It is difficult for someone who feels as if they might need a private investigator service to choose the right one without feeling as if they have made the wrong choice. Either the investigator is too expensive, or maybe investigators don't really know what they are doing.

I hope after reading this you will be able to make informed and educated decisions when choosing a personal investigator.

One thing you need to understand is that regardless of how well a private researcher is that you employ, the results are not guaranteed. Background checks may not uncover everything (for various reasons) about that person. Surveillance of your partner might not show them cheating (even though you know them). So when you receive results, you might be upset because they get the information you are looking for (for example: capture your partner cheating) for or upset because they don't (for example: you spend a lot of money and can't prove they're cheating).

1. Determine whether they are licensed to work as a personal investigator.

This may not be the first thing you do but it must be on the list of things to be examined before hiring personal investigators. You must examine government authorities in your state or country to determine whether researchers are actually licensed to do work. In the United States, the license number must be on their website or they have to give it to you.

In the state of Washington, a private investigator must have a license of private investigation institutions, business licenses and licenses of individual investigators needed for business owners.

2.) Do investigators bring error insurance negligence or bonds?

In the state of the Washington investigation institution it is required to bind or carry errors and negligence insurance. In Washington State, private Investigator insurance is connected with their license. If you don't have insurance or bonds, you cannot have an agency license.

3.) Determine what specializes with the company.

Many companies will say they are able to do various types of different tasks. And this might be true, but what they don't say is how well they are on every type of task.

A company that works with the same type of task is usually usually very good and efficient for this type of task.

4.) Having a company or investigator who has done the type of work you ask them to do?

If they never do the type of work you consider to work, it's not an automatic deal breaker. A good surveillance investigator must be able to handle most of the supervision request. Just because he does a lot of insurance work does not mean investigators cannot follow your partner.