Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/20/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  As you will see detailed through this letter, and attached items, on August 6, 2022, I spoke with Micheal H******** seeking assistance to patent an idea. Through many conversations (verbal and written) Mr. H******** stated that Invent Help would be the ones patenting my idea, as they had a team of patent lawyers with experience doing the research and patenting. He even went as far as to explain that I would be working one-on-one with the lawyer assigned to me on a personal level. It was made concrete to me that the patent lawyer would assist me with patenting my product, and then I would have the separate option of producing my product with Invent Help if I chose to. Michael H******** then informed me to begin this process I needed to pay the sign up fee of $875.00 USD. I paid this amount on August 6, 2022.
  
  From there, I submitted detailed information to patent my idea. In return I was mailed information on other patents and a package stating the opposite from what I was told.I contacted Mr. H******** on October 13, 2022 and spoke with him about this package. Michael then gave me a different explanation of how Invent Help handled patent ideas:
  They were NOT patent lawyers, did not provide patent lawyers and
  Would NOT patent my idea nor connect me with a patent lawyer without me consenting to a $14,000.00 USD payment for soliciting services to even speak with a patent lawyer, via Invent Help.
  It was then that I told Mr. H******** I was no longer interested in Invent Helps services, now understanding that I was fed a bait and switch scam–as it was my firm understanding through our conversations that the $875.00 USD payment was to secure the start of a patent with their patent contracted lawyers before considering the $14,000.00 USD production plan; and, that I would like to be reimbursed my payment.
  
  To respect the space allowed here, the rest of this letter is attached to this complaint.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/26/2022

  
  Good Morning,
  
  Below is the forward of an email I received from Invent Help's Compliance Manager, Maura R******, detailing a solution to resolve my complaint. Invent Help has agreed to refund me the full amount of $875.00 USD if I I retract my complaint against them. 
  
  Trusting that this is a fair solution, I am requesting for my complaint #******** against Invent Help to be removed.
  
  Thank you for your outstanding work helping me to resolve this issue. 
  
  Sincerely,
  ****** ****** 
  
  
  
  ----- Forwarded Message -----
  From: InventHelp Client Services <**************@**********.com>
  To: ****** ****** <*******@*****.com>
  Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 03:24:09 PM EDT
  Subject: RE: _ File #****** Urgent
  
  Good Afternoon ******,
  
   
  
  Per our conversation today (and your voice mail message), I wanted to confirm that InventHelp will agree to cancel your Basic Information Package Services and issue you a refund for the money you paid for this service, after receiving confirmation from the Better Business Bureau that your complaint has been retracted against InventHelp.
  
   
  
  Thank you for your cooperation in resolving this matter.  If you should have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at 412-288-1300 ext. 2317.
  
   
  
  Sincerely,
  
   
  
  Maura R******
  
  Compliance Manager
  
  InventHelp®
  
  412-288-1300 ext. 2317
  
  1-800-591-1891 ext. 2317
  
  mr******@inventhelp.com
  
   
  
  cid:[email protected]

  Business Response

  Date: 11/03/2022

  We are writing to update you on the status of the above
  referenced complaint.
  
  We reached out to this complainant and have reached an
  amicable resolution.  At this time we consider this complaint to be
  closed.
  
  Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Maura R******
  Compliance Manager
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/09/2022

  
  
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 

  Hello ********,
  
  I tried to respond to the BBB message but it’s not letting me. So I’m emailing you to let you know that Invent Help has returned the money I paid them. I expressed to them that I recommend they have a talk with their agent about his misrepresentation of the package they are offering people. 

  
  I thank you for all your help!! I know they would not have refunded me if it were not for the help of the BBB. 
  
  ****** ****** 
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/20/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I was enticed by the idea of using Inventhelp to bring my invention idea to life. Fadi from inventhelp talked about the invention process and explained how I could work with them and pay around $1400 to get my invention idea going once I paid the initial fee of around $900 for them to check with a patent attorney and verify it was an original idea. Once I paid that initial investment the real pressure began. Fadi explained that the packages were not $1400 but started at $14000 and that was the basic package. He told me several times there were cheaper options but never gave specifics. Now he explains today that they all require a down payment and then could have payment plans. That was never explained from the beginning. I was told I could make payments, and was never told I had to pay a down payment. I would like a refund for my initial investment to the company since they lied to me from the beginning and made it seem like there would be options to pay in payments and much less than they now tell me I must pay.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/28/2022

  
  This complainant contracted with our company in July, 2022
  for the preparation of a Basic Information Package Report (BIP) as well as a
  Preliminary Patentability Search & Opinion (PPSO) report.  The BIP
  report assembles basic information about an invention and the history of its
  development in a report format.  In addition, a Preliminary Patentability
  Search & Opinion was conducted for the idea by an independent patent
  attorney with whom we refer our clients’ patent work.   Upon
  completion, this complainant received copies of his BIP report and Preliminary
  Patentability Search and Opinion Report.
  
  We provide every prospective client with a copy of our
  service & fees brochure, which clearly outlines all of our services and the
  cost associated with our services.  Our contracts and disclosures, which
  this complainant signed, as well as our company literature make it very clear
  that we offer invention submission services in two stages.  We have no
  reason to believe that the complainant was not informed of this fact. 
  
  Additionally, we do not give patent advice and we rely on
  the opinion of the independent patent attorney’s with whom we refer our clients
  to give their professional opinion.  Any activity and/or questions surrounding
  the patent or the process should be directed to the patent attorney. 
     
  
  Our company upheld our contractual obligations and provided
  the service for which the complainant contracted.   We would
  encourage him to contact us if he would like to discuss his concerns further.
  
  Sincerely,
  Maura R******
  Compliance Manager
  InventHelp
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/28/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. 

  I was given the packet with the pricing but was additionally misinformed by Fadi verbally that there were less expensive options for me to proceed with step 2 of their process. When it came to actually being provided with this less expensive option I was then told I could pay in payments the least expensive package. That is not the same as a less expensive option. I feel I was lied to in order to get me to complete the first phase. 

   

  
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  ******* *****