Before You Hire A Private Investigator
First steps
This article covers everything you need to know BEFORE you make that very important decision to hire a private investigator.
It’s important to consider several major factors when choosing to hire a private investigator. Making the wrong choice can result in not only spending unnecessary money or resources, but can also end with you not getting the quality results that may greatly impact the outcome of your case!
You should choose a private investigator or agency that you feel comfortable with. You will have to work closely with them throughout the duration of your case. Their professional attitude and demeanor as well as how well they stay in communication with you can speak volumes.
How to choose a private investigator
The very next step you can take is to select an honest and reputable investigation agency. Like any other field of work, private investigation has its share of good and its share of bad operators. Over the years we have seen quite a number of questionable private investigation agencies and come and go.
Fortunately, most of them eventually run their course and get weeded out. See what other people say about a private investigator before you make that big decision to hire one.
A casual internet browse of area private investigators can tell you quite a bit about the quality of the various investigative service providers available. What the first time client may not be aware of are some potential dangers that could be present behind the scenes. For example, some agencies upon beginning your case, would outsource the case to their “investigator” who works mornings at the local coffee house as his other job. Would you want the guy who makes your morning coffee handle something as important as your investigative matter? Of course not!
Specialization
Also, make sure that the investigator or agency you hire specializes in and is experienced with conducting the investigative services which you need provided. Check to see what kind of clients the private investigator has worked for.
An agency which specializes primarily in worker’s compensation cases may not have a lot of experience in working corporate investigations. All Eagle investigators are thoroughly skilled and posses many years of experience in a variety of investigative fields. In fact, Eagle has such high standards for investigator hiring procedures that we attract only the area’s best and most qualified private investigators! This ensures that you have the most competent, qualified investigator on your team!
Check out their offerings!
Another thing we have observed recently are investigative companies who seem to operate primarily as a means of peddling “how to become a private investigator” courses.
Don’t get me wrong, individuals interested in becoming private investigators need information on the process, but we are addressing something very different here. As the client needing a service provided, you want to know that the agency you hired was completely focused on providing you with investigative results, not how many of their PI courses they can sell you!
Check their private investigator licensing!
Definitely make sure the private investigator is properly licensed and insured. There are private investigation agencies and individuals who advertise and operate as “private investigators” without having liability insurance and proper licensing.
Depending on an individual state’s licensing requirements, make sure that you verify the status of their license. Some of these companies or individuals may have been turned down for renewal due to negligent reasons or may even operate without a current license. You can see what a valid license looks like here.
Cover your bases
Finally, get a contract, otherwise known as a “retainer agreement” from the private investigator. This agreement should indicate what services the investigator or agency will be providing for you. Reputable private investigators will always be upfront and honest with you on what they charge for their services. This insures that you are not hit with any hidden fees upon completion of your case.
Eagle keeps things honest and simple by providing every client a retainer agreement. Our retainer agreements detail the exact services which we will employ in your case and the charges we bill for those services. You can count on no last minute costs or hidden fees with us… period!
If you want to to have a no-obligation discussion with a professional, caring private investigator who can share the answer to “Before you hire a private investigator”, then just call (800) 867-3930 and speak to someone who will be happy to answer any questions you have. There’s no obligation. If you are looking for an affordable licensed private investigator in Atlanta with 20 years of experience assisting individuals, attorneys and corporations feel free to contact us here. You can also view a portion of our extensive client list here, and see here what actual clients say about Eagle Investigative Services a private investigator in Atlanta, Georgia.