How to Hire a Private Eye

Get your job done efficiently by hiring an expert private eye.

Hiring a private eye is one of the common methods used to attain information discreetly. You may want to find your old friend, make sure your spouse is not cheating on you or verify the background of a potential candidate for a job. Businesses, lawyers and individuals often use private investigators to find information and gather intelligence. However, you must choose the right private eye to get your job done.

Instructions

1. Ask friends and family for referrals. Make sure that you discuss your idea of hiring a private eye with a trustworthy friend or relative since you may want to keep the fact that you are hiring investigative services a secret. Search for private investigative services online. Professional private investigators maintain websites and advertise in various consumer publications such as annual directories. Check if the websites have information about the company or individual and offer complete business address and phone number.

2. Ask the private investigator for his license. In most U.S. states, a PI requires a state license to operate. In many states, there are stringent licensure laws. For example, according to Bureau of Security and Investigative Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, it is essential for a private investigator to possess a combination education in police science, criminal law, or justice and have three years of experience. The candidate must also pass a background check for criminal history conducted by the FBI and the California Department of Justice. In most states, candidates with a criminal record are not eligible for license. So, license verification ensures that you are not unknowingly hiring a criminal. Ask for the PI's license number and verify it with your state licensing authority. Your public safety department or state police should be able to give you the contact information. Call up your local Better Business Bureau and check if any complaints have been registered against the PI.

3. Ask for the PI's work history and experience in the type of assignments as yours. Many PIs have previous work experience in other occupations such as law enforcement, government auditing, military, private security and insurance companies. You could call up these companies to know more about them. Ask them for customer referrals. Call these people and get their feedback on the PI's job.

4. Ask for a formal contract. It is important to have a written agreement that states the rate, PI job responsibilities and maximum expenses authorized, to establish a clear understanding between you and the PI.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Private Detectives and Investigators
• Loss Prevention Concepts Ltd.: How to Evaluate, choose and Hire a Private Investigator in Michigan
• Private Investigator: Hiring a Private Investigator
• BBB: Finding the Right Private Investigator