Private Investigator FAQ

A private investigator can be used for all kinds of investigations. If you want more information than you can track down on your own, hiring a private investigator can be beneficial. Private investigators have the licensing, education, training, and experience to do what they do. They have access to databases that you do not, and their contacts can be beneficial in more difficult searches. Private investigators utilize more than a Google search. They know how to manipulate internet searches and delve into the deep web. They are experienced at surveilling people and savvy in their interview techniques. Private investigators are professionals who make a living at seeking, organizing, analyzing, and deciphering information. They are also licensed, insured, and familiar with the legalities of investigations. (*Note: There are a few states that do not require private investigators to be licensed). The following are a few examples of people/businesses/attorneys with varying reasons for hiring a PI:

Attorney

• Locate witness or client
• Interview witness
• Process service
• Accident reconstruction
• Digital Forensics – i.e., same day cell phone extractions
• Criminal Investigations
• Surveillance

Individual

• Locate missing person
• Gather evidence on cheating partners
• Uncover catfishing
• Child custody
• Identity theft

Business Owner

• Background check on job candidate
• Suspected employee fraud
• Stolen property unreported to police

Insurance Company

• Workers compensation fraud
• Surveillance

In today's information age and with access to the internet, people wrongly think just because they have an inquisitive mind and enjoy a good mystery novel or crime show, they would make a good private investigator. Although an inquisitive mind is a good start and mystery novels and crime shows can be riveting for us all, the skill set required to be a private investigator is vast. It is perfectly all right to dive as deeply as you can into your own private mystery, and you may just find the answers you were looking for. However, if you do not have the time or resources, or just cannot seem to find success on your own, it might be time to call a private investigator. Private investigators have access to databases that are unavailable to the public. They have experience and contacts you do not have as an average citizen. Also, most states require licensing and insurance for private investigators which contributes to investigators staying current on laws relevant to their profession.

Choose a private investigator who specializes in your need or has a strong background in that area. Be skeptical of those who claim to “do it all.” ALWAYS check your state for licensure requirements and be sure the private investigator you are contacting possesses a current license and insurance when required. It is also helpful to obtain a referral when possible.

Choose a private investigator who is licensed in the state(s) they practice but be mindful that not all states require a license. Additionally, check their background, training, experience, and professional organizations to which they belong. On a more personal note, find an investigator you like. Don't let him or her push you around or tell you what to do. You are the client. You are in charge. The PI works for you. So, it's important to find someone you trust and feel comfortable with after speaking with them.

Expect professionalism. Every case is different, and results vary greatly. Even the best investigators come up empty-handed sometimes, so if you find an investigator who guarantees results, they are lying. If you give the investigator clear instructions on your expectations, he or she should give you an estimate on time, expenses, and likelihood of success. The investigator should also keep you apprised of the status of your investigation regularly. They should always, always get approval by you before taking additional steps or adding work to the original agreement, thus adding expenses to your bill. Most investigators require a substantial retainer before they will even begin. Make sure you understand the fee and expense structure before signing a contract. If a private investigator does not require you to sign a contract, I would find a different private investigator.

Hourly fees typically range from $50 to $250 per hour or more depending on location and type of service requested. Specialty services are more expensive than general services, just like any other industry. Flat fees are sometimes used instead of hourly rates for services such as conducting a background check, digging up a phone number, or obtaining a license plate number. Mileage and actual expenses can also be charged if travel is involved. Make sure you get what you pay for. If you choose a private investigator solely based on their cheap price, chances are great that the results they produce, if any, will not be as reliable or complete had you chosen a PI who charged more. Also worthy of mention, a "cheap" PI might take 10 hours to complete the same work a more expensive PI would complete in 5. (Cheap PI charges $50 per hour. Cheap PI works 10 hours on your case. You owe $500. More expensive PI charges $100 per hour and works 5 hours on your case. You owe $500). It is also very prudent for you to ask yourself before you start the process, "How much money am I willing to invest to obtain the information I want?" Know your limits. Know your budget.

An independent investigator has complete control over your case from start to finish, so your experience is probably a bit more cohesive and personal than working with an investigator at a large firm. Sometimes when a large firm is used, pieces of your investigation can be assigned to more than one investigator. But if a larger team of investigators is necessary for your investigation, a large firm is probably a better choice than a one-person show. A large firm does likely provide a much broader array of services, but if the client knows what they need, they can find an independent investigator who specializes in that area. If your need is strictly local (i.e. surveillance), finding an independent investigator in your town or city can be beneficial because he or she likely knows the area better than if you hire someone from a large out-of-town firm.

Every phone call, including the initial consultation, is totally free and confidential, and there is no obligation. A free consultation at True Lies Investigations is simply a chance for the investigator and client to acquaint themselves with one another. The client should ask questions and provide the details of the investigation to the investigator. The investigator will ask several follow-up questions based on the information provided by the client. Pricing and further details will be discussed. The client does not have to decide right away whether they want to proceed. This is just an initial work-up in which the client is free to ask numerous questions, determine their expectations, and decide if they want to proceed any further. This is also a chance for the investigator to determine if the case will be accepted. An investigator might choose to refer a client to a different investigator based upon expertise, time, resources, etc. Whether you choose to retain us, we never share your information with anyone. Your identity will be totally safeguarded.

True Lies Investigations requires a retainer fee at the start of every case. This fee acts as a cash pool from which the investigator works. If/when the retainer runs out, the investigator and client reassess the case to determine the next course of action. If the investigation concludes before the retainer is used up, the remaining money will be refunded to the client.

We prefer to always have a simple contract in place so that clients have a clear understanding of objectives, price, payment terms, and conditions. Having an agreement avoids confusion for both parties. 

An invoice is either emailed or mailed to the client. Clients can choose to pay via credit card over the phone or electronically via the invoice sent to them. A certified check or money order can also be mailed to True Lies Investigations at 4610 S. Ulster St., Suite 150, Denver, CO 80237.