How to Report Non-Licensed North Carolina Private Investigators
Private Investigators are licensed by the Department of Justice in North Carolina. The North Carolina attorney general oversees the Department of Justice and is ultimately responsible for the issuance of private investigators license. The attorney general also has the authority to investigate public complaints against private investigators including allegations of individuals working as private investigators while unlicensed. Citizens may elect to file a complaint with the North Carolina attorney general to commence an investigation into a private investigator.
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Instructions
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Verify that the investigator you wish to file a complaint against does not have a license. In order to become a private investigator a candidate must be issued a license by the North Carolina government. A license is issued to North Carolina residents who are older than the age of 18, have good moral character, and can prove citizenship. The state also requires that candidates have at least three years of experience in investigative work. Regulators prefer that candidates have experience by working in law enforcement or for other government agencies.
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Contact the Private Protective Services board to verify the issuance of a license. The licenses are issued by the Private Protective Services board. The board decides if candidates merit a private investigator license. The board is not responsible for investigating private investigators working without a license, however since the attorney general oversees the board by choosing the director of the board, he is authorized to bring investigations into private investigators.
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Determine with whom you should file a complaint because there are several different ways to report an investigator who is working without a license. For example, if you hire and pay for a private investigator and later learn the PI was unlicensed, you should file a complaint with the attorney general's consumer division. The goal of this type of complaint is to obtain restitution for the services provided. The complaint can be filed electronically through the North Carolina attorney general's website.
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Call the attorney general's office if you would like to report an unlicensed private investigator but have not paid for the services. The telephone number for the North Carolina attorney general is 919-716-6400.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have already paid for the services, it can be faster to contact the private investigator directly and request a refund. You can explain to the investigator that you will file a complaint if you do not receive a prompt refund.
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