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The following are questions frequently asked by potential clients. Q: How much does it cost to hire an investigator? A: Unfortunately there is no EXACT way to tell ahead of time how much an investigation will cost. After consulting with the client and obtaining the needed information, I can usually give an estimate of the time and effort it might take to reach the desired outcome on an investigation. To give an exact time frame is usually impossible as there are far too many variables to consider. It would be unfair to the client to claim that it will be finished in a pre-determined time frame. An initial retainer of $500.00 is required to begin most investigations. The hourly fee is deducted out of the retainer until a zero balance is reached. On domestic issues, (infidelity / custody) it has been my experience that I can usually obtain some results within the $500.00 dollar retainer. Q: What type of information is necessary before beginning an investigation? A: The more information you can supply me with the better! There is no such thing as too much information. Give it all to me and let me sort out what I need and what I don't need. For example, in cases of insurance fraud or marital infidelity; an individuals name, last known address, age, description, vehicle driven, friends, family, hobbies and hangout places can all be valuable pieces of information. A photograph is not required but is obviously extremely helpful as well. Q: Do we need to meet in person before beginning an investigation? A: No. I prefer to meet in person but I realize this is not always possible. The initial consultation is free and I usually like to consider all the information given and the objective of the investigation before I will even accept a case. This can usually be accomplished over the telephone and pictures can be faxed or e-mailed. Q: Can I perform surveillance on my own? A: In most states doing surveillance yourself or having a friend do it for you could open you up to various stalking or harassment charges. You want to be able to present your evidence in court without fear of repercussions from the judge. It also looks better to have the investigation performed by a licenced unbiased professional. Unfortunately in domestic situations most people do not have the patience or tenacity it often takes to obtain the desired results. Q: How is the evidence documented? A: Video is the standard for documenting evidence or activity. I use digital video photography for all my work with the option for still photographs. I also use the latest micro pinhole video camera systems for all of my covert work when it requires close proximity video of an individual inside of a business or restaurant. Video can be presented either on CD or standard VHS tapes at the clients request. A complete written time-line report is also provided to the client that is suitable for presentation in court. Q: Are the results of an investigation "guaranteed"? A: No they are not. As I stated in question # 1, there are too many variables for anyone to "guarantee" an investigation. What we do as investigators requires a lot of tenacity, patience and experience mixed in with a fair amount of luck. All of the experience and luck in the world will not prevent the little old lady in the Lincoln Towncar from pulling out in front of you and stopping to look at the pretty yellow traffic light as you watch the person you are following get farther and farther down the road. I would be wary of anyone claiming to "guarantee" an investigation. Q: Is there a "standard" way that investigations are conducted? A: No there is not. Every surveillance and investigation is unique and should be treated as such. The investigation needs to be customized as best possible to accommodate for the surrounding area and the circumstances. For example; the neighborhood, (either rural or suburban), needs to be considered. Every neighborhood has a certain "feel" to it and a certain level of activity. Often it takes a day or so to learn the "feel" of the neighborhood; (who is home during the day, and who the neighborhood "busybodies" are). I know some clients that attempt to place a "cookie cutter" pattern on every investigation. They seem to want the investigation "rushed" and completed in just a few days. They require random useless video of the target's house every hour or so and they want you to call the target every day to make sure they are home. Don't get me wrong, I can and have successfully conducted, "cookie cutter" investigations such as this in the past. But as a general rule, I do not work in this manner. I have been doing this for almost 16 years now and I know for a fact that the "cookie cutter" type of investigation is not always the best idea. What I tell potential clients is this: If you trust me enough to handle your investigation, then let ME make the field decisions. If for some reason you don't trust me to make the right decision, then please hire someone that you do trust. Q: Can I "bug" or place a recorder on my phone to listen to conversations? A: In the state of Arkansas you can NOT bug your own phone to listen in on two other peoples conversation. Arkansas is what they call a "one party consent" state. This means that you CAN secretly record a conversation if you are a party to the conversation. But, you can NOT secretly record a conversation between two other unsuspecting individuals. Q: What are some of the "red flag" warning signs of a possible insurance / disability fraud case?
Any one of these "red flags" by themselves may not be cause for alarm. However, two or more of these "red flags" put together may indicate a problem worth looking into. Q: What are some of the "red flag" warning signs of a cheating spouse?
Any one or two of these "red flags" by themselves may not be cause for alarm. Some of these "warning signs" can be nothing more than typical long term relationship issues and does not necessarily indicate cheating. However, two, three or four of these warning signs put together may indicate a problem worth looking into. Q: Will evidence of my spouse cheating help me win a custody battle for my kids in court? A: The short answer is NO, not always. I have learned over the years that it depends greatly on the particular judge. It depends on the judge's temperament, biases and experiences. Ask your attorney for their advice on the matter. I am not a lawyer, but here are some basic guidelines based on my experience over the years. Do not hire an investigator if:
Do hire an investigator if:
Of course everyone's situation is unique and you need to speak with a qualified attorney and an investigator to determine if hiring an investigator would be beneficial. More questions will be added as they accumulate! |
| Pierce Investigations P.O. Box 1872 Rogers AR 72757 (479) 544-0724 |