Tips for Choosing A Trustworthy Private Investigator

If you need to get to the bottom of any personal matter – such as a cheating spouse, dodgy employees or locating an old love or someone that owes you money – it goes without saying that you need to hire someone who knows what they’re doing. However, if you have no previous experience working with a private investigator, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Where do you start? What questions should you ask? How do you know if you’re hiring the right person for the job?

There’s many factors to consider when you’re looking to hire a Private Eye. At Melbourne Private Investigations, we’re here to guide you with a few top tips to help you determine whether you’re hiring a trustworthy professional.

Here’s 5 points to consider.

1. Check to see if they are registered private investigators

This is often an overlooked aspect of the private investigator but one that shouldn’t be ignored. In saying this, it’s easy to get an investigator’s licence – but what you’re looking for is to see if they have ever solved a case. If a business has been around for quite some time, then you can assume that they are established and quite successful in their investigations.

2. If possible, meet them face-to-face

A private investigator with a physical office ensures a level of accountability. This means that if something goes awry, you’ll be able to locate them at their address. Organising to meet with them in person may help you feel more at ease and gives you a chance to build rapport with someone who’ll be working with your most intimate details. In saying this, alot of investigators do not have offices these days so you can always ask to meet them at a cafe or organise a video conference call with them to ensure you are not dealing with someone who is trying to stay anonymous.

3. Look at client testimonials

Treat your search for a Private Eye like a job interview. The private investigator you choose will be handling some of your most sensitive information, so you need to research them as well! Look at past client reviews to see satisfied clients and their feedback on the services they were provided. A great place to start is google reviews on the maps section. These reviews cannot be manipulated and usually come from real customers expressing their gratitude or unhappiness. Keep in mind though that there are always a few disgruntled customers so you need to consider this when looking at the reviews. If the company has a high average with lots of reviews you can generally say it’s a good choice.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask about fees

As the old adage goes, if you think hiring an expert is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur. There is such a thing as too cheap, and if it sounds too good to be true – it probably is. Using a disreputable private investigator doesn’t just cost you your hard-earned money but they can compromise your surveillance. This means your subject may be aware they are being investigated, and all your efforts are thrown out the window. While a reputable private investigator may not be able to give you exact figures up front (due to the amount of hours for surveillance) they should be able to provide you with a ballpark figure as well as the option to add onto your service. Be careful of hidden fees. It’s always good to get things in writing or a set schedule of all fees.

5. Go with your gut

You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach that tells you something isn’t quite right? That’s your intuition, and you shouldn’t ignore it. After all, it’s the very tingly feeling that is telling you to look into hiring a private investigator. Hone it once more when interviewing private eyes: the right one will make you feel at ease, and you’ll just ‘click.’

Contact Melbourne Private Investigations for a confidential chat

When it comes to finding a reliable, honest and professional Private Eye, none come better recommended than Melbourne Private Investigations. For over a decade, we have been helping people get to the bottom of their suspicions – once and for all.

If you’re seeking answers, we can help. Contact us today on 1300 416 730 for a discreet discussion about your sensitive investigation.