Monday, April 16, 2012

Six Factors to Consider When Hiring a Private Investigator


With all of the spy gear available on the market today, hiring a private investigator to catch a cheating spouse is definitely something that you can avoid. With the hourly rates that a good P.I. will charge you, it is more than tempting to take matters into your own hands and do the investigating yourself. If you ultimately do decide to retain the services of a private investigator, there are several things you will want to be sure to consider.

We compiled a list of six key factors to take into consideration before you enter into a business relationship with a private eye.

The private investigator you hire should be licensed.

Most states in the USA mandate that anyone conducting private investigation services must be officially licensed. You should insist that the detective that you hire should show you a copy of his license. If you go online and find a company who will do background checks, or do searches of public records to find addresses and phone numbers, please keep in mind that these companies are not technically required to be licensed, but they probably should be. Most of these guys are just searching public databases, which you can easily do yourself. This is a good way to acquire information, but a lot of times, the information you receive is outdated and inaccurate. The best way to ensure that you receive quality, up to date information is to retain the services of a licensed private investigator.

Should you meet with the private detective in person?

That's really up to you. We would suggest it, but with a reputable private investigator, it's not 100% necessary. Always check references and check with the Better Business Bureau.

Get it in writing!

When you hire your private investigator, always have a contract signed that clearly spells out the fees, term and specific expectations. Have it in writing what the private investigator promises to do (and not do) so that there is no confusion or miscommunication between the two of you. If the private investigator refuses to write and sign a contract, move on. There are plenty of other P.I.'s who want your business and will be happy to sign a contract.

What is their history and level of experience?

Surprisingly enough, a lot of private investigators actually have minimal or no solid experience at all. Many of today's P.I.'s are retired military guys or retired law enforcement professionals. In most states, anyone attends a course for a few months can call themselves a private investigator. Do your research before making your decision on who to hire. You may pay a little more, but retaining the services of someone who is experienced will save you money in the long run.

Make sure your private eye is and bonded.

This is very important and is usually required by most states in order for a private investigator to get his license. Please remember that just because a P.I. is bonded, it does not necessarily mean that he is going to do a better job. However, unless the P.I. carries these credentials, don't even consider retaining his services. It could only mean more headaches down the road.

Always confirm that your private detective is insured.

The P.I. that you retain is technically your employee. You are paying him for his services. If your private investigator causes damage, has an accident or breaks the law in some way, you could be held responsible as his employer. He must carry his own insurance.

If you are not sure if you want to hire an investigator and feel that perhaps you could perform the work yourself, check out the products on our website. We offer a wide variety of covert GPS vehicle tracking devices, hidden spy cameras, computer monitoring devices, phone recorders and more. Please let us know if we can help

In conclusion, with all of the electronic spy gadgets available on the market today, investigating a cheating spouse on your own is extremely doable. If you do however decide to retain a detective, keep in mind the above tips to make sure that your experience is a positive one.




Greg Shields is an entrepreneur and is an expert in ecommerce and online marketing. He is the owner of http://www.spygearpros.com and sells spy gear to individuals, private investigators, companies and government organizations worldwide.




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