Questions to ask before hiring a Private Detective
Many people who approach us are coming to us for the first time and are unsure about what questions they should be asking to ensure that they are hiring the right people for the job. So here we have put together some questions to help you to clarify what you should be asking before hiring a Private Detective for the first time.
Where is the detective based?
A quick search on Google for a Private Detective in our area (Prague Czech Republic) brings up a number of results that upon closer inspection, reveal that a number of these Private Detectives are not even based in this country.
It is essential that your Detective is based in the country that the case is in as geographic local knowledge, language ability and sometimes even cultural understanding are all factors that affect a Private Detective’s ability to perform their job well.
A personal example of this was when a client had a tracker on the target’s phone (with his consent and knowledge) The location was being given as a casino which was where the target was supposed to be as he was a professional poker player however I was unable to locate him in the casino. My local knowledge led me to believe that that instead, the target may be in a very small hotel situated very near to the casino and further surveillance in that hotel proved me correct.
I have also been able to locate an individual by knowing that there are only two routes from one location to another. I would not have had time to look at maps and figure this out but my local knowledge enabled me to instruct my partner to run in one direction while I ran in another. We located the individual quickly due to being able to act fast enough.
It is not uncommon for Private Detectives to work from home and therefore not have an office presence. After all, most of our time is spent sitting in stationary cars and so an office can be an unnecessary expense. It is wise to check that the contact telephone number, particularly mobile numbers, have the correct country code for the country in which your investigation should take place and ask the Detective where they are based themselves.
What experience does the Private Detective have?
Being an ex cop does not necessarily make for a good Private Detective. Most ex cops did not reach the grade of Detective in the Police and thus have no more experience or actual investigation skills than someone walking down the street.
In my opinion, it is better to hire someone who has a lot of experience working as a Private Detective than someone who was a traffic cop for 20 years and then decided that this qualified them to run surveillance, conduct an investigation or be knowledgeable in the legalities of covert recording devices.
Naturally the longer a Private Detective has worked, the better. The job is very varied and each case brings its own unique elements and so 20 years of handling cases across a wide spectrum is going to make for a good Private Detective and this should be your focus when deciding which Detective to hire.
Can your Private Detective provide references?
Any Private Detective worth their salt should be able to provide you with references. While it is true that many clients do not wish the fact that they used the services of a Private Detective to be known, an Investigator that has been around for a while will have accumulated contacts and a reputation within the area they work in and sometimes even abroad. These contacts are usually of some standing in the community such as lawyers or Police Officers but if they have done enough cases, over time, may well have a few private individuals or heads of corporations that are willing to vouch for the abilities, discretion and standing of the Private Detective.
How much does it cost?
Cost is an issue that should be addressed during the hiring process. Usually cases are charged at an hourly rate plus incidental expenditure incurred during the cost of the investigation.
Charging an hourly rate can make clients uncomfortable in that they feel the cost will run out of control and so we suggest that clients work out a budget with us, with our guidance, so that they remain in control of these costs.
It should be noted that as a Private Detective is there (most often) to record and observe and do not influence the action happening before them, you will be expected to pay for their time regardless of the result.
These questions should stand you in good stead when approaching a Private Detective to work on your case. The answers they give will give you a good idea as their willingness to communicate with you and how open they are which are also two valuable elements to consider when choosing who to hire.
Good and professional Private Detectives will willingly answer your questions and will have no problem openly discussing your case with you. If they do not, it should be considered a red flag.
Private Detective should be considered to be professionals like any other and therefore act like it! These questions will help you to establish whether you are hiring a true professional and whom you should maybe avoid.
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