When a person considers hiring a private investigator, they may not know what to expect. They may feel vulnerable from having to provide personal details of their lives to a stranger, they may fear they’re being taken advantage of, or that the investigator won’t respect their privacy. They may be concerned that the investigator is not telling them everything. Bottom line, the client should feel that they are the ones driving the investigation and have the power to stop it at any time. So here is a short list of tips for hiring a private investigator.
Make Sure the Private Investigator is Licensed.
Different states have different licensing requirements, but only a handful of states don’t require licensing. In any case you want to make sure the person you are hiring is in compliance with state regulations. In Oregon, licenses must be renewed every two years. Before hiring an investigator, ask to see their I.D. card. You can check their name or I.D. number online on your state licensing body’s website, or call them to see if there were any complaints filed against the investigator. In Oregon’s case, you can verify P.I. licenses at https://www.oregon.gov/DPSST/PI/pages/index.aspx
You Should Be Offered the Contract Upfront.
In Oregon a private investigator is required to offer their client a contract. In other words, you should not have to ask. If you are not offered one, consider this a red flag. If they do offer you a contract, make sure you have time to review everything. It should be clear what the tasks and rate of pay are, and if you’re confused about anything take it home before you sign it. Do your research, find out what the going rates are, what a typical agreement looks like for your type of case. Call around. Investigators typically charge anywhere from $50 to $150 dollars or more per hour. Don’t allow anyone to rush you into anything, even if you feel a sense of urgency. Remember, an investigator with your best interests at heart will encourage you to think it over. Which leads me to my next tip:
Trust Your Instincts.
If at any point while talking to an investigator, something doesn’t feel right, you should go with your gut instincts and find someone else. Perhaps they’re offering their services at a lower cost, or they’re trying to convince you to expand the scope of the investigation against your wishes. This may indicate desperation on their part, which is probably not the assurance you are looking for in an investigator. Finding the right person is important and will save you from a lot of worry.
With these tips, you should be well on your way to finding and hiring a competent, professional investigator.