I found a fabulously clever Twitter account today - PI Magazine. I guess it just reminded me that we all cannot own specific phrases and brands when they are generic or when specific words or abbreviations like P.I. can be attributed to other uses.
This Tweeter(?) uses PI in the context of "π, the mathematical constant whose value is the ratio of any circle's circumference to its diameter."
Nice!
Here are a few of my favorite 3.14 related tweets:
"The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi."
"If you want this twitter account, you'll have to apologize first, then write a $3.14M check with "Newby" in the subject line. You know my number."
and of course...
"Need to find followers who share a love for "geometric investigations.""
Hahahahaha.
Here is another great use of the term from Private Investigator Magazine:
Showing posts with label private investigator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label private investigator. Show all posts
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Costa Rica Private Investigator
If you think being a Private Investigator in Costa Rica is how Hollywood has glorified it, think again. Most PIs will tell you, nowadays it’s more leg work and lonely surveillance. The days of the Sam Spades and Philip Marlows may be over in the US, but not necessary in Costa Rica. With the industry now growing at a rapid rate, and the need for corporations and legal firms to use private investigators, the scope to specialize in more than one geographical location has increased, Costa Rica being one of those.
Costa Rica always has had a reputation for being the ideal spot to hide from the law. It is no secret many have sought sanction from criminal warrants and civil judgments. Probably the most infamous in one of the biggest financial frauds in history (at the time) was scammer, Robert Lee Vesco who fled to Costa Rica in 1971. At the time a national law was made to protect him from extradition. Consequently, Costa Rica became the preferred home of many “bad guys,” with their lax laws on extradition, secluded areas, and the easy laws on obtaining residency.
But that all changed in 2007 when Costa Rica joined in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Beside commercial and technology trade it also opened a brand new set of doors for law firms, courts and private parties who are seeking those that have fled to Costa Rica for various civil (child/spouse support) and criminal (warrants/skip tracing) reasons. However, the need for PI services has increase to personal matters such as: 1) Been wronged by your significant other, scammed or cheated by a business partner in Costa Rica. 2) Backgrounds checks on would be employees and/or employees that you suspect might be stealing or selling drugs etc. and/or a future spouse, to make sure you are not getting scammed 3) Infidelity reports (verification of activities and movements) on a cheating spouse and/or boy/girl friend.
Even with the free trade, just trying to serve a subpoena, one usually has to venture into an underground environment and criminal societies that demand the talents of the tough and hard core. Police in Costa Rica [as a rule] take the side of the bad guys and unlike the US; they do not provide a good reliable backup for several reasons, but the number one: The police are paid about $380/month, which means, the bad guys and girls just pay them off (or give sex) not to give information to a PI. And/or many a PI has found their way into a hospital. Costa Rica has some very rough parts of towns that even Al Capone would be stupid to venture into.
According to INTERPOL, Costa Rica harbors hundreds of international criminals whose crimes range from murder to child molestation.
If your P.I has a relationship with O.I.J. (Costa Rica F.B.I.) you are in for a bonus. O.I.J. are good to deal with and generally nice and professional (but lack of training) as you will find anywhere. Plus, O.I.J agents have access to all sorts of government files.
HIRING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR IN COSTA RICA
Unlike the US, there is no licensing authority in Costa Rica for private investigators, so picking and choosing a PI can be the first gamble. If you are dealing with a foreigner, always asked to see a residency card and/or passport.
1) Never hire a PI who claims he or she works alone. Security and safety should be on your PI’s mind at all times and they do pay for it.
2) Make sure the PI is physically present in Costa Rica, has a Costa Rica cell number, and are in some way partnered with a Licensed Costa Rica Attorney (Consultores Iberoamericano de Derechos C.I.D.). This is important due to the unique differences between law in Costa Rica and the United States. Costa Rica law is based on Napoleonic, in other words, guilty until proven innocent.
3) Be leery of any PI in the US that claimed they have connections in Costa Rica. Ninety-five percent of the time they will take your money and subcontract to a party in CR that may or may not have the skills and professionalism.
4) Check Credentials. If they list education or experience on their website and there is no substantive information concerning the education or experience, inquire as to where and when they obtained such qualifications, it is time to look for another PI.
For example, if the website indicates both investigations and security services it is usually one more than the other. Investigative skills and security skills are uniquely different and require vastly different education and training. Usually security people have military backgrounds whereas investigators have law enforcement backgrounds. If an agency claims they have military experience in Costa Rica, go to another firm. Costa Rica has not had a military since 1947. If they claim US military experience, ask to see their discharge papers. If they claim they have worked and trained for X years with an investigator in the US, call that firm.
5) There are some that will claim to beware of investigators who say they have “special connections” with the government or police in Costa Rica. They will add, The United States Code (Chapter 15) has a statute (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act FCPA) that prohibits any American citizen paying bribes or other consideration to influence a government or private officials to provide information not authorized by the laws of the foreign government.
Any quality PI in Costa Rica knows it takes money to get information. And Costa Rica’s is no stranger to corruption and no stranger to the open palm or Cost of Doing Business (CDB).
FINDING INFORMATION
Unlike the US, Costa Rica laws on privacy are very lenient and flawed; knowing the system, anyone can obtain information without the expensive court order.
For example, US and Canadian expats who do not have residency or citizenship can only stay in the country for 90days, before they have to renew that stay, so legally, they have to leave the country for 72/hours. A few dollars to a immigration officer, a few keystrokes later, and one can learn real quick who traveled where and for how long, and current city and address. Usually the first real friend/partner of a PI will be an immigration official.
Back in June 2010, 1000s of Expats who had defaulted on sales tax suddenly found themselves being publicly embarrassed when there names were published in El Financiero, the weekly business newspaper put out by Grupo Nación. When this happened, many on the list had some sort of infractions against them in the US, and a few suddenly found themselves being served for some type of civil judgment in the US.
In a recent Costa Rica court ruling it made it easier to get private information from credit reporting agencies. Everyone in Costa Rica, including expats, are being systematically logged into databases and the information is fairly easy to get by everyone.
Cero Riesgo continues to sell its public information available in bits and pieces (for as little as $7USD an inquire - to $150USD/month for unlimited access) that they get from the Registro Civil and the Registro Nacional . Even the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (National Insurance or INS) keeps a list of vehicles and their plate numbers by name of owner. Telephone numbers and their owners are available for free downloading from the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
Costa Rica Street Sign
Streets are almost impossible to find, let alone the addresses
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO PAY?
Make sure your PI has good accounting records and expect to see CDB listed on it. Experience PIs who have worked in CR can pretty much give you a ball park figure. Retainers are usually high and can be around 50% if not more and it is not uncommon for the PI to demand 3-$4000 right up front. CDBs can be anywhere from $20 to $100. The average worker in Costa Rica makes around $15/day, so paying a local $40-$100/day to keep tabs on a suspected cheating employee or spouse is a bargain that can generate great results.
In the US, to subpoena someone costs between $30-$60, that is, if you know the address. Unfortunately, if you need to subpoena someone in San Jose, expect that fee to be around $450 and outside San Jose, add the travel time and expense.
The reason for the expense, There is no such thing as “Yeah dude, just Google the address!”
Streets and addresses are nightmares, because there is virtually none.
A typical address may be like, “Go down the street a few kilometers until you see the store with the Imperial sign on the corner. Turn right … go another kilometer until you see a large Mango tree. Turn right, then down 200 meters until you see the goat tied to the fence. Take the middle dirt road; turn left on the second dirt road. It is the lime green house in back of the one with the three palm trees in front.”
Costa Rica always has had a reputation for being the ideal spot to hide from the law. It is no secret many have sought sanction from criminal warrants and civil judgments. Probably the most infamous in one of the biggest financial frauds in history (at the time) was scammer, Robert Lee Vesco who fled to Costa Rica in 1971. At the time a national law was made to protect him from extradition. Consequently, Costa Rica became the preferred home of many “bad guys,” with their lax laws on extradition, secluded areas, and the easy laws on obtaining residency.
But that all changed in 2007 when Costa Rica joined in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Beside commercial and technology trade it also opened a brand new set of doors for law firms, courts and private parties who are seeking those that have fled to Costa Rica for various civil (child/spouse support) and criminal (warrants/skip tracing) reasons. However, the need for PI services has increase to personal matters such as: 1) Been wronged by your significant other, scammed or cheated by a business partner in Costa Rica. 2) Backgrounds checks on would be employees and/or employees that you suspect might be stealing or selling drugs etc. and/or a future spouse, to make sure you are not getting scammed 3) Infidelity reports (verification of activities and movements) on a cheating spouse and/or boy/girl friend.
Even with the free trade, just trying to serve a subpoena, one usually has to venture into an underground environment and criminal societies that demand the talents of the tough and hard core. Police in Costa Rica [as a rule] take the side of the bad guys and unlike the US; they do not provide a good reliable backup for several reasons, but the number one: The police are paid about $380/month, which means, the bad guys and girls just pay them off (or give sex) not to give information to a PI. And/or many a PI has found their way into a hospital. Costa Rica has some very rough parts of towns that even Al Capone would be stupid to venture into.
According to INTERPOL, Costa Rica harbors hundreds of international criminals whose crimes range from murder to child molestation.
If your P.I has a relationship with O.I.J. (Costa Rica F.B.I.) you are in for a bonus. O.I.J. are good to deal with and generally nice and professional (but lack of training) as you will find anywhere. Plus, O.I.J agents have access to all sorts of government files.
HIRING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR IN COSTA RICA
Unlike the US, there is no licensing authority in Costa Rica for private investigators, so picking and choosing a PI can be the first gamble. If you are dealing with a foreigner, always asked to see a residency card and/or passport.
1) Never hire a PI who claims he or she works alone. Security and safety should be on your PI’s mind at all times and they do pay for it.
2) Make sure the PI is physically present in Costa Rica, has a Costa Rica cell number, and are in some way partnered with a Licensed Costa Rica Attorney (Consultores Iberoamericano de Derechos C.I.D.). This is important due to the unique differences between law in Costa Rica and the United States. Costa Rica law is based on Napoleonic, in other words, guilty until proven innocent.
3) Be leery of any PI in the US that claimed they have connections in Costa Rica. Ninety-five percent of the time they will take your money and subcontract to a party in CR that may or may not have the skills and professionalism.
4) Check Credentials. If they list education or experience on their website and there is no substantive information concerning the education or experience, inquire as to where and when they obtained such qualifications, it is time to look for another PI.
For example, if the website indicates both investigations and security services it is usually one more than the other. Investigative skills and security skills are uniquely different and require vastly different education and training. Usually security people have military backgrounds whereas investigators have law enforcement backgrounds. If an agency claims they have military experience in Costa Rica, go to another firm. Costa Rica has not had a military since 1947. If they claim US military experience, ask to see their discharge papers. If they claim they have worked and trained for X years with an investigator in the US, call that firm.
5) There are some that will claim to beware of investigators who say they have “special connections” with the government or police in Costa Rica. They will add, The United States Code (Chapter 15) has a statute (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act FCPA) that prohibits any American citizen paying bribes or other consideration to influence a government or private officials to provide information not authorized by the laws of the foreign government.
Any quality PI in Costa Rica knows it takes money to get information. And Costa Rica’s is no stranger to corruption and no stranger to the open palm or Cost of Doing Business (CDB).
FINDING INFORMATION
Unlike the US, Costa Rica laws on privacy are very lenient and flawed; knowing the system, anyone can obtain information without the expensive court order.
For example, US and Canadian expats who do not have residency or citizenship can only stay in the country for 90days, before they have to renew that stay, so legally, they have to leave the country for 72/hours. A few dollars to a immigration officer, a few keystrokes later, and one can learn real quick who traveled where and for how long, and current city and address. Usually the first real friend/partner of a PI will be an immigration official.
Back in June 2010, 1000s of Expats who had defaulted on sales tax suddenly found themselves being publicly embarrassed when there names were published in El Financiero, the weekly business newspaper put out by Grupo Nación. When this happened, many on the list had some sort of infractions against them in the US, and a few suddenly found themselves being served for some type of civil judgment in the US.
In a recent Costa Rica court ruling it made it easier to get private information from credit reporting agencies. Everyone in Costa Rica, including expats, are being systematically logged into databases and the information is fairly easy to get by everyone.
Cero Riesgo continues to sell its public information available in bits and pieces (for as little as $7USD an inquire - to $150USD/month for unlimited access) that they get from the Registro Civil and the Registro Nacional . Even the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (National Insurance or INS) keeps a list of vehicles and their plate numbers by name of owner. Telephone numbers and their owners are available for free downloading from the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
Costa Rica Street Sign
Streets are almost impossible to find, let alone the addresses
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO PAY?
Make sure your PI has good accounting records and expect to see CDB listed on it. Experience PIs who have worked in CR can pretty much give you a ball park figure. Retainers are usually high and can be around 50% if not more and it is not uncommon for the PI to demand 3-$4000 right up front. CDBs can be anywhere from $20 to $100. The average worker in Costa Rica makes around $15/day, so paying a local $40-$100/day to keep tabs on a suspected cheating employee or spouse is a bargain that can generate great results.
In the US, to subpoena someone costs between $30-$60, that is, if you know the address. Unfortunately, if you need to subpoena someone in San Jose, expect that fee to be around $450 and outside San Jose, add the travel time and expense.
The reason for the expense, There is no such thing as “Yeah dude, just Google the address!”
Streets and addresses are nightmares, because there is virtually none.
A typical address may be like, “Go down the street a few kilometers until you see the store with the Imperial sign on the corner. Turn right … go another kilometer until you see a large Mango tree. Turn right, then down 200 meters until you see the goat tied to the fence. Take the middle dirt road; turn left on the second dirt road. It is the lime green house in back of the one with the three palm trees in front.”
Friday, April 22, 2011
FREE Private Investigator Marketing Ideas and Tips
Just came across this great Facebook page that deals with Private Investigator Marketing. It's from L. Scott Harrell and CompassPoint Investigations, (now owned by Ruben Roel) so I know that the information he is posting to the page is not only important to building my private investigations business but is timely and relevant, too.
Before starting a new video marketplace, Scott was a fantastically popular and successful WORKING private investigator for 17 plus years, he understands what it really takes to build a successful private investigation agencies, as opposed to the other guy who's still trying to sell you phonebook ads, animal parts and a directory listing.
So far I've seen very original ideas about social media marketing, original idea about using Facebook to find and target media outlets for publicity and exposure. He described what EdgeRank and News Feed Optimization is and why it matters. I also liked the articles on building sales brochures and how to develop highly targeted marketing lists for certain types of investigations!
There is a lot more on this Facebook page that I could possibly get into here, and if I tried there would probably be a dozen more marketing and advertising ideas there before I got through.
Check out the Marketing for Private Investigators page, right now... you can't beet the price of FREE!
Before starting a new video marketplace, Scott was a fantastically popular and successful WORKING private investigator for 17 plus years, he understands what it really takes to build a successful private investigation agencies, as opposed to the other guy who's still trying to sell you phonebook ads, animal parts and a directory listing.
So far I've seen very original ideas about social media marketing, original idea about using Facebook to find and target media outlets for publicity and exposure. He described what EdgeRank and News Feed Optimization is and why it matters. I also liked the articles on building sales brochures and how to develop highly targeted marketing lists for certain types of investigations!
There is a lot more on this Facebook page that I could possibly get into here, and if I tried there would probably be a dozen more marketing and advertising ideas there before I got through.
Check out the Marketing for Private Investigators page, right now... you can't beet the price of FREE!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Updated State PI Licensing Laws
Pursuit Magazine, a free online magazine for professional investigators, has just posted the best list of private investigator license laws I have seen to date.
Today, I surveyed 6 websites in comparison for this information and I found NUMEROUS legal errors, outdated laws and dead links in all of them except for Pursuit's list... this is obviously because Stephanie Mitchell, the Editor, has a background in thorough legal research as a former paralegal.
They point out in their resource that a state P.I. license is not currently required in several states including Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, and Wyoming, though some local jurisdictions in each state do require professional licensing at the county or city level. There are changes underway in Missouri and Pennsylvania.
My question is why would someone who cuts my hair or paints my wife's toes need a state license but someone who deals with the public trust not need a license and state mandated continuing education? That seems kind of silly to me, quite frankly!
All of that aside, Pursuit Magazine continues to innovate and push forward the standard of training and freely distributed industry information- great job!
Today, I surveyed 6 websites in comparison for this information and I found NUMEROUS legal errors, outdated laws and dead links in all of them except for Pursuit's list... this is obviously because Stephanie Mitchell, the Editor, has a background in thorough legal research as a former paralegal.
They point out in their resource that a state P.I. license is not currently required in several states including Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, and Wyoming, though some local jurisdictions in each state do require professional licensing at the county or city level. There are changes underway in Missouri and Pennsylvania.
My question is why would someone who cuts my hair or paints my wife's toes need a state license but someone who deals with the public trust not need a license and state mandated continuing education? That seems kind of silly to me, quite frankly!
All of that aside, Pursuit Magazine continues to innovate and push forward the standard of training and freely distributed industry information- great job!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A New Kind of Private Investigator Directory... and It's Free.
From the PrivateInvestigatorsInc.com website:
"Caution: Getting listed in this directory is all about visibility, search engine marketing and helping potential customers find you rather than finding your competitors. If you are OK with that then we invite you to submit your listing for consideration."
This is a new type of directory in that it is built in WordPress, a blogging tool, rather than upon the old directory scripts that everyone is putting out. In plain English, this means that the directory listings at the PrivateInvestigatorsInc.com website will be better optimized for search engine consumption than a typical directory listing.
I'm excited about it as I can see the REAL value to this type of listing. Scott Harrell understands search engines and understands how to reach the top of search engine listings as he has with almost all of his websites. He explains that this listing is not so much about being found in the website itself as it is generating the right kind of search engine traffic to the listed agency's website thus improving the visibility of the agency website rather than the directory.
Personally, I'd rather have potential clients find my website rather than find me and my competition in a PI Directory.
Find a Private Investigator in... makes sense. The listings are currently free but they do ask that you provide a link back to the website, which is a very small price to pay for the exposure.
Get listed in the Private Investigator directory today... go to Find a Private Investigator in and get more information.
"Caution: Getting listed in this directory is all about visibility, search engine marketing and helping potential customers find you rather than finding your competitors. If you are OK with that then we invite you to submit your listing for consideration."
This is a new type of directory in that it is built in WordPress, a blogging tool, rather than upon the old directory scripts that everyone is putting out. In plain English, this means that the directory listings at the PrivateInvestigatorsInc.com website will be better optimized for search engine consumption than a typical directory listing.
I'm excited about it as I can see the REAL value to this type of listing. Scott Harrell understands search engines and understands how to reach the top of search engine listings as he has with almost all of his websites. He explains that this listing is not so much about being found in the website itself as it is generating the right kind of search engine traffic to the listed agency's website thus improving the visibility of the agency website rather than the directory.
Personally, I'd rather have potential clients find my website rather than find me and my competition in a PI Directory.
Find a Private Investigator in... makes sense. The listings are currently free but they do ask that you provide a link back to the website, which is a very small price to pay for the exposure.
Get listed in the Private Investigator directory today... go to Find a Private Investigator in and get more information.
Friday, October 24, 2008
PI Magazine has a Real Competitor (Finally) and it's FREE!
I've written about Pursuit Magazine before but I just saw the new website layout and I was floored by the beautiful layout and all of the information available. Visiting PI Magazine online is a bit like attending the circus or Las Vegas- cluttered and the inability to focus on anything because of the blinking banners and the overload of advertising. I can focus on the content at Pursuit Magazine and enjoy the experience when I have some downtime to really learn something.
Who gives away that much free information anyway? Is Scott crazy?
I love the videos section- there is some seriously EXCELLENT material there. The Sitemap is an excellent resource and I have set up an RSS feed through the subscribe function so that I am notified every time a new post is made.
My understanding is that they are still going to send out the electronic copy of the actual Magazine every other month too, which is awesome.
Great work. I hope you all will visit them and tell them what a great job they are doing.
Who gives away that much free information anyway? Is Scott crazy?
I love the videos section- there is some seriously EXCELLENT material there. The Sitemap is an excellent resource and I have set up an RSS feed through the subscribe function so that I am notified every time a new post is made.
My understanding is that they are still going to send out the electronic copy of the actual Magazine every other month too, which is awesome.
Great work. I hope you all will visit them and tell them what a great job they are doing.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Newest Private Investigator Continuing Education Videos
I just read this on the El Scott Harrell blog and thought I would share in the link credit with my former mentor. I think it's great that Scott continues to innovate and create new services supporting private investigators.
By using video servers he is helping improve PIEducation.com's visibility as well; another lesson any private investigator trying to improve his or her marketing strategies should consider.
El Scott Harrell on YouTube
Continuing Education for Private Investigators - Part 1
Private Investigator Continuing Education - Part 2
Online Private Investigator Continuing Education
PI CEUs - Continuing Education for Private Investigators
PIEducation.com offers state approved online continuing education for private investigators in Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Iowa, Louisiana, Oregon, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Their prices, courses and service are far superior to other CE providers.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Pursuit Magazine for Private Investigators has Posted the September Edition
The September issue of Pursuit Magazine, a private investigator magazine has been posted to their website and it is an important issue for sure.
The National Council of Investigation & Security Services had its annual Hit the Hill campaign in Washington DC, in an effort to meet as many legislators as possible and discuss with them the several bills making the rounds on Capitol Hill that may affect us all as private investigators and our access to sensitive information.
This is extremely important stuff and PM covered both the good and the bad as members who were in DC see it.
We all need to get involved or we are going to lose vital pieces of information that allow many of us to do our jobs and serve the greater good.
Take a look at Pursuit Magazine- it's free and considerably better in my opinion than PI Magazine. http://www.pursuitmag.com
The National Council of Investigation & Security Services had its annual Hit the Hill campaign in Washington DC, in an effort to meet as many legislators as possible and discuss with them the several bills making the rounds on Capitol Hill that may affect us all as private investigators and our access to sensitive information.
This is extremely important stuff and PM covered both the good and the bad as members who were in DC see it.
We all need to get involved or we are going to lose vital pieces of information that allow many of us to do our jobs and serve the greater good.
Take a look at Pursuit Magazine- it's free and considerably better in my opinion than PI Magazine. http://www.pursuitmag.com
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
A New Magazine for Private Investigators is FREE!
Check out Pursuit Magazine- a new private investigator magazine that absolutely blows the doors off of PI Magazine!
Not only is Pursuit FREE, it is an incredibile source for information too. They have past articles and issues posted so if you miss one they are all readily available.
The May Issue had articles about advertising and marketing my PI agency that I used and had immediate results. I like the sense of community they are building and the fact that Scott Harrell recognizes the need for coninuing education for all professional investigators which include bail enforcement and fugitive recovery agents, collateral repossession professionals and other skip tracers (to name just a few).
Great job to the staff, I can't wait for the July Issue!
.
Not only is Pursuit FREE, it is an incredibile source for information too. They have past articles and issues posted so if you miss one they are all readily available.
The May Issue had articles about advertising and marketing my PI agency that I used and had immediate results. I like the sense of community they are building and the fact that Scott Harrell recognizes the need for coninuing education for all professional investigators which include bail enforcement and fugitive recovery agents, collateral repossession professionals and other skip tracers (to name just a few).
Great job to the staff, I can't wait for the July Issue!
.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Small PI Agencies are Going Out of Business, Here's Why...
Hi All,
This will only take 5-10 minutes (max) to read, so please continue. And once you’ve read, please spread the word and remind your fellow PI that he, like you, is worth more than he thinks.
Many of you do not know me, but if you’ll indulge me, I would like to recount a little bit about my background. Before 1980, I helped manage a large multi-purpose agricultural business. Some may call it farming, row cropping, ranching, or refer to those associated with it by such pejorative phrases as "straw chewing hick" or "overall wearing hayseed." I don’t really care what you call it or me, but it was the best business experience I have ever had, bar none! Make no mistake though, “Mother Nature” is a landowner’s boss and don’t let anybody ever tell you differently. No matter what you may think, farming is not for the stereotypical, “backwoods redneck yokel.” Farming takes planning, organization, money, timing, a market, and a whole lot of LUCK! No other vocation falls at the mercy of year- round weather conditions than farming. What does all this have to do with anything? Well, I was hoping you’d ask.
The small farmers of America are a thing of the past. Corporate farming and private land ownership has taken away America’s most precious identity – that of the family farmer. The family farmer has been exploited for years by poorly written laws (and the lawmakers who write them), greedy merchants, and avaricious big businesses – a situation not unlike what the PIs of this nation have been experiencing during the past three decades. Logic and commonsense have given way to political correctness and privacy hysteria. PIs are not completely free from fault. We are just The Last of the Mohicans - small enterprises that are being replaced by “national agencies” in the same way mom and pop farmers were pushed out to pasture.
Have you ever noticed how the ABA and AMA are nationally organized? Although the medical profession is on its ear, all the doctors I know still own nice homes and drive fancy cars. The reason lawyers and doctors are doing well: they recognize the need to form huge coalitions through their national and state run organizations. Farmers tried but, due to fragmentation within their ranks, failed, and look where they are now. Through tremendous solidarity, doctors and lawyers have gained bargaining power, clout, and a war chest to challenge bad legislation. Farmers were too divided, putting self-interest first, and you see what it cost them. Talk about fragmented, divided and emphasis on self-interest -these are all terms that can be applied to today’s licensed PI. It is true what is said about history repeating itself.
The PI vocation is doomed because of apathy, cynicism, and mistrust in our spokespeople, a lack of participation, factions of too many colors, and a serious lack of leadership. There are approximately 60,000 licensees nationally, yet the ranks of most PI organizations cannot even brag about having 30% of the total of each potential state’s licensees. It’s no wonder we have no voice; no unity. Laws are changing more frequently than some of you change your yolk-stained ties, and yet you do nothing or you bitch and moan about the impending doom and gloom. At the rate we are going, we are headed toward extinction. There are no teeth left in the tiger’s mouth to kick out, yet most of you sit on your tired rumps, too lazy to do anything about it. It’s pathetic. Where is your pride, people? Are we all so burned out we do not give a damn anymore?
We do not have enough resources to run a nationwide television ad. That too is deplorable. DO NOT STOP READING… KEEP GOING…I AM ALMOST DONE.
I wish to share an idea I have been mulling over for awhile. Seeing as how a great majority does not want to spend a nickel to support state and/or national organizations, perhaps this revelation will change your thinking:
Lift up your self-worth! I cannot believe what some of you are willing to sell your retail services for! It’s no wonder PIs and small agencies are suffering as they are.
The sole practitioner and the small agencies are being replaced by inexperienced wannabes who are supervised by a bunch of sophisticated business people who saw an opportunity to catch us asleep at the wheel. Try a little surfing on Google or Copernic and you’ll easily discover who the culprit is snatching the food out of your refrigerator. Out-of-state agencies are killing all of us. They are willing to exploit inexperienced (and oft-time bogus) PIs for $10-$15 dollars/hour, all the while misrepresenting themselves to their clients. The supervisors of these “agencies” are getting fat while your cupboard is looking more and more bare. With any luck, something will backfire on these so-called “national PI agencies.” You can only use/exploit “inexperience” for so long.
It is in all of our respective interests to recapture our instate work for our instate licensees. The longer we allow this downhill trend to manifest itself, the sooner we will arrive at the collective loss of our livelihoods before this decade ends. The national companies’ poor work product may be our saving grace. You cannot teach 27 years of on-the-job experience to a person in one year. It is impossible. Yet, companies are shunning experience in favor of cheap labor.
So, you may be asking yourself, how can we charge more if national agencies are charging less? Well, the objective is to come together and form an American PI Association, “APIA,” so we can build the resources to reclaim all that we have lost. No voice, no vote. No money, no change. We need both money and a voice. And, if any of you think a dollar amount that exceeds $99 a year is too much, please don’t bother to apply. We don’t want or need your apathetic attitude and/or shortsightedness. Save those qualities for your analysis of a witness’ statement under oath. I am not giving up. It is not in my nature, but you can rest assured I am not dragging the sorry lot of cynics and naysayers along for the ride. I just as soon start fresh and bring a new breed of educated, optimistic, and motivated people whose goals are to succeed in life and business. Work smart, not hard.
Although the Sherman Anti-Trust Act prohibits collusion in the free-market bidding process, it does not prohibit the offer of sage advice. I am not the only answer, but I’ll stand by my successes and failures over the many years I have been practicing as a PI entrepreneur. When a newbie asks me for advice or ideas about how to start a PI business, the very first thing I tell them is “Don’t sell your self short.” So many of you know what I am talking about, however, you are constantly discounting yourselves, ergo, the malaise we find ourselves in as our businesses dry up. Granted there are several factors that are squeezing the life out of some our markets, and, those for certain are the “national agencies” that are springing up like bad mold all over the U.S. There is no way a home office in Timbuktu will have the same experience and knowledge of the laws in another state than a home state PI will have in his/her own territory. Nevertheless, more and more “national agencies” are taking the food right out of our mouths. The primary reason this is happening is that this profession is so factious that we are biting off our own noses because of our own shortsightedness and cynical disinterest.
After years of bidding on RFPs, I have noticed a consistent trend by a majority of the bidders to come in at such ridiculously low hourly bids, its no wonder PIs and small agencies are dropping like flies into cow pies. The rule of thumb for calculating a proper profit margin for a business is to charge three times per hour [or what ever unit of measure] you would pay an employee to do the job. The math is so easy that I will not bore you with the minutiae, but it is patently apparent that many of you people are selling yourselves too cheaply. If you hold a license to practice Private Investigations, then take pride in the fact that you have something special to offer. When you price your wares ad hoc, you are not only doing a disservice to yourself, but you are royally screwing the rest of us. If you do not feel like you know what or how to operate a PI business so that you are maintaining a fair and reasonable standard, then I suggest you join a professional PI organization. Ask folk that have been in the business 20 plus years, go to the professional seminars, and/or take a few night classes at a reputable business school so you will know what you need to run a real business. I could go on for hours on this topic, but it is not necessary. The bottom-line: We as PIs are entitled to make a decent living for our efforts, thus we all need to take pride in our retail services so we actually can make a living. I have done well for a small agency, but given the current trend of low-ball tactics, unlicensed activity, fraudulent misrepresentation, out-of-state monster “agencies” coming into our various markets, and BAD LEGISLATION, something is going to have to give. I talk to many PIs during the course of a week and it never ceases to amaze me how many share the same sad tales of woe.
Thanks for reading, and like I said, spread the word. Hopefully, we can rally to make pride and integrity the standard for our industry - and not suffer the fate of the family farmer.
Bernard Cane
President & Director of Operations
Bernard George Investigations, Inc.
Santa Monica, CA 90401-1700
Bernard@BernardGeorge.com
BernardGeorge.com
This will only take 5-10 minutes (max) to read, so please continue. And once you’ve read, please spread the word and remind your fellow PI that he, like you, is worth more than he thinks.
Many of you do not know me, but if you’ll indulge me, I would like to recount a little bit about my background. Before 1980, I helped manage a large multi-purpose agricultural business. Some may call it farming, row cropping, ranching, or refer to those associated with it by such pejorative phrases as "straw chewing hick" or "overall wearing hayseed." I don’t really care what you call it or me, but it was the best business experience I have ever had, bar none! Make no mistake though, “Mother Nature” is a landowner’s boss and don’t let anybody ever tell you differently. No matter what you may think, farming is not for the stereotypical, “backwoods redneck yokel.” Farming takes planning, organization, money, timing, a market, and a whole lot of LUCK! No other vocation falls at the mercy of year- round weather conditions than farming. What does all this have to do with anything? Well, I was hoping you’d ask.
The small farmers of America are a thing of the past. Corporate farming and private land ownership has taken away America’s most precious identity – that of the family farmer. The family farmer has been exploited for years by poorly written laws (and the lawmakers who write them), greedy merchants, and avaricious big businesses – a situation not unlike what the PIs of this nation have been experiencing during the past three decades. Logic and commonsense have given way to political correctness and privacy hysteria. PIs are not completely free from fault. We are just The Last of the Mohicans - small enterprises that are being replaced by “national agencies” in the same way mom and pop farmers were pushed out to pasture.
Have you ever noticed how the ABA and AMA are nationally organized? Although the medical profession is on its ear, all the doctors I know still own nice homes and drive fancy cars. The reason lawyers and doctors are doing well: they recognize the need to form huge coalitions through their national and state run organizations. Farmers tried but, due to fragmentation within their ranks, failed, and look where they are now. Through tremendous solidarity, doctors and lawyers have gained bargaining power, clout, and a war chest to challenge bad legislation. Farmers were too divided, putting self-interest first, and you see what it cost them. Talk about fragmented, divided and emphasis on self-interest -these are all terms that can be applied to today’s licensed PI. It is true what is said about history repeating itself.
The PI vocation is doomed because of apathy, cynicism, and mistrust in our spokespeople, a lack of participation, factions of too many colors, and a serious lack of leadership. There are approximately 60,000 licensees nationally, yet the ranks of most PI organizations cannot even brag about having 30% of the total of each potential state’s licensees. It’s no wonder we have no voice; no unity. Laws are changing more frequently than some of you change your yolk-stained ties, and yet you do nothing or you bitch and moan about the impending doom and gloom. At the rate we are going, we are headed toward extinction. There are no teeth left in the tiger’s mouth to kick out, yet most of you sit on your tired rumps, too lazy to do anything about it. It’s pathetic. Where is your pride, people? Are we all so burned out we do not give a damn anymore?
We do not have enough resources to run a nationwide television ad. That too is deplorable. DO NOT STOP READING… KEEP GOING…I AM ALMOST DONE.
I wish to share an idea I have been mulling over for awhile. Seeing as how a great majority does not want to spend a nickel to support state and/or national organizations, perhaps this revelation will change your thinking:
Lift up your self-worth! I cannot believe what some of you are willing to sell your retail services for! It’s no wonder PIs and small agencies are suffering as they are.
The sole practitioner and the small agencies are being replaced by inexperienced wannabes who are supervised by a bunch of sophisticated business people who saw an opportunity to catch us asleep at the wheel. Try a little surfing on Google or Copernic and you’ll easily discover who the culprit is snatching the food out of your refrigerator. Out-of-state agencies are killing all of us. They are willing to exploit inexperienced (and oft-time bogus) PIs for $10-$15 dollars/hour, all the while misrepresenting themselves to their clients. The supervisors of these “agencies” are getting fat while your cupboard is looking more and more bare. With any luck, something will backfire on these so-called “national PI agencies.” You can only use/exploit “inexperience” for so long.
It is in all of our respective interests to recapture our instate work for our instate licensees. The longer we allow this downhill trend to manifest itself, the sooner we will arrive at the collective loss of our livelihoods before this decade ends. The national companies’ poor work product may be our saving grace. You cannot teach 27 years of on-the-job experience to a person in one year. It is impossible. Yet, companies are shunning experience in favor of cheap labor.
So, you may be asking yourself, how can we charge more if national agencies are charging less? Well, the objective is to come together and form an American PI Association, “APIA,” so we can build the resources to reclaim all that we have lost. No voice, no vote. No money, no change. We need both money and a voice. And, if any of you think a dollar amount that exceeds $99 a year is too much, please don’t bother to apply. We don’t want or need your apathetic attitude and/or shortsightedness. Save those qualities for your analysis of a witness’ statement under oath. I am not giving up. It is not in my nature, but you can rest assured I am not dragging the sorry lot of cynics and naysayers along for the ride. I just as soon start fresh and bring a new breed of educated, optimistic, and motivated people whose goals are to succeed in life and business. Work smart, not hard.
Although the Sherman Anti-Trust Act prohibits collusion in the free-market bidding process, it does not prohibit the offer of sage advice. I am not the only answer, but I’ll stand by my successes and failures over the many years I have been practicing as a PI entrepreneur. When a newbie asks me for advice or ideas about how to start a PI business, the very first thing I tell them is “Don’t sell your self short.” So many of you know what I am talking about, however, you are constantly discounting yourselves, ergo, the malaise we find ourselves in as our businesses dry up. Granted there are several factors that are squeezing the life out of some our markets, and, those for certain are the “national agencies” that are springing up like bad mold all over the U.S. There is no way a home office in Timbuktu will have the same experience and knowledge of the laws in another state than a home state PI will have in his/her own territory. Nevertheless, more and more “national agencies” are taking the food right out of our mouths. The primary reason this is happening is that this profession is so factious that we are biting off our own noses because of our own shortsightedness and cynical disinterest.
After years of bidding on RFPs, I have noticed a consistent trend by a majority of the bidders to come in at such ridiculously low hourly bids, its no wonder PIs and small agencies are dropping like flies into cow pies. The rule of thumb for calculating a proper profit margin for a business is to charge three times per hour [or what ever unit of measure] you would pay an employee to do the job. The math is so easy that I will not bore you with the minutiae, but it is patently apparent that many of you people are selling yourselves too cheaply. If you hold a license to practice Private Investigations, then take pride in the fact that you have something special to offer. When you price your wares ad hoc, you are not only doing a disservice to yourself, but you are royally screwing the rest of us. If you do not feel like you know what or how to operate a PI business so that you are maintaining a fair and reasonable standard, then I suggest you join a professional PI organization. Ask folk that have been in the business 20 plus years, go to the professional seminars, and/or take a few night classes at a reputable business school so you will know what you need to run a real business. I could go on for hours on this topic, but it is not necessary. The bottom-line: We as PIs are entitled to make a decent living for our efforts, thus we all need to take pride in our retail services so we actually can make a living. I have done well for a small agency, but given the current trend of low-ball tactics, unlicensed activity, fraudulent misrepresentation, out-of-state monster “agencies” coming into our various markets, and BAD LEGISLATION, something is going to have to give. I talk to many PIs during the course of a week and it never ceases to amaze me how many share the same sad tales of woe.
Thanks for reading, and like I said, spread the word. Hopefully, we can rally to make pride and integrity the standard for our industry - and not suffer the fate of the family farmer.
Bernard Cane
President & Director of Operations
Bernard George Investigations, Inc.
Santa Monica, CA 90401-1700
Bernard@BernardGeorge.com
BernardGeorge.com
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Handling Disgruntled Clients
In the investigative business, we cannot satisfy everyone. There is going to be times that clients will not be satisfied with your services. We have not had too many disgruntled clients, in fact, I can only think of one (1) that we had that was not satisfied.
A lawyer phoned us referred from a Florida private investigator and said his client’s husband was flying in to Louisiana and she wanted him watched. This lawyer was referred to us from a new investigator that we just recently hired. Since she referred the case, we allowed her to work the case. To make a long story short, she messed up on the case because the client phoned and said that his client’s husband was at a strip club all night and the investigator did not note that in her report because she lost him. I agreed with him and told him that this case was not worked properly. I comforted the client and told him the truth. What we did not know was that the investigator was an alcoholic and was already in trouble with the board for soliciting clients without an agency license. The client appreciated us for admitting she worked the case in the wrong way and told us we were stand up guys. To this day, this person is still our client and the board pulled the investigators license under the charges of soliciting clients and working cases on her own without an agency license. We did not know this before we hired her so we waived the rest of the client’s fees.
BE OBJECTIVE AND HONEST: Listen to the client and let them talk. If you get angry with them, you will only make them angrier. Ask them and assist them in determining a way to make them satisfied. Ask them for their opinion. If their only gripe is that the investigator the subject, explain that this is part of the business and at times we do lose subjects or if we feel the subject is getting suspicious we back off and try another day. No need to jeopardize a case when we do not have all the evidence yet.
LISTEN TO THE CLIENT: The client will have a lot to say. Listen with an open mind. While they are not investigators, they will feel better talking about their unsatisfaction and it will help in easing the situation. Don’t try to protect the case investigator, even if he/she was right in their judgment, that will only cause a more tense situation. Let the client know that you are listening and you will solve the problem.
OFFER SUGGESTIONS: Let the client know that you want to handle their unsatisfaction quickly and fairly. Offer to replace the investigator with someone else, waive that day’s fee or reduce the rate, offer an extra day at no cost to the client even if you have to work it yourself. Usually, if the client observes that you are trying to make amends then that will calm the situation down and you are performing damage control.
BE APOLOGETIC: Apologize to the client and let the client know that you see it from their point of view. Even if the investigators judgment was correct, apologize and reassure the client that their concerns are being taken seriously. Remember that we work for the client and its their money. Let the client know that you have their best interest at heart and many times, you may have to explain how private investigation work and how mistakes can be made such as losing a subject, subject’s getting suspicious, and let them know that these things happen in the industry.
FOLLOW UP: Follow up with the client and let them know that their concern is being handled/was handled and apologize again but ask if the situation was handled to their satisfaction.
These ideas generally work well. Imagine if you hired an attorney and you were not satisfied with the service, you would also address your concerns with the attorney. It works in the same way. Too many times, we know the problem but don’t come up with the solution. Good luck to all and have a prosperous year!!
A lawyer phoned us referred from a Florida private investigator and said his client’s husband was flying in to Louisiana and she wanted him watched. This lawyer was referred to us from a new investigator that we just recently hired. Since she referred the case, we allowed her to work the case. To make a long story short, she messed up on the case because the client phoned and said that his client’s husband was at a strip club all night and the investigator did not note that in her report because she lost him. I agreed with him and told him that this case was not worked properly. I comforted the client and told him the truth. What we did not know was that the investigator was an alcoholic and was already in trouble with the board for soliciting clients without an agency license. The client appreciated us for admitting she worked the case in the wrong way and told us we were stand up guys. To this day, this person is still our client and the board pulled the investigators license under the charges of soliciting clients and working cases on her own without an agency license. We did not know this before we hired her so we waived the rest of the client’s fees.
BE OBJECTIVE AND HONEST: Listen to the client and let them talk. If you get angry with them, you will only make them angrier. Ask them and assist them in determining a way to make them satisfied. Ask them for their opinion. If their only gripe is that the investigator the subject, explain that this is part of the business and at times we do lose subjects or if we feel the subject is getting suspicious we back off and try another day. No need to jeopardize a case when we do not have all the evidence yet.
LISTEN TO THE CLIENT: The client will have a lot to say. Listen with an open mind. While they are not investigators, they will feel better talking about their unsatisfaction and it will help in easing the situation. Don’t try to protect the case investigator, even if he/she was right in their judgment, that will only cause a more tense situation. Let the client know that you are listening and you will solve the problem.
OFFER SUGGESTIONS: Let the client know that you want to handle their unsatisfaction quickly and fairly. Offer to replace the investigator with someone else, waive that day’s fee or reduce the rate, offer an extra day at no cost to the client even if you have to work it yourself. Usually, if the client observes that you are trying to make amends then that will calm the situation down and you are performing damage control.
BE APOLOGETIC: Apologize to the client and let the client know that you see it from their point of view. Even if the investigators judgment was correct, apologize and reassure the client that their concerns are being taken seriously. Remember that we work for the client and its their money. Let the client know that you have their best interest at heart and many times, you may have to explain how private investigation work and how mistakes can be made such as losing a subject, subject’s getting suspicious, and let them know that these things happen in the industry.
FOLLOW UP: Follow up with the client and let them know that their concern is being handled/was handled and apologize again but ask if the situation was handled to their satisfaction.
These ideas generally work well. Imagine if you hired an attorney and you were not satisfied with the service, you would also address your concerns with the attorney. It works in the same way. Too many times, we know the problem but don’t come up with the solution. Good luck to all and have a prosperous year!!
Assisting Clients with Legal Questions
There has been alot of questions asked on this forum as well as other forums regarding the legality or illegality of a private investigator giving legal advice to clients that are unrepresented. During any private investigation course, we are informed of the private investigator legal terms and definitions, laws, rules and regulations. The questions were clear, as asked by some...can laypersons or nonlawyers assist those without representation?
I sought the advice of our corporate attorney, I questioned an assistant United States attorney general, I even asked a couple of federal magistrates from the western district and the eastern district regarding the question. From their advice, this is what I was given:
"Litigants can be assisted by unlicensed laymen during judicial proceedings".Brotherhood of Trainmen v. Virginia ex rel. Virginia State Bar, 377 U.S. 1; v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335; Argersinger v. Hamlin, Sheriff 407 U.S. 425
"A next friend is a person who represents someone who is unable to tend to his or her own interest".Federal Rules of Civil Procedures, Rule 17, 28 USCA "Next Friend"
"Members of groups who are competent nonlawyers can assist other members of the group achieve the goals of the group in court without being charged with "unauthorized practice of law."NAACP v. Button, 371 U.S. 415); United Mineworkers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715; and Johnson v. Avery, 89 S. Ct. 747 (1969)
So you be the judge. These citations were given to me by those that were questioned. Merely stating that some act is legal or illegal is not "unauthorized practice of law". According to those questioned, the unauthorized practice of law is actually advocating that he/she is an attorney, attempting to represent someone in a court of law as an attorney and so forth. Just FYI for those that were wondering. It is advisable that you contact your own attorney for legal advice as I did mine.
I sought the advice of our corporate attorney, I questioned an assistant United States attorney general, I even asked a couple of federal magistrates from the western district and the eastern district regarding the question. From their advice, this is what I was given:
"Litigants can be assisted by unlicensed laymen during judicial proceedings".Brotherhood of Trainmen v. Virginia ex rel. Virginia State Bar, 377 U.S. 1; v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335; Argersinger v. Hamlin, Sheriff 407 U.S. 425
"A next friend is a person who represents someone who is unable to tend to his or her own interest".Federal Rules of Civil Procedures, Rule 17, 28 USCA "Next Friend"
"Members of groups who are competent nonlawyers can assist other members of the group achieve the goals of the group in court without being charged with "unauthorized practice of law."NAACP v. Button, 371 U.S. 415); United Mineworkers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715; and Johnson v. Avery, 89 S. Ct. 747 (1969)
So you be the judge. These citations were given to me by those that were questioned. Merely stating that some act is legal or illegal is not "unauthorized practice of law". According to those questioned, the unauthorized practice of law is actually advocating that he/she is an attorney, attempting to represent someone in a court of law as an attorney and so forth. Just FYI for those that were wondering. It is advisable that you contact your own attorney for legal advice as I did mine.
Obtaining Surveillance Video Through a Mirror?
Here is a memo that I've just sent to my surveillance investigators regarding taking video shots through mirrors. A friend of mine had to testify in a case as an expert witness where an investigator had taken video through a mirror and in some video shots, the cast was on opposite legs. My friend, an investigator also, watched the video over and over again and couldn't figure out what was wrong and why the cast was on opposite legs. However, in a 4 minute span when the cast was on one leg, in the other next video shot it was on the opposite leg. My friend asked his client, the subject's attorney if his client was a quick dresser because within 4 minutes the cast went from one leg to the other. Still unable to figure it out, my friend continued watching the video and at a split second, my friend stopped the video and the investigator shooting the video caught a portion of a stop sign and the "p" was backwards on the stop sign. That's when they figured it out that the video was shot through a mirror.
The investigator that had taken the video documented in his report that the subject was wearing the cast on the opposite leg hoping to gain an advantage to his client that the injury was fabricated. That is nothing but dishonesty and against ethics for private investigators. While we all, at times, shoot video through mirrors, I've made it our policy to document in the report that the video is shot through the mirrors and that the angle may be reversed. Any report is a good report as long as its based on actual facts and events. Here is the memo that I sent out to all of our employees:
To All Employees and Sub-Contractors: When videotaping through the any mirror on your vehicle, we must document it in our report that the video was shot through the mirror. When shooting through a mirror, the image is reversed and while it would be more prevalent in a worker's compensation or injury case, it is now our policy to document obtaining video through a mirror in our reports all video that is taken through mirrors on all cases. If you have any questions or comments regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to contact me. -KM
It is my company's policy that when shooting through a mirror to not only document it in the report, but to also back the zoom off periodically to show on the video that the scene is being shot through a mirror. Remember: OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR -JD
The investigator that had taken the video documented in his report that the subject was wearing the cast on the opposite leg hoping to gain an advantage to his client that the injury was fabricated. That is nothing but dishonesty and against ethics for private investigators. While we all, at times, shoot video through mirrors, I've made it our policy to document in the report that the video is shot through the mirrors and that the angle may be reversed. Any report is a good report as long as its based on actual facts and events. Here is the memo that I sent out to all of our employees:
To All Employees and Sub-Contractors: When videotaping through the any mirror on your vehicle, we must document it in our report that the video was shot through the mirror. When shooting through a mirror, the image is reversed and while it would be more prevalent in a worker's compensation or injury case, it is now our policy to document obtaining video through a mirror in our reports all video that is taken through mirrors on all cases. If you have any questions or comments regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to contact me. -KM
It is my company's policy that when shooting through a mirror to not only document it in the report, but to also back the zoom off periodically to show on the video that the scene is being shot through a mirror. Remember: OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR -JD
Monday, April 9, 2007
States Not Requiring a Private Investigator's License
A number of people have asked me about what states do not require licensing for private detectives. Here is an updated list of private investigator license requirements by state.
Here is a breakdown of what I found:
Alabama (AL), No state license required, but some cities require one.
Alaska (AK), ditto
Colorado (CO), ditto
Idaho (ID), ditto
Mississippi (MS), ditto
South Dakota (SD), ditto
Wyoming (WY), ditto
Pennsylvania (PA), PI licenses issued by counties, honored statewide
Rhode Island (RI), licenses issued by towns and cities
Even in states where a PI license isn't required, it's wise (and necessary in some states) to get a business license.
Here is a breakdown of what I found:
Alabama (AL), No state license required, but some cities require one.
Alaska (AK), ditto
Colorado (CO), ditto
Idaho (ID), ditto
Mississippi (MS), ditto
South Dakota (SD), ditto
Wyoming (WY), ditto
Pennsylvania (PA), PI licenses issued by counties, honored statewide
Rhode Island (RI), licenses issued by towns and cities
Even in states where a PI license isn't required, it's wise (and necessary in some states) to get a business license.
Friday, April 6, 2007
How to Make it as a Real World Private Investigator
1. Repeat after me, "I am not a cop, it is not my job to save the world, or see that truth and justice prevails; I am a private citizen, privately employed by a private party to further their best interests within the limits of the law (and common sense)."
2. If you allow yourself to get shot, or hit in the head, it will hurt just as bad whether you are in the right, or in the wrong, and either way, you are neither more, nor less, likely to recover.
3. Life can be JUST LIKE television and the movies - if you get yourself dead or debilitated, there will be an incredible outpouring of sympathy and sorrow for an equally incredibly short period of time, and then none of those wonderfully sorrowful/sympathetic people will ever think of you, or mention you again.
4. You are in this for the money - do not feel bad about that, or apologetic. When my car quits, or my plumbing bursts, nobody comes racing to the rescue in the spirit of altruistic intent, and nobody with the sense God gave dirt should expect you to either. Get paid, get paid up front, and charge what the market will bear -- Warner Brothers is not paying your bills.
5. DO NOT get emotionally involved in your cases. Most of your Clients will be sad, sorry, stupid sons-of-bitches who are in the mess they are in because they deserve to be. If you expect to meet the whore with a heart of gold, the thief with honest intentions, or a murderer with deep intellectual nsights, you best be standing in line at the Cineplex.
6. NEVER expect things NOT to make sense. The way things first look, is usually the way they are . . . unless you see Steven Spielberg hiding behind a curtain, do NOT look for complex twists and convoluted plots.
7. NEVER expect things TO make sense. Human beings are only at the top of the evolutionary scale because they are the only animals who can say they are - few other animals kill for the fun of it, deliberately end their own lives, or molest their own young. The way things first look, is usually the way they are . . . whether or not it makes any sense at all.
8. Accept NOBODY at face value - people believe in lifelong love, friends to the end, and the nobility of humanity because the concepts appeal to them, and they go thru life reading from the script until the script doesn't suit them anymore. Look for the truth, and believe what you see; if you have no great expectations of humanity, you will rarely be disappointed.
9. Accept EVERYONE at face value within the circle of people that are your life. If you become very good at this job, you will see ugly truths where you need to see good things, you will recognize lies told by people you need to believe in, and you will sense evil when you need to have faith. Leave yourself the latitude to allow yourself some illusions.
10. This is it, this is all there is, it's once around the track and there is no "do over." Do it all the best you can, expect nothing more of yourself than the best you can do, and when you disappoint yourself today, try to do a little better tomorrow. If you do not enjoy your life, change it!!!!.
Respectfully!!!
Fernando J Rodriguez
PIGlobal Investigative Research Bureau
Po Box 17044,
Plantation, Fl 33318
Office: (954) 624-6258
Agency License A-2600169
2. If you allow yourself to get shot, or hit in the head, it will hurt just as bad whether you are in the right, or in the wrong, and either way, you are neither more, nor less, likely to recover.
3. Life can be JUST LIKE television and the movies - if you get yourself dead or debilitated, there will be an incredible outpouring of sympathy and sorrow for an equally incredibly short period of time, and then none of those wonderfully sorrowful/sympathetic people will ever think of you, or mention you again.
4. You are in this for the money - do not feel bad about that, or apologetic. When my car quits, or my plumbing bursts, nobody comes racing to the rescue in the spirit of altruistic intent, and nobody with the sense God gave dirt should expect you to either. Get paid, get paid up front, and charge what the market will bear -- Warner Brothers is not paying your bills.
5. DO NOT get emotionally involved in your cases. Most of your Clients will be sad, sorry, stupid sons-of-bitches who are in the mess they are in because they deserve to be. If you expect to meet the whore with a heart of gold, the thief with honest intentions, or a murderer with deep intellectual nsights, you best be standing in line at the Cineplex.
6. NEVER expect things NOT to make sense. The way things first look, is usually the way they are . . . unless you see Steven Spielberg hiding behind a curtain, do NOT look for complex twists and convoluted plots.
7. NEVER expect things TO make sense. Human beings are only at the top of the evolutionary scale because they are the only animals who can say they are - few other animals kill for the fun of it, deliberately end their own lives, or molest their own young. The way things first look, is usually the way they are . . . whether or not it makes any sense at all.
8. Accept NOBODY at face value - people believe in lifelong love, friends to the end, and the nobility of humanity because the concepts appeal to them, and they go thru life reading from the script until the script doesn't suit them anymore. Look for the truth, and believe what you see; if you have no great expectations of humanity, you will rarely be disappointed.
9. Accept EVERYONE at face value within the circle of people that are your life. If you become very good at this job, you will see ugly truths where you need to see good things, you will recognize lies told by people you need to believe in, and you will sense evil when you need to have faith. Leave yourself the latitude to allow yourself some illusions.
10. This is it, this is all there is, it's once around the track and there is no "do over." Do it all the best you can, expect nothing more of yourself than the best you can do, and when you disappoint yourself today, try to do a little better tomorrow. If you do not enjoy your life, change it!!!!.
Respectfully!!!
Fernando J Rodriguez
PIGlobal Investigative Research Bureau
Po Box 17044,
Plantation, Fl 33318
Office: (954) 624-6258
Agency License A-2600169
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Global Field Services, LLC
Editor's note: As of July 7, 2009 we will not be approving any additional comments regarding this post.
Beware doing ANY business with Global Field Services, LLC! Several lawsuits are being filed against this company for non-payment for services rendered by field agents.
If you have been contacted by them or are considering doing field chases and contacting debtors on their behalf understand that others out there, including private investigators, that are claiming that this company owes them thousands of dollars for work completed on their behalf.
You have been warned.
If you are a independent contractor of Global Field Services and you have not been paid, I'd like to hear about it here- post a comment to this blog post. Then file a lawsuit against them and make a complaint to your state trade commissioner.
Beware doing ANY business with Global Field Services, LLC! Several lawsuits are being filed against this company for non-payment for services rendered by field agents.
If you have been contacted by them or are considering doing field chases and contacting debtors on their behalf understand that others out there, including private investigators, that are claiming that this company owes them thousands of dollars for work completed on their behalf.
You have been warned.
If you are a independent contractor of Global Field Services and you have not been paid, I'd like to hear about it here- post a comment to this blog post. Then file a lawsuit against them and make a complaint to your state trade commissioner.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Private Investigation Agency Websites and Complying with Regulatory Requirements
Most state's statutes require private investigative agencies to include its agency license number in any advertisement, in any print medium or directory, and must include its agency license number in any written bid or offer to provide services.
A quick perusal of the Yellow Pages confirms that compliance with this provision seems to be, with rare exception, universal. Agency owners and managers all seem to be aware of this requirement. However, agencies are now advertising in another medium, and it may not be clear to everyone that the requirement cited above applies to this medium as well.
Licensed agencies both large and small are now publishing web pages to market their services in an increasingly technology savvy marketplace.
Agency web sites allow owners and managers to disseminate information about their services in innovative and creative ways that far exceed the limitations of the printed page.
What is being overlooked, however, is that just like a classified ad or a telephone book listing an agency web site constitutes a form of advertisement. ALL advertising must include agency license numbers, regardless of the content or format of the advertisement, or the MEDIUM in which it is published.
Just a reminder: if your agency has a web page and you have not included your agency number on that site, a quick telephone call to your webmaster would be a good idea.
A quick perusal of the Yellow Pages confirms that compliance with this provision seems to be, with rare exception, universal. Agency owners and managers all seem to be aware of this requirement. However, agencies are now advertising in another medium, and it may not be clear to everyone that the requirement cited above applies to this medium as well.
Licensed agencies both large and small are now publishing web pages to market their services in an increasingly technology savvy marketplace.
Agency web sites allow owners and managers to disseminate information about their services in innovative and creative ways that far exceed the limitations of the printed page.
What is being overlooked, however, is that just like a classified ad or a telephone book listing an agency web site constitutes a form of advertisement. ALL advertising must include agency license numbers, regardless of the content or format of the advertisement, or the MEDIUM in which it is published.
Just a reminder: if your agency has a web page and you have not included your agency number on that site, a quick telephone call to your webmaster would be a good idea.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Workers Compensation Claims Question
"Bill" submits this question:
I am doing a sub contract job for a Private Investigator who has a client who is a business owner and has hired this P.I. to investigate some of his employee's workers compensation claims that the insurance company will not do. The goal is to get enough evidence for a criminal filing for insurance fraud if enough evidence can be found. The Private eye has been asked to act as a safety consultant" in order to have a pretext to talk to these employees about their cases. This PI has asked me for advice.
Although I told him I didn't feel this sounded either legal or ethical I've been in the business only a couple of years and there may be some information out there I'm not aware of. I'm not asking for legal advice but was hoping someone out there may have had a similar situation and could pass on some information.
Any advice or past experiences would be appreciated.
Here are some answers which were provided:
I don't know the legalities of it; but ethically it is the employer that gets the hit on his disability premium when the employees go out. It seems to me he has the right to get them checked out himself. If all else fails as "Safety Consultant", if your friend finds some blatant safety problems for the owner of the business and it helps him reduce the hazards all the better. -D.H.
You may want to have your friend read what the California Labor Code says about this. Insurance companies have an obligation to investigate fraudulent claims. The problem is that when an examiner has 800 open cases (that's not an exaggeration) sitting on his desk, the only way he learns of the fraud many times is when he gets a tip from the employer. Each insurance company is different. Some may take the information obtained from the employer and run with it. Others will not touch it because the chain of custody may be tainted. The insurance company is supposed to be looking out for the employer but everyone knows that in the end,....they're looking out for themselves and their exposure. Evidence obtained by the employer (or employer's PI) and given to a good worker's comp defense attorney will go a long way in getting the insurance carrier to step up to the plate and do the right thing. When looking at a large exposure, this may be well worth the effort. A few years ago a study was conducted that found for every $1.00 spent on investigations, $38.00 was saved on fraudulent/exaggerated workers' compensation insurance benefits. -B. V.
There wouldn't be a problem, unless the Claimants are represented by legal counsel. Your friend would also have to follow the insurance laws in your state; I would suggest he talk to a couple of local adjustors and risk managers. -S.H.
I am doing a sub contract job for a Private Investigator who has a client who is a business owner and has hired this P.I. to investigate some of his employee's workers compensation claims that the insurance company will not do. The goal is to get enough evidence for a criminal filing for insurance fraud if enough evidence can be found. The Private eye has been asked to act as a safety consultant" in order to have a pretext to talk to these employees about their cases. This PI has asked me for advice.
Although I told him I didn't feel this sounded either legal or ethical I've been in the business only a couple of years and there may be some information out there I'm not aware of. I'm not asking for legal advice but was hoping someone out there may have had a similar situation and could pass on some information.
Any advice or past experiences would be appreciated.
Here are some answers which were provided:
I don't know the legalities of it; but ethically it is the employer that gets the hit on his disability premium when the employees go out. It seems to me he has the right to get them checked out himself. If all else fails as "Safety Consultant", if your friend finds some blatant safety problems for the owner of the business and it helps him reduce the hazards all the better. -D.H.
You may want to have your friend read what the California Labor Code says about this. Insurance companies have an obligation to investigate fraudulent claims. The problem is that when an examiner has 800 open cases (that's not an exaggeration) sitting on his desk, the only way he learns of the fraud many times is when he gets a tip from the employer. Each insurance company is different. Some may take the information obtained from the employer and run with it. Others will not touch it because the chain of custody may be tainted. The insurance company is supposed to be looking out for the employer but everyone knows that in the end,....they're looking out for themselves and their exposure. Evidence obtained by the employer (or employer's PI) and given to a good worker's comp defense attorney will go a long way in getting the insurance carrier to step up to the plate and do the right thing. When looking at a large exposure, this may be well worth the effort. A few years ago a study was conducted that found for every $1.00 spent on investigations, $38.00 was saved on fraudulent/exaggerated workers' compensation insurance benefits. -B. V.
There wouldn't be a problem, unless the Claimants are represented by legal counsel. Your friend would also have to follow the insurance laws in your state; I would suggest he talk to a couple of local adjustors and risk managers. -S.H.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
I'm gonna get into some trouble here...
I am quite sure that when this blog starts making the rounds, I am going to get into some trouble. With that said, I have to tell you- I really don't care. I have long detested the secrecy of the private investigation business and its various specializations and subindustries; information should be shared and not horded.
How else are we to improve or update that information?
Information and technology are changing so quickly that to remain stagnant and stale in our own thinking will ultimately be our own demise. So I plan to lay bare here many of the secrets of PIs that I think are silly or upon which can be improved by those who are new to the private investigation business.
Am I going to damage the profession? Most certainly not but I will piss off the old guard along the way. I hope you enjoy what there is to offer here.
PS... A word about the links on the right side of this blog; they are reperesentative examples of what I am talking about- a ton of information and great training products. Scott Harrell was my mentor and has given much to the investigation and bail enforcement communities despite the fact that he often "upset the apple cart" along the way. It was he who inspired me to also give information to those who are seeking a new career path as I once was and not worry too much about what those who were control of the paradigm at that time may have thought. The links to his sites are out of my respect for him. Thanks, Scott.
How else are we to improve or update that information?
Information and technology are changing so quickly that to remain stagnant and stale in our own thinking will ultimately be our own demise. So I plan to lay bare here many of the secrets of PIs that I think are silly or upon which can be improved by those who are new to the private investigation business.
Am I going to damage the profession? Most certainly not but I will piss off the old guard along the way. I hope you enjoy what there is to offer here.
PS... A word about the links on the right side of this blog; they are reperesentative examples of what I am talking about- a ton of information and great training products. Scott Harrell was my mentor and has given much to the investigation and bail enforcement communities despite the fact that he often "upset the apple cart" along the way. It was he who inspired me to also give information to those who are seeking a new career path as I once was and not worry too much about what those who were control of the paradigm at that time may have thought. The links to his sites are out of my respect for him. Thanks, Scott.
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