If you have a problem that needs to be sorted out, one route is to hire a private investigator. But how do you choose the right one? Rick Roy runs his own private investigation firm, Rix Investigations, based in Phoenix, Arizona. He talks here about how the average person would go about finding the right person for the job.
Finding a decent private investigator doesn’t have to be difficult. Ask somebody you trust who has used one before. Also, do a Google search of trusted investigators to find one. You can search associations as well to see who is accredited. I am a member of several private investigation organizations I trust, and I can call and find a licensed private investigator in South Carolina if I need it, or anywhere else throughout the entire country.
Experience in a Specific Area
Finding the right investigator for the job is most productive when you can take some of the details of the situation you are in and look for someone with experience in that area. That can be domestic, infidelity, homicide or a missing person.
By searching those topics, you will find investigators who are particularly qualified for that subject. I believe that is the best way to find a qualified investigator — to find someone who has in the past done what you need help with.
Investigators specialize in specific areas. Our firm works well because I have made affiliations with people locally who are experts in many areas, from fingerprinting to lie detector tests to cadaver dogs that search out cadavers. If anyone asks me about the myriad of specialists advertised on my site, I can tell him that I will be using one of the many certified experts in that area to accomplish the job at a price that is beneficial to my client.
Get References
Another suggestion also is to speak to the investigator either in person or over the phone before you hire him. Make sure you that you click with him, that you get along with him, that you approve of his style, and that he treats you the way you should. Many times the initial meeting with the investigator will set the tone for what it will be like throughout the investigation.
Also, ask for some references. But don’t be surprised if they do not give you any. One thing you have to be aware of in this profession is confidentiality. And some people do not want others to know they have been helped.
I have numerous references that I can call on, but some private investigators do not give out any information, as none of their clients want them to. That can be tough to deal with but that’s the way it is. As for me, I will gladly give references any time.
Ongoing Contact
Finally, ask the private investigator if you can contact him during the investigation. Some won’t let you. Personally, I won’t deal with anybody who won’t.
A lot of people have griped to me that during the surveillance the investigator will not answer phone calls. The investigators says it is taking him away from his target and that he’s not fulfilling his job, which I think is crazy. He should be available to the client at any time, as he is on their time.
