Tips on Hiring a Arizona Private Investigator

Most people are shopping “in the blind” when seeking the services of a private investigator.  The PI firms that show up on page one of a “Google search” have paid a lot of money to be there but this is not an indicator of their ethics or competence.  The best way to find any service provider is by referral from a trusted person who recommends someone they have used and been pleased with.  However, not a lot of people have used a PI in the past and few will admit it if they have.  So here are some tips as you carry out your search.

An ethical private investigation firm will openly offer a “no charge” initial consultation with you.  The consultation doesn’t have to be in person but that is recommended.  You need to get a feel for the kind of people to whom you are entrusting a sensitive personal issue.  I prefer to consult in person with a potential client because I want to be sure the client is also being forthright with me.  For you and for me people who don’t want to meet in person and look you in the eye should not be trusted.  Once the PI has met with you there should not be a push made for you to use their services.  If so there is a problem.  If they are confident in their ability and feel their fees are fair they should be happy for you to shop around.

During a consultation ask questions and expect to answer them too.  A competent PI should ask you a lot of questions too.  PIs that want to talk about payment plans and get your credit card number while you still have many questions left to ask are not the ones you want to use.  During your preliminary contact or consultation with a potential PI be ready to ask a lot of questions.  If they are going to work for you then consider this their job interview.    Another very important question to ask regards the training and experience of the prospective PI.  Is this person and/or his team a law enforcement veteran or was a PI license obtained after taking an Internet course?  Be sure to ask about this. There is no substitute for formalized training and experience.  My firm is an accredited business of the Better Business Bureau so obviously I would encourage you to check there before hiring anyone.

 One of the first questions every client asks is “what will this cost?”  The question can sometimes be answered directly with a total dollar amount but most frequently usually we must quote our hourly rate and rate for mileage and estimate a probable total.  What a client will reimburse for expenses accrued in the investigation should be established up front and not be exceeded without client permission.  I charge dollar for dollar on expenses meaning I make no profit for my expenses but break even.  Some PIs add on to their costs so they can make a few extra bucks.  You should ask.  Sometimes you can negotiate a “flat rate” for a limited and specific service such as service of legal process.

I do not start a case until the client has completed a Contract for Services.  You should be suspect of a firm that does not use one.  The contract spells out the goal of the investigation, the costs the client has agreed to and the amount of the retainer that’s required to begin the investigation.  The contract also spells out the caveat that I will not operate outside ethical or legal guidelines for any reason and states I will terminate the contract if the client asks me to break the law.

You should have a commitment up front from the PI as to when you will receive progress reports both verbal and/or written.  You should receive a detailed written report of all activity and steps that were taken and what was learned no less than every 30 days while the case is active.  Verbal reports should come no less than every week, and more often in some cases.

At the end of the case you should receive a detailed invoice as to how your funds were used.  In Arizona all private investigators must be licensed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.  Persons who have suffered a financial loss due to the actions of unethical or incompetent private investigators may file a complaint with DPS and also file for a financial reimbursement from the state of up to $5000.

Gordon, PI; Hunting Financial Fugitives

My name is Joe Gordon.  I am an Arizona licensed Private Investigator and a former federal agent with over 30 years of investigative experience.  My firm, Veritas Associates LLC (DPS no. 1568766), is located in the PhoenixMetro area and is ready willing and more than able to solve your problem.  Check out our website at www.veritasintell.com.  I look forward to hearing from you.

I “blog” to alert citizens to the most common scams I am running into so they might be prepared to protect themselves.  I also want to highlight and emphasize the value of having a professional, experienced and credible Arizona private investigator on your side.  If you need a Phoenix Private Investigator, Scottsdale Private Investigator, Tempe Private Investigator, Chandler Private Investigator or a skilled professional anywhere in the valley please give us a call at (480) 294-0911 or e-mail us now at info@veritasintell.com because all initial consultations are free.

Financial Fugitives

 

When I retired from the feds and became a private investigator in the East Valley last year certainly never envisioned myself being involved with something as unsavory and mundane as the repossession of a car.  I don’t even touch divorce cases.  But, I guess if you’re gonna talk the talk . . .

 

I was called a few days before Thanksgiving by a guy whom I’ll call Pete.  About 10 months prior Pete had leased a nice car to a guy he thought he knew fairly well.  By August, after months of paying late, the lessee (I’ll call him George) just stopped making payments altogether.

 

Pete hired some repo guys.  I’m sure they know how to repo (I guess) but they had no clue as to how to find George and thus the car.  I don’t know if George was always a dead beat (but I suspect he was) but he was definitely on the run from the dog catcher.  The last known address I was given for George was a rental house from which he had been evicted three months prior.

 

George was down to sleeping in the car he wasn’t paying for or bumming some couch rides one night at a time.  Finding this guy was not for the repo guys.  Finding George was for professional detectives, such as yours truly.

 

I’m not bragging because I know I am good at what I do.  I honed the skills over several decades as a state and local peace officer and a federal agent.  It was 72 hours after Pete gave me the keys to his car that I returned them to him, attached to his recovered car.

 

If it’s an easy repo from a poor guy who has worked hard and fallen on “hard times” and you can’t work something out for him, call the repo guy or let the poor guy bring you the car.  But if a skipping dead beat has your property and finding him is part of the problem, call a professional.  Anybody can drive a car away when they see it but not just anybody can find the car in the first place. Especially in the case of a true “financial fugitive”.

 

Until next time, Joe Gordon

 

Arizona Private Investigator license no. 1568766