This informational essay, in three parts, is best read in order:
Who becomes a private investigator?
The answer to that is almost anyone who is interested, over
the age of 18, who has a clean record.
The background check performed by the state licensing agency is probably
the principal benefit to the public, and does give the public some assurance
that they are dealing with a somewhat reputable person. Please note that I didn’t say the person was
necessarily qualified.
My personal opinion, albeit somewhat controversial, is that
I find it hard to believe that anyone, without at least five years of law
enforcement or other very intensive investigative experience, can be an
effective private investigator. There is
just too much to know. There are too
many unanticipated situations that can quickly arise and become a serious
liability issue, a violation of law, or even dangerous. If you put your faith in such a person, all I
can say is ‘good luck.’
What about private investigators’ fees? What’s fair?
Well, it’s kind of an over-generalization, and a cliché, to say that you
‘get what you pay for.’ This is not
necessarily true. There are some very
good investigators who specialize in certain areas (like surveillance) with
fees that are relatively modest. On the
other hand, you can run into private investigators that have fees that are
over-blown and exploitive. Be careful
and do your homework. If a PI is very
qualified and has good references, you are better served to consider this
option – even if their fees seem a little higher. A bad, inexperienced, or poorly trained PI
can cause a client untold grief.
Moreover, you may not have actually saved any money. Good PIs cover a lot of ground quickly.
Do private investigators have variable fee structures? Yes, they often do. This is usually based on good business
practices and self-protection. Is the
client a potential repeat client? Am I
assured that I will not have any collection issues with this client? Is the proposed case very complex and
demanding, with short deadlines?
Nonetheless, professional investigators should be able to explain their
‘fee structure’ without too much hesitation – and be able to furnish you this
information in writing.
Regarding fees in Oregon, particularly in the Portland Metro
area, a potential client should expect investigative fees in the neighborhood
of $80 to $150 per hour, plus expenses.
If you are quoted more than that, I would spend some time looking
elsewhere.
If you are shopping for a PI in a major metropolitan area
such as New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco expect the hourly rate to be
higher. Rural areas, the hourly rate
will be somewhat less.
How do I locate a private investigator? Well, the telephone book is probably your
worst resource. Internet searches are
good and becoming better. If you can get
a referral, that’s great. Attorneys are
sometimes a good source for referrals.
Professional associations can be a good source for referrals,
particularly associations which require or expect certifications, and/or
standards for continuing education. A
quick word about ‘certifications’ (and there are many floating about): some ‘certifications’ can be simply purchased
for a small fee, and as a result are meaningless. Always investigate the certifying association
or body, and what is required to obtain a particular certification. These days
this is easily done on the internet. As
with any profession, private investigation is definitely a profession filled
with many skilled, educated and experienced people, and unfortunately quite a
few duds. Ask questions, get quotes and
be an informed consumer. If you don’t,
you could quickly find yourself on the receiving end of a civil suit.
When I search for qualified private investigators in other
areas of the country, I almost always look for someone with a law enforcement
background. Again, anyone, and I mean
almost anyone short of an identifiable ex-felon, can become a private
investigator. A potential client should
look for experience, references, and educational background – anything about
the private investigator that you could conceivably verify, and would tend to
give him or her a degree of credibility.
Good private investigators do have a certain amount of
overhead:
Some have offices and staff.
Truly competent private investigators will subscribe to
several databases, not customarily available to the general public. They are not free. These databases greatly expedite
investigations, not to mention that they contribute professional thoroughness.
Advertising is critical.
If a PI doesn’t advertise through various outlets, the public just won’t
find him.
All licensed PIs are required to take courses on various
investigative subjects, plus ethics.
They belong to professional associations (all have dues).
If ‘certified,’ the PI will have additional fees to maintain
the certification – as well as educational requirements that must be fulfilled.
All PIs usually possess an abundance of investigation
related equipment such as cameras (still and motion), recording devices,
tracking equipment, telescopic equipment, and – if they do quite a bit of
surveillance – they will have a specially outfitted van.
Last, but not least, the professional PI must carry Errors
and Omissions Insurance as a protection for the Client and for himself.
Final Thought: Many believe that private investigation is easy. Those people watch too much television. It isn’t easy. It can be difficult, stressful and sometimes
dangerous.
Oh and one other thought: As
the client of a PI, you are invariably going to reveal some information that
you consider confidential – perhaps even intimate details of your personal
life. Pick someone that you feel you can
trust.
True Nelson
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