Guide to Hiring a Private Investigator and Not Getting Scammed

The private detective is getting a bad rep. Movies depict a disheveled private investigator while a private detective agency appears to be a cesspool of secrecy. Cut through the myth and learn how to hire a private detective who is a useful asset for any case.

Who Hires a Private Detective?

Learning how to hire a private detective is a useful task for the private person, the law firm, the insurance agent and also law enforcement personnel. A private detective benefits anyone who needs hands-on research on individuals, companies or processes but lacks the time, knowledge and experience to do it.

Unlike the private investigator of the movies, a private detective agency specializes not only in personal surveillance but also in data research, service of process and the rendering of expert testimony that holds up in court. The popularity this profession enjoys is only marred by the unqualified that hang out a shingle and claim to be the real thing.

So, how does one hire a private detective and not get hosed?

Define the Need

A private detective may specialize in person to person tracking, surveillance or data investigation. Investigators may accept dicey process service assignments - a fact that makes them a favorite of law firms specializing in domestic relations - or go undercover in a club, religious organization or business. Narrow down a search to only include the kind of private detective agency that specializes in the area required.

Talk Tech

A glass on the wall might be great for eavesdropping, but a private detective benefits only from information that is legally gleaned. Anything else does not stand up in court. Not surprisingly, private detectives worth their fee employ technology that is legal. Moreover, unless a client wants to pay for long hours of car surveillance, hiring a private investigator that uses GPS to track a person considerably lessens the bill.

Ask for Credentials

Some - but not all - states actually license private investigators. CrimeTime⁽¹⁾ offers a general clearinghouse of states' licensing requirements and offers links to the licensing bodies. It is noteworthy that some states that do not license a private detective may have individual municipalities that do. Whenever possible, do business with a licensed professional and do a license check with the credentialing agency.

For obvious reasons, a private detective may not be able to disclose the names and phone numbers of other clients for a reference. If the professional works with law firms, a reference from the attorneys or paralegals must suffice. A check with the Better Business Bureau is also a good idea.

Narrowing Down the Scope

Even though the prospective client already knows why she wants to hire a private detective, she must also decide how far she wants the professional to go. For example, budgetary constraints may put a time limit on an unfaithful spouse investigation or a geographic boundary on a birth parent trace.

During the initial interview with the private detective agency it is crucial to specify how much money the client expects to pay, what services must be included and also how often a written report should be made.

Disclaimer
Please note that a lot of this information comes from previous working relationships the author (then as a paralegal) has enjoyed with private investigators. Your experience may vary.

Resource
⁽¹⁾CrimeTime. "State by State Private Investigator/Detective Licensing" (accessed March 17, 2010)