TIPS FOR HIRING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

If you are considering hiring a private investigator your situation is serious and the selection of the right P.I. can make all the difference in the outcome. Here are some tips to consider. References and word of mouth are good places to start, but you may not want to ask around if you need the situation to be confidential or you may not know anyone that could give a referral. What then?

Search for P.I.’s in your area on the internet, review their profiles and pick a few to contact and discuss your objectives and compare their qualifications, strategies and prices.

Then, verify the P.I. has a license and insurance. In most states P.I.’s go through a licensing process and must meet certain requirements and operate within the guidelines of the licensing body. In North Carolina P.I.’s are licensed by the Private Protective Services Board under the North Carolina Department of Safety. You can easily verify if a P.I. has an active license by going to NCDPS.gov and do a search on the P.I.’s name or business.

Clarify who will be doing the actual work, the P.I. you are communicating with or a subcontractor. Some PI firms sub contract their work to less experienced investigators. If a subcontractor is going to be used you need to evaluate that P.I. ‘s qualifications as well.

Discuss the P.I.’s experience and ask specific questions about where and how the P.I. plans to obtain the information and/or evidence you need. Transparency, ethics and honesty are a must. There is no super secret database that P.I.’s access and beware if a P.I. does not want to disclose exactly how they intend to help you or infer that their methods and sources are secret.

In summary, selecting the right P.I. for your situation takes some investigation on your part, but considering what is at stake it is well worth it. Having a face to face conversation, getting your questions answered and having confidence in the P.I.’s approach is the best way to make the right choice.