to personal problems. A few years after that I started to see my ideas online and magazine’s, carts in Vega’s.
I went to inventhelp around 2016 or 2017 as we do have records of it. And we had a appointment set up with a Mr Shawn shower’s, and showed him my invention a prototype I hand crafted. Mr shower’s loved it and decided to take on my invention. So I paid
up front like $2,000 dollars to Mr. Shower’s and I received 3 book’s some time afterwards. I Mr James Liles decided to make a better more realistic better quality prototype some of my best work as far as factory looking, So me and my parents plus 2 of my uncle’s met with Mr. Shower’s because it’s getting serious exciting at this point, where reading more into my Invention, so I presented to him my better quility designed prototype to Mr shower’s he was pleased and said I’ll take this and he put it in a envelope and told me that he would send it back to me when there finished as he really didn’t say I remind you I quote me, my mother,father, and my Uncle Gilbert, uncle Denis makes 5 withesses to this. Afterwards I find out later from inventhelp my invention is lost missplaced, and Mr. Shower’s never said that it’s against our policy to take a invention into our procession. And I was told by my new agent where Mr shower’s had worked that Mr. Shower’s was fired for not performing his duties to the fullest. Know the new agent and I decuss agreement, there plan packages I when with the $10,000 dollar plan. Paid off last month of this year. Some time in the beginning of payments I received a letter from a company interested in my invention I couldn’t personally handle that myself because my father was in a home health care for 5 or more years. I contacted inventhelp about why haven’t you done anything about this company that’s interested in my invention, they told me that was my responsibility to handle that.
I have been RIP off thousands or dollars from invent help too.
I made the mistake of giving them my $$$ back in the 80’s. They changed their name from back then. It was Invent ??? I think it was Invent Help. Not sure. But when I saw that caveman with his wheel, I was really surprised to see that they were still in business. But they are snakes that won’t die. I couldn’t believe that George Forman was endorsing them. They charged me $700 for a analysis and a BS book they made. Then had me sign a agreement for another $5000. When I started to question them about the companies, they didn’t want to discuss who they were sending my invention to. After finding who the manufacturers were, NONE of them had anything to do with what I was offering. This company is raising its ugly head again. They are actually located in Minnesota. I had to call the attorney general of Minnesota to itrovien and I wound up giving them $3200 with nothing to show for it but less $$$. At least I didn’t have to pay the other $2500. That was only after I threatened to get a attorney though. STAY AWAY!!!!!!!
I too was scammed by Invent Help. But they were called Invention Submissions Corp back in ’04. They got me for $900 to start the process. The agreement was if no patent was found, which it wasn’t, they would take care of all the fees to push my invention. And when it would start generating money I could pay them back in installments. They sent all the paperwork, which I still have “unsigned” along with the BS hardback book with how I came up with the invention. Before I could have someone look over the paperwork they switched case workers on me and demand $3000 to keep this thing going. When I said I didn’t have it they told me to get back with them when I get the money. It took a few years but they changed their name and used my invention which is still evolving. My idea was concerning the VR goggles which has evolved into the ideas I presented to them in ’04. I feel helpless & feels like my heart gets ripped out every time I see a commercial or ad with the numerous varieties of them & I don’t even deserve one penny??? Even Dr. Phil has implemented them in to his treatment sessions. I don’t know if the statue of limitations is up or if I could even afford a lawyer.
Thank you so much Julia Zanotti my name is Martin Byrd me to was Scam by invent help out 14,000 not only that the guy Ormondo Ortez is in jail for scumming his Clients not only that my Invention is in stores now and they said it was never done they took my invention and had it Patton thank to you I call Oxford law firm their on it now They will rip you off or Shaw scammer
I love all the comments and energy and it’s sad that this company is still allowed to operate but that’s is the problem WHY IS NO ONE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT TALKING WHY NO JUDGE HAS ORDERED THEM TO CLOSE that is the issue everyone is scared to do the right thing and continue to get ripped off and the law is not helping victims so blah blah someone stand up and take action because it’s everyone’s fault including my own for being so foolish to think people actually want to help others bring there dreams and inventions to life. The world is a scam unless someone can atleast have this company Invent help held accountable.
I have done a great deal of research over the past few years and have found inventhelp and many other companies like them to be liars, manipulators and thieves. I have come up with several new product invention ideas over the past two years and have been working on the design and development of my first product prototype with professionals for the past eight months. This prototype is almost complete and I am in the process of seeking out strategic and financial partners who would like to enter into an equity partnership and work together on taking this and my other products to market or to work out a licensing or royalty deal with a major company. If anyone who visits this site knows of legitimate, honest and professional people or companies that enter into equity based partnerships in relation to a new product, (under the right circumstances, of course) preferably on the East coast or in Virginia, please contact me with their information or have them contact me directly. I’m very sorry to see all of these posts from people who have been taken advantage of by these type of companies. Always do research on any party or company that you are thinking of doing business with, always have an attorney review any documents that you are asked to sign and remember that most of these type of so called invention help companies attempt to prey on new inventors and entrepreneurs who have one or more invention ideas that they are excited about and who are niave to the business world, especially the invention business world. I speak from experience….when I first began pursuing my invention ideas I reached out to this and many other companies like them, but fortunately for me I am not niave and I became immediately suspicious of their high pressure and other sales and manipulation tactics, and over time I compiled a list of many of these companies so I could keep track of WHO NOT to do business with ! Again, if anyone has information about any legitimate party or company that would like to potentially enter into an equity strategic and financial partnership regarding my new product invention idea(s), please send me an email. Thank you and I hope everyone is doing well during this pandemic ! Erin DeMoulin etdfgi7@gmail.com
been 1 year still no patent just patent pending paid 2,000 for prototype and they send me a plastic lil mold cost maybe 2.00$ the database looks like its fake . im in a whole for 18,500$ im not happy
how can i join the law suit on Invent help i was also ripped off
Back in the mid 90s give or take invent help with the the cave man and his chisel was call 1800 idea or something really close to that but same company anyways I was away at school and got a letter from my dad with a colored copy of his lighta gage digital tire gage being a trucker I’m sure you may know there always checking there tires at night to and old school way was just thumping the tire with crowbar or something cause ya couldn’t see the gage at night and back then they wasn’t nothing like that digital so anyways lighta gage was suppose to be pat. Prototype and the even sent him a small hardback book with his name on the cover needless to say 10,000 seems to still be there starting number after reading these post and not sure how much more him and my uncle that cosigned to get in on peace of 1800 ideas promises that never came. My dad’s passed now but I’m sure I could come up with the pat.book and prototype color print out thing they gave him if it might help get these guys back but I’m sure that’s why the changed there name after perfecting there scam I mean at least my dad and uncle got a book and a picture something saying it was a pat. But I couldn’t find it in any search
When I couldn’t afford their ridiculous consulting and prototype development fees, InventHelp just straight up stole my idea/invention (a sandle-mat that allowed people with physical limitations to scrub their feet during showers…without bending over). Imagine my surprise when I saw the product that was identical to the designs/sketches that were made by my hands, being sold in a big box store.
Do yourself a favor and avoid this company at all costs!!! They are a plague to innovation and prey upon aspiring and unassuming inventors. This company is nothing more than a band of jack-booted thugs.
My husband, Shawn McDonald invented the Clip-ons way back in 1990 and an Oral Sex Tooth Cap. He went to Invention Submission Corporation in Miami and had a meeting with a woman to discuss his inventions. It sounded so positive up until she told him about the $500 patent fee. She told him to return when he has the money BUT Not before taking copies of his inventions “to keep them on file” when he returns. He just moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. from Charleston, S.C. so he didn’t have a job yet and no money. As time passed, Shawn saw that Glade had advertised Clip-ons. He couldn’t believe it and felt that such a large corporation against “little ‘ole me” couldn’t do anything about it. Now, I see this forum after I Googled “cases against Invent Help. Is the class action lawsuit still open so he can join?
I recently joined InventHelp as well based on the commercials. I thought it would be a better way to get my ideas patented and merchandised. I just paid the second installment of the initial $900, but based on reading all these complaints have informed them that I wanted to sever the relationship going forward. However I still want to get my ideas out there. They had proposed an additional $15 to $20K that would be necessary for them to continue with me. If the idea did no go anywhere I would not be reimbursed, but if it did, they would get a percentage of my profits …a win-win situation for them. I do not want to do business with a company that has so many law suites against it (should have done my homework sooner).
Can someone point me i a direction on how i can do the legwork my self.
Thanks
Clint
I’m a victim of invent help of course I just paid them off this month of course $17000.00 later,I’ve been reading along the way about their deception,of course as yrs passed on and a signed contract later,nothing just Paid $17000.00 to a company for an invention and received nothing,now it’s paid for and they put an invention for a particular animal collar in for a utility patent,then nothing.i basically just paid 17000.00 for nothing! Ripped off,Don’t know who to go to to sue them for my money back!
Is their a lawsuit going on now,if so how can I be added as a victim!
I also have been the latest from 2019 to now I see firsthand who they are ::: I invented a vest for gamers called the Ultimate Vest so far I put in 9,000 in it after one years If fighting this attorney about getting my patten for my invention witch invent help gave him to me for nothing he prolonged it get steal it then he wanted me to give him power of attorney to him to change the name I said no so he just gave it to someone else I recorded some of the conversation because I felt in my heart he didn’t want me to win so please someone help me please my number is +18135263429 name is Lorenzo Calhoun of Clearwater Florida !!!! They worked together so call Patten attorney and INVENT HELP
I have my book and etc .they sent me still in the original package. They too ripped me off and got my money. It states in my book no one else has the same idea as I have, and it could really work. I paid my money in full and was sure it was a special thing I was doing. It was a invention to help find lost children and to save lives. The advertisement on TV is fraud also. They have called and called me over and over again wanting more money. Last time I told them to never call me again that I knew it was fraud,then they hung up on me. After my call it seemed I never saw the advertisement back again on TV for a long time. Everyone should receive all of their money back. No one is perfect, I made this mistake also, but never again!!!! Hope all of you get reimbursed as well as I. Today I got a package in the mail from Law firm saying if you sign this you will be in the class-action law suit. As I kept reading it said if you send it in right away you will receive $20.00. You know who this law firm works for! Beware!
Wait a minute if I scammed thousands of people I’d be sitting in Federal prison the rest of my life and all they have to do is pay a measly 3 million to thousands and thousands of people? What the fuck is that about?¿?¿ this class action settlement needs to push for that 36 million and they need to pay every penny of it that’s justice is the government protecting this corporation or what?¿?¿
I hate to break it to everyone looking to get in on the class action lawsuit, but more than likely what will happen is the attorneys will try to settle out of court for a few million. Than everyone who is participating in the lawsuit will only receive $300 to $500 while the attorneys keep about $1.5 million. Either way you’re still screwed.
I’m a reader of this blog post and I’m appalled at the accusations of fraud against InventHelp. I’ve used InventHelp several times and have always had a positive experience. I don’t believe that they would ever do anything
My name is Shea. I have a baby bag invention. I have professionally designed copies of my invention in color. that was stolen by invent help. I paid for the search and all. It’s sad that people steal & get rich off of the vision that God has given other inventors & myself. This is sad ripping off people that trusted in you go help bring their vision into reality. What goes around, comes around. They will pay one way or another.
I was also a victim, but I started services just a few months after the class action acceptance cut-off. now I am scrapping everything together that I can to make my invention a success. Best thing I could do was get a GoFundMe going (https://gofund.me/360b37da). I also provide a service to help inventors now, BUT, mainly just to make them aware of Invent Help and similar fraudulent businesses. Has anyone gone after them in court outside of the class action lawsuit?
Hello All,
I am another victim of Inventhelp. Similar story to all here and this just happened in the past few months. Are there any suggestions for attorney’s to go after them again? Seems like they just keep doing this. My email and phone are johncummings042@gmail.com and 4842808433