It can be exciting to hire a private investigator. Whether you’re starting an investigation into someone or something, it’s the first step towards uncovering the truth and rectifying an injustice.
But, just like you would before hiring any other professional, it is important to do your due diligence before hiring a private investigator to investigate an individual or company. So how do you know that your private investigator is a capable and qualified individual? What can you do to ensure that they are well-connected and will be able to help you uncover the truth? Here are a few tips.
Ask questions
You’ll want to know how experienced they are, what training they’ve received, what cases they’ve handled in the past, what their fees will be and more before you enlist their services.
In fact, there are so many questions that you could easily overlook some of the most important ones.
- Ask about the investigator’s background. The best way for a private investigator to help you achieve your goals is by doing their job well, and that starts with knowing how to do it properly themselves. So, ask them about their credentials and experience as an investigator. Only hire them if they have sufficient experience in the industry.
- Ask for references from past clients. Don’t rely only on testimonials from websites saying how great they are. Get names of other people who have used their services before, call them up and ask them about their experience. It is important to remember that not all people will be happy to share their experience, but you can still try to find at least one or two who can.
Look for reviews and references
Look for reviews on social media and ask other private investigators for references. It’s also important to check if they have been in business for a long time because this means that they have years of experience. You can also check if the private investigator is a member of an association dedicated to investigating crime and working with law enforcement agencies (like the IACP or NAPO).
Make sure you do your research
Also, remember to look into the private investigator yourself. Try to speak to them to understand how many years of experience they have, and how many similar cases they’ve handled. Private investigators handle a variety of cases, so it’s important to make sure that the PI you’re hiring is adept at handling the specific case you want to entrust them with.
For instance, you cannot hire a PI specialising in surveillance and missing persons cases to look into financial fraud and embezzlement issues.
You should also ask about certifications and credentials, as this will give you an idea of how qualified the investigator is for your case. For example, some investigators might be certified by the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) or another similar organisation that provides professional training in criminal investigations.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that the need for a PI often comes from a stressful situation, so when you are looking for one, try to keep your cool.
Ask questions about what services the PI provides and how they work. A good PI will be able to point out these things. But if you still feel overwhelmed and unsure of who to go with, don’t hesitate to seek out another opinion from someone you trust.
