FAQ
Since only a small percentage of the population will ever have to deal professionally with a private investigator consequently most people’s knowledge of the profession has been assumed by watching C.S.I., Monk or old Rockford reruns on television. A great deal of phone calls to our office begin with a prospective client hesitatingly stammering “I’m very nervous,” “I’ve never done this before” and/or “I don’t know where to begin.” For that reason, we’ve put together this page of the most commonly asked questions by clients over the years.
Are you licensed ?
Absolutely. In order to work in California & Arizona as a Private Investigator that individual must have a California & Arizona state Private Investigator license.
Are you insured ?
Although not required we do carry a General Liabilities insurance policy just to be prudent. We are more than happy to produce this prior to beginning work on your case should you request it.
Is this confidential ?
We take confidentiality and discretion extremely serious. All records, contacts, files are kept secure. The only individuals beside yourself who will have any knowledge of our contact is someone that you choose to confide in. We guarantee privacy in our contracts that under no circumstances, unless otherwise specified, would the subject of our investigation have information that they are being investigated. This rule is never compromised.
Can I trust you ?
In addition to the numerous positive online reviews and testimonials from clients, our reputation, built over 15 years, is of the utmost importance to us and is second to no one. We always endeavor to foster trust and confidence with each and every single client. Although we can’t guarantee results we do guarantee we will do everything within budget and ethically permissible when working for you when we agree to take on your case.
How do you get licensed ?
The state of California requires that in order to become licensed one must be at least 18 years of age, undergo and pass criminal background checks by both the DOJ and FBI, have 6,000 hours of compensated experience in investigative work; or a law or police science degree plus 4,000 hours of compensated experience in investigative work then pass a rigorous examination covering laws and regulations, civil and criminal liability, evidence handling, undercover investigations and surveillance. Once that is out of the way we pay a fee and are issued a license.
What information do I need ?
Each case that comes to us is unique but as a general rule of thumb the more information you have the better. Any information we develop takes time which translates to money. That said generally name, DOB, SSN, description, picture, vehicle(s) description and license plate, home address, work address, schedule, known acquaintances or activities are all a good place to start. If all you have is a name we can work with that but again, the more the better.
How is payment handled ?
We provide a variety of payment options for your convenience. All major Credit Cards, checks, cash, money orders, Pay Pal, direct deposits are accepted.
How soon can you begin working on my case ?
If your situation requires it, we can begin working immediately however, as a general rule the more time we have to prepare and plan the better the chance of success.
How much do you charge ?
It depends on the service. We do have a list of fees and expenses which have been carefully considered in order to remain both affordable and competitively priced. Our services won’t be the least expensive nor will they be the highest. After discussion of your needs we can give you a fairly accurate quote. All costs are discussed up front and a retainer for services is required. We work with you to set a budget and in most cases it shouldn’t be necessary to exceed it. If your case does require more work than initially projected we will always discuss the services to be rendered, their costs as well as their anticipated benefits.
What are the signs someone is cheating ?
Signs of cheating are not necessarily the same thing as proof of cheating. Without proof, few cheating spouses will admit the truth. Human perception is biased. Any behavior, or change in behavior, can be interpreted in many different ways. If you trust your spouse, you’re likely to overlook obvious signs of infidelity. But, if you’re suspicious, you are more likely to notice signs of cheating everywhere you look (even if they are not there). These lists can become like a Rorschach test, where people see what they want to see. With this in mind, it may be wise to approach these lists with some degree of caution.
Have you ever been caught ?
On occasion the subject of our investigation may have been tipped off by something the client may have said or otherwise divulged and is suspicious but confidentiality is paramount to us and, even if confronted, we would never divulge any information about our clients to anyone. We tell all clients that, before and during the investigation, it is important they “act naturally” around the subject so as not to put the subject “on guard.” We are very skilled at what we do, have dealt with even the most “aware” individuals. Generally by applying our finely honed skills, advanced techniques and state-of-the art equipment we are able to be successful.
Will we be in communication during the investigation ?
We do everything we can to stay in touch before, during and afterwards up to the final report. All clients have different preferences and we allow for that. Of course we won’t risk detection or distraction but generally as long as it’s feasible to keep clients abreast of developments, we don’t mind doing so.