Investigative Services - Questions To Ask Before Hiring

Some people - perhaps most people - will go their entire lives without hiring private investigative services. You may not even have a clear idea of their job, beyond what you've read in pulp novels and seen in noir film. The life of a P.I. is seldom as glamorous or exciting as portrayed in the media, but these companies can be very helpful under the right circumstances. Whether you want to find someone, get the lowdown on what your spouse is doing when they should be at work, or research an employee's worker's compensation claim, they can help. Here are some questions you should ask before hiring one:

- Do you have the proper license and insurance?

Private investigative services are required to have certain licenses and insurance before practicing their trade. Of course, these restrictions don't stop some from circumventing these requirements in the hopes of cutting costs. Make sure the company you're thinking of hiring has not done so.

- Can I see some references?

Unless you've been referred to an investigative services company by someone you trust, you should ask for references before hiring one. Satisfied customers should have no problem going on record for a company. Granted, these might be harder to come by in this field than others, due to the confidential nature of the business. Still, any company that has been around for any length of time will be able to provide at least a few.

- Who will be doing the investigation?

Some companies put several investigators on a single case, but that is probably the exception. In fact, many P.I.'s work solo. If you are dealing with a larger company, however, you deserve to know who will be handling the case. You should be able to speak with the primary P.I. and evaluate them on your own terms.

- What are your methods?

An investigative services company isn't going to lay all of their methods out like a blueprint, but you should be aware if they are going to do anything unethical or illegal in obtaining the information you want. Sometimes, ethics are a matter of opinion. To cite an obvious example, some would say that tailing someone suspected of cheating armed with a telephoto camera is crossing the line, while others would say it is fine. All in all, you need to be the one who determines how far is too far. You're hiring them, and they are working on your behalf. You are at least partially responsible for their actions.