People do not discuss hiring an investigator or a private eye in an open conversation. It is not a typical course of action for the average person you take on. It’s generally reserved for perhaps a lawyer or maybe an insurance firm.
But there are instances where a professional service may be warranted, e.g., a partner is suspected of being unfaithful or legal documents need to be served.
These circumstances require discretion in using the skills and talent of a veteran.
The Definition of a Private Eye
Formally known as a detective but referred to as a private eye, PI, or private investigator, this person holds the position as someone with a license to perform detective work.
The understanding is that they are not a part of the police system. Their investigative work consists of suspected wrongdoing and finding those who go missing.
The people who hire them are individual citizens or law firms, insurance agencies, businesses, and more who urgently need to verify the information.
Need for Hiring a Private Investigator
People hire private investigators for several reasons. Some of the popular reasons for hiring a private investigator are listed below:
1. Investigating infidelity: You or someone you know may be suspicious of infidelity in a relationship. An individual may suspect their partner of infidelity which is when private investigators can help. Hiring a private investigator will help you gather information on the suspicion and find out the truth.
These professionals will gather photographs, videos or even witness statements to help the case. This evidence can help refute or confirm the employer’s suspicion.
2. Employee background check: Nowadays with the advancement in technology and the rising cases of fraudulence, one can never be too cautious.
So, if you are an employee who’s had a negative experience or just want to be sure about the hire, you can avail yourself of the services of a private investigator.
With the help of their services, you can conduct a thorough background check on potential employees, especially when it’s a crucial position that requires a high level of security and trust.
3. Locating missing persons: Hiring a private investigator can help you locate a missing person, for instance, a missing family member, a runaway child, or someone who’s gone “off-grid.”
A PI can also help locate birth parents for individuals who were adopted at birth or as a child.
4. Gathering evidence in court cases: Court cases are messy as they are, and gathering evidence to prove your point can seem harder. Thus, with the help of a PI you or your attorney can gather crucial evidence that can prove your innocence or nail the opposite party.
For instance, in child custody cases, the PI can help gather evidence of the opposition’s lifestyle or behavior.
This will help their client’s case for custody and give justice to the child. This saves the child from the harmful behavior of the other parent/guardian.
What to Consider When Hiring a ‘Private Eye’
Here’s what you must consider before hiring a private investigator for your case:
1. Research When Hiring a Private Eye:
Those who hire an investigator must have a certain level of discretion. But it’s crucial when you hire someone to dive into confidential information that you do extensive research on, such as private investigator costs, credibility, reputation, and experience level. The more reputable they are, the more protected you will be, and the better the outcome.
2. Does the Private Detective Carry a License?
In most states, it is illegal to investigate without proper licensing. You should request to see the license when approaching an agency to do any work for you and check out their status with the state.
There is an extensive laundry list of regulations, stipulations, and requirements needed for an investigator to obtain a license.
3. Find Out What Others Have to Say About the Services
If the agency has any following at all, there will be anonymous reviews on various search engines that should give you an idea of its reputation.
There will always be negative feedback from people who may not have received the result that they were anticipating. Your objective is to gather as much positive feedback as possible to make an educated decision.
It’s essential to see if the agency responds to feedback and how they handle their responses. If they try to correct the situation and consciously acknowledge the client’s issue. Follow this link to see an example.
The Level of Experience that a Detective has will Ultimately Determine How They Can Handle the Case
When an agency can exhibit a history spanning well over a decade, this indicates that they’re good at what they do, and people trust them to do it. If not, their business would not have survived to this extent.
It’s good to inquire about education and life experience regarding your specific needs. Using previous cases as examples, it’s appropriate to ask for specifics regarding how P.I. handles themselves concerning a client’s confidentiality.
4. The Investigator Needs to Divulge their Methods for Doing the Investigation
A detective’s investigation methods must be revealed to you. The investigator must operate within the law’s guidelines using the most up-to-date technology and advanced techniques for your best interest.
Anything incorrect could blow your cover and put you in the wrong spot in court.
And It’s A Wrap!
Ultimately, the P.I. you hire should have a sound level of communication. You should be able to reach them without any difficulty on a phone line that they answer, and any messages should be returned promptly.
A detective who doesn’t answer their phone or fails to return messages is not dependable, and you don’t want to deal with them.
Communication is first and foremost in this type of work. It is a sign of a reliable professional. You can trust this person to keep your case confidential and discreet.
Read Also:
