| The Private Investigation industry is no different | | | | law enforcement background can benefit you and |
| than any other; the barrel brimming with both bad | | | | your case in many ways. |
| and brilliant apples. There is nothing worse than | | | | They have most likely received extensive legal |
| being desperate for help, hiring a private | | | | and investigative training. This is invaluable when |
| investigator to do their job, and then finding out | | | | compared to a PI who hasn't. |
| the PI has made things even worse. | | | | They have probably made significant networking |
| Believe me, it happens! | | | | contacts in their years of experience, invaluable |
| In the real world, a private investigator must earn | | | | and off limits to those outside the industry. |
| the trust of his clients over time by building solid | | | | They have held a trusted position within our |
| relationships, no different than we do with our | | | | government. This does not happen without having |
| friends. However, when you are looking to hire an | | | | to pass rigorous background checks. |
| investigator with immediacy, then chances are | | | | 5. Be leery of false promises. Private investigators |
| you don't have this luxury. The last thing you | | | | can rarely promise definitive results. The PI |
| want is to be left shooting blanks into the dark. | | | | industry is not in any way like the retail industry, |
| The following tips and tricks are designed to help | | | | where you can make a payment in exchange for |
| you navigate through the pivotal process of | | | | something tangible. Investigations take time, |
| screening your potential private investigator. Think | | | | patience, and ample skills to properly develop |
| of it as a checklist to protect your best interests. | | | | even basic results. If a PI is willing to give you a |
| Remember, the list is a gathered set of guidelines | | | | guarantee from the beginning (unless the services |
| to follow, but nothing is set in stone and reality | | | | rendered are remarkably straightforward), you |
| can always drift in any direction. | | | | might want to consider it as a red flag being |
| 1. Finding the right investigator is essential to the | | | | waved. |
| success of your case. Treat your pursuit for the | | | | 6. Trust your instincts. Listen to (and follow) your |
| proper PI as if you were hiring an employee to | | | | instincts. Take in the totality of your search; the |
| whom you would divulge your most important | | | | name of the PI firm, as well as their website, |
| confidential information. Request that the | | | | advertising, office location, and personality. Though |
| investigator sign a confidentiality agreement (link | | | | these don't always denote success, those private |
| our confidentiality agreement here) that will | | | | investigators who have experienced the most |
| protect the information you are going to disclose. | | | | success are also the mostly likely to have |
| 2. References are important! Request reputable | | | | reinvested their profits into a professional package |
| references and never hesitate to verify them | | | | for potential customers. PI's who are sloppy in the |
| once in your possession. Every successful PI firm | | | | details might also be sloppy with your case. |
| should have a laundry list of clients who would | | | | 7. Make sure you're covered. Verify that your |
| gladly share their positive experiences with the | | | | potential PI is insured and request a copy of their |
| company. | | | | policy. What are the policy's limits? Does the |
| 3. Verify credentials. Along the same line as | | | | policy's coverage extend through to the entire |
| checking references, you must be willing to verify | | | | length of your investigation? |
| the credentials of your potential PI as well. Just | | | | 8. Know the limits. What is your private |
| because someone claims to be private | | | | investigator capable of doing? If your investigation |
| investigator doesn't mean they are. In California | | | | might need to continually expand, will your PI be |
| for example, you can look up a reputable PI | | | | capable of performing the additional tasks? |
| company's name, verify the validity of their | | | | Hiring a private investigator can be a daunting |
| license, and see whether or not there have been | | | | experience. Arm yourself with the essential |
| complaints or actions filed against it by the state | | | | information and don't be afraid to ask the right |
| registrar. | | | | questions. The process of hiring a PI can be over |
| 4. Dig deep. Ask for information about the private | | | | fairly quickly, but the aftermath might last you a |
| investigator's background. A PI with a significant | | | | lifetime. |