Copernic Agent Professional is helpful when that hard to find information is required for a case or background check. We have been extremely surprised with the results achieved to date using Copernic Agent Professional.
Also our popular list of search engines are Google, Altavista, Yahoo, Hotbot, Exite, Lycos, Ask Jeeves, MSN, Metacrawler, Dogpile, Mamma, Surfwax, & Clusty for best search results.
Please visit the website link below to the Coprenic website where you can view Copernic Agent Professional & the Copernic Agent Family of products. Copernic Agent Basic is free.
Copernic
PJL 31st December 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Reverse Telephone Number Search - Name Search - Address Search
Before the end of 2009 we would like to provide some information regarding an excellent database that has been available this year. Mirus Online covers Australian names, addresses, landline telephone numbers and mobile telephone numbers and many other records.
If you need access to the latest data for business reasons, Mirus Online provides custom tools to search, cross reference and verify from over 110 million Australian records.
Please visit the Mirus Online website via the website link below.
Mirus Online
Have a prosperous New Year.
PJL 30th December 2009
If you need access to the latest data for business reasons, Mirus Online provides custom tools to search, cross reference and verify from over 110 million Australian records.
Please visit the Mirus Online website via the website link below.
Mirus Online
Have a prosperous New Year.
PJL 30th December 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Cell Phone Calls & Text Messages Interception
In the last few months we have been inundated with calls regarding the interception of cell telephone calls and text messages. There are many programs on the market and many more becoming available that allow people to monitor, track you and eavesdrop on you. Your cell telephone can be monitored by a remote eavesdropper who taps into your cell telephone and listens to your calls, your conversations or reads your text messages.
A program called Flexispy can bug a cell telephone, allowing people to listen into your voice audio call and compromise your cell telephone converstaions. Your conversations can be heard from within the vicinity of your cell telephone even if you are not talking on the cell telephone. The microphone can be turned on in your cell telephone by a remote eavesdropper and then your conversations listened into from within the vicinity of where your cell telephone is sitting, eavesdropped on by a remote cell telephone from almost any where in the world.
Smart phones don't offer much protection and the spyware programs used to compromise them are inexpensive but they require someone to physically access your cell telephone in order to install the spyware program. Lovers, spouses, parents and coworkers are the victims.
To determine if your cell telephone is being eavesdropped on or intercepted there are signs that your cell telephone may have had spyware programs installed:
1. If your LCD screen flashes on and off without cause could indicate an incoming eavesdropper call.
2. If your cell telephone is warm and you haven't been using it or charging it, this could indicate unauthorised
transmissions.
3. If the cell telephone battery looses power in short periods of time for no reason at all, this could indicate
surreptitious communication.
4. Your monthly bill may show an unknown rise in sms or data transmission activity. This could indicate that
your cell telephone is being accessed without your permission or knowledge.
5. Maybe your cell telephone has been receiving text messages that don't make sense (for example,
<#*56><54321789>) which could indicate failed attempts to send systems commands.
Read more at Flexispy
PJL 28th December 2009
A program called Flexispy can bug a cell telephone, allowing people to listen into your voice audio call and compromise your cell telephone converstaions. Your conversations can be heard from within the vicinity of your cell telephone even if you are not talking on the cell telephone. The microphone can be turned on in your cell telephone by a remote eavesdropper and then your conversations listened into from within the vicinity of where your cell telephone is sitting, eavesdropped on by a remote cell telephone from almost any where in the world.
Smart phones don't offer much protection and the spyware programs used to compromise them are inexpensive but they require someone to physically access your cell telephone in order to install the spyware program. Lovers, spouses, parents and coworkers are the victims.
To determine if your cell telephone is being eavesdropped on or intercepted there are signs that your cell telephone may have had spyware programs installed:
1. If your LCD screen flashes on and off without cause could indicate an incoming eavesdropper call.
2. If your cell telephone is warm and you haven't been using it or charging it, this could indicate unauthorised
transmissions.
3. If the cell telephone battery looses power in short periods of time for no reason at all, this could indicate
surreptitious communication.
4. Your monthly bill may show an unknown rise in sms or data transmission activity. This could indicate that
your cell telephone is being accessed without your permission or knowledge.
5. Maybe your cell telephone has been receiving text messages that don't make sense (for example,
<#*56><54321789>) which could indicate failed attempts to send systems commands.
Read more at Flexispy
PJL 28th December 2009
TSCM Debugging Investigation Related Training Courses
TSCM Debugging Investigation Training can be quite difficult to obtain from just any city in the world. We have identified some home study courses becoming available now, advertised via the World Wide Web and we would like to share that information with visitors to our website and blog.
The training courses are theory based including exams to obtain certification upon completion with the training organisation conducting the training. It is a good opportunity for those interested in entering the TSCM Debugging Investigation Industry with some training, where agents haven't been able to travel thousands of kilometres to attend theory & practical based training.
Please visit the website links below to view the training programs.
TSCM Training
TSCM Training
PJL 28th December 2009
The training courses are theory based including exams to obtain certification upon completion with the training organisation conducting the training. It is a good opportunity for those interested in entering the TSCM Debugging Investigation Industry with some training, where agents haven't been able to travel thousands of kilometres to attend theory & practical based training.
Please visit the website links below to view the training programs.
TSCM Training
TSCM Training
PJL 28th December 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Summer Surveillance Tips
1. Keep as many windows in your vehicle open as possible using car window socks
2. Install a small independently powered fan with a secure cover over the fan blade
3. Drink water & have plenty on hand
4. Drink electrolytes
5. Spray yourself with water
6. Get your surveillance vehicle into the shade where possible
7. Wear shorts, sandals & tank tops
8. Keep your hair short, shower prior to & after surveillance
9. Have an ice box on hand
10. Have a wet towel soaked in cold water & carry dry towels
11. Position your vehicle to expose the vehicle & yourself to the wind & breeze
12. Use airconditioning prior to arrival & run the fan only, 30 minutes after pulling up
13. Switch places with a second surveillance vehicle to run the airconditioner away from the target
14. If possible work at night
15. Use sunblock
16. Carry a urine bottle
17. Charge Summer rates for surveillance.
18. Accept the contract & hire competent sub-contractors to conduct the surveillance
PJL 22nd December 2009
2. Install a small independently powered fan with a secure cover over the fan blade
3. Drink water & have plenty on hand
4. Drink electrolytes
5. Spray yourself with water
6. Get your surveillance vehicle into the shade where possible
7. Wear shorts, sandals & tank tops
8. Keep your hair short, shower prior to & after surveillance
9. Have an ice box on hand
10. Have a wet towel soaked in cold water & carry dry towels
11. Position your vehicle to expose the vehicle & yourself to the wind & breeze
12. Use airconditioning prior to arrival & run the fan only, 30 minutes after pulling up
13. Switch places with a second surveillance vehicle to run the airconditioner away from the target
14. If possible work at night
15. Use sunblock
16. Carry a urine bottle
17. Charge Summer rates for surveillance.
18. Accept the contract & hire competent sub-contractors to conduct the surveillance
PJL 22nd December 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Family Of Missing Police Officer Mick Isles Turns To Witchdoctor
•Mick Isles vanished, car found in bushland
•Police, army and SES search found no trace
•'I will see his spirit and find him in days'
AFTER exhausting all conventional options, the family of Mick Isles has turned to an Aboriginal tracker and self-professed witchdoctor to find the missing Queensland police officer.
Arnhem Land-based tracker and witchdoctor Victor Huddleston and his son Victor Nathaniel Huddleston have arrived in Queensland and tomorrow will begin searching bushland around Ravenswood, where Senior Sergeant Isles' abandoned car was found in late September.
An exhaustive search involving police, army and SES personnel was launched shortly after Snr Sgt Isles' disappearance on September 23 but failed to find any trace of the missing policeman.
However, Mr Huddleston believes he and his son will find Snr Sgt Isles within two or three days, even though any footprints left by him a month ago will have disappeared.
"I will know where he is because I will see his spirit," Mr Huddleston told AAP.
Mr Huddleston has been involved in a number of searches in the Northern Territory and says he has never failed to find the person he's looking for.
"When I get close to the place I will see the clear picture,"he said.
"It always works, whenever I am serious about it."
Senior Sergeant Isles' son Steven travelled to Mr Huddleston's community last week to seek his help after learning of his reputation through a police contact in the Northern Territory.
He said having spent time with Mr Huddleston in his community at Ngukurr in Arnhem Land, he was confident in the witchdoctor's abilities.
"We have no expectations, but we are approaching with open arms," he said.
"We're here to establish whatever we can, to identify what has happened and potentially even finding my father, if he is there to be found."
By Evan Schwarten
PJL 2nd November 2009
•Police, army and SES search found no trace
•'I will see his spirit and find him in days'
AFTER exhausting all conventional options, the family of Mick Isles has turned to an Aboriginal tracker and self-professed witchdoctor to find the missing Queensland police officer.
Arnhem Land-based tracker and witchdoctor Victor Huddleston and his son Victor Nathaniel Huddleston have arrived in Queensland and tomorrow will begin searching bushland around Ravenswood, where Senior Sergeant Isles' abandoned car was found in late September.
An exhaustive search involving police, army and SES personnel was launched shortly after Snr Sgt Isles' disappearance on September 23 but failed to find any trace of the missing policeman.
However, Mr Huddleston believes he and his son will find Snr Sgt Isles within two or three days, even though any footprints left by him a month ago will have disappeared.
"I will know where he is because I will see his spirit," Mr Huddleston told AAP.
Mr Huddleston has been involved in a number of searches in the Northern Territory and says he has never failed to find the person he's looking for.
"When I get close to the place I will see the clear picture,"he said.
"It always works, whenever I am serious about it."
Senior Sergeant Isles' son Steven travelled to Mr Huddleston's community last week to seek his help after learning of his reputation through a police contact in the Northern Territory.
He said having spent time with Mr Huddleston in his community at Ngukurr in Arnhem Land, he was confident in the witchdoctor's abilities.
"We have no expectations, but we are approaching with open arms," he said.
"We're here to establish whatever we can, to identify what has happened and potentially even finding my father, if he is there to be found."
By Evan Schwarten
PJL 2nd November 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Investigation Into Claim Newcastle Taxi Driver Told Passenger He Hitchhiked With Ivan Milat
A Newcastle taxi driver is under investigation for telling a female passenger he hitchhiked with Ivan Milat, and then offering to turn off the meter and take her on a scenic tour.
The incident happened in June when the young woman took a taxi from Newcastle Airport to an inner-city apartment block.
A NSW Transport and Infrastructure spokesman confirmed the incident was the third passenger complaint made against the cabbie, who is still driving for Newcastle Taxis.
The spokesman said an internal investigation was held in July and the driver's behaviour found to be "unsatisfactory" and "inappropriate".
The department issued him with a warning notice and investigation details were forwarded to police.
"In regard to the nature of the driver's conversation with the passenger, in particular the reference to Ivan Milat, the information was forwarded to the NSW Police Force in Newcastle," the spokesman said.
"We are awaiting feedback from police prior to closing the matter."
Newcastle City police crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Brad Tayler said he was aware of the incident but would not comment.
Newcastle Taxis chief John Woods also declined to comment.
The Herald understands the woman, in her early 20s, mentioned to the taxi driver that she had only recently moved to Newcastle for work.
After telling the young woman he hitchhiked with backpacker serial killer Ivan Milat before anyone knew who he was, the driver suggested the woman carried a can of deodorant in her handbag to use as pepper spray in case anyone attacked her.
When they were nearing the woman's apartment, he asked if he could stop the meter and take her on a scenic tour to Strzelecki Lookout.
The woman declined and her employer made a complaint to NSW Transport and Infrastructure the next day.
The Herald reported earlier this year that 43 taxi drivers with serious traffic and criminal convictions, including assault, making false statements to police and drink-driving, were working in the Hunter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZxk4FWhYsY
By Donna Page
PJL 26th October 2009
The incident happened in June when the young woman took a taxi from Newcastle Airport to an inner-city apartment block.
A NSW Transport and Infrastructure spokesman confirmed the incident was the third passenger complaint made against the cabbie, who is still driving for Newcastle Taxis.
The spokesman said an internal investigation was held in July and the driver's behaviour found to be "unsatisfactory" and "inappropriate".
The department issued him with a warning notice and investigation details were forwarded to police.
"In regard to the nature of the driver's conversation with the passenger, in particular the reference to Ivan Milat, the information was forwarded to the NSW Police Force in Newcastle," the spokesman said.
"We are awaiting feedback from police prior to closing the matter."
Newcastle City police crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Brad Tayler said he was aware of the incident but would not comment.
Newcastle Taxis chief John Woods also declined to comment.
The Herald understands the woman, in her early 20s, mentioned to the taxi driver that she had only recently moved to Newcastle for work.
After telling the young woman he hitchhiked with backpacker serial killer Ivan Milat before anyone knew who he was, the driver suggested the woman carried a can of deodorant in her handbag to use as pepper spray in case anyone attacked her.
When they were nearing the woman's apartment, he asked if he could stop the meter and take her on a scenic tour to Strzelecki Lookout.
The woman declined and her employer made a complaint to NSW Transport and Infrastructure the next day.
The Herald reported earlier this year that 43 taxi drivers with serious traffic and criminal convictions, including assault, making false statements to police and drink-driving, were working in the Hunter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZxk4FWhYsY
By Donna Page
PJL 26th October 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Why Investigative Journalism Needs Investigating
At one level, The Guardian’s allegations that Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World routinely pays private investigators to illegally listen to the mobile phones of public figures are shocking and contemptible.
At another level — the wink-wink-nudge-nudge-whatever-it-takes-to-get-a-story, engine-room level of tabloid journalism — the really shocking aspect of these revelations is that they have appeared in public. The cat is out of the bag. A slimy cat and a filthy bag, to be sure, but not the kind of information that an upstanding tabloid publisher like Mr Murdoch ever intended to go on public display.
Of course, certain tabloid newspapers have always operated in a sleazy, subterranean world. Of course, their reporters (“correspondents”) and informants (“sources”) slink around boudoirs and bordellos in pursuit of scoops (“truth”). Of course they pay dubious characters to procure voyeuristic information (“news”). How else, and where else, would they so regularly obtain the dirt they publish week in and week out? From the Government Gazette?
If you need any confirmation of this subterranean tabloid world — the tactics, the culture, the ammorality, the arrogance — read “Confessions of a tabloid hack”, published a few days ago in The Guardian. Here are a few highlights:
As a reporter, we used every tool at our disposal. On one highly risky tabloid escapade in the 80s I used an electronics surveillance expert to bug Richard Burton’s hotel room to see if he was having an affair with his leading lady. We ended up overhearing him arguing with his daughter about her allowance, and learned what type of whisky he preferred, but we never stood up the affair. For every story that got in the paper, there were three like this that never made it.
By the 1990s, the News of the World’s … huge editorial budget enabled it to out-bid the others for the biggest, most salacious stories. And they certainly had the most money to spend on private investigators.
[Today] the tabloids are finding it increasingly hard to dig up any really juicy stories without using private investigators. It’s a bit like DCI Gene Hunt in Life on Mars admitting: “I had to take a bribe when I first started working as a copper otherwise none of the other bastards would have talked to me.” They’re all at it.
Private investigators rarely put their name to anything and are often paid through a myriad of companies to avoid any direct link to the story they have helped expose through illegal surveillance activities. There is even a code of honour between the private investigators and their tabloid paymasters. Massive fees are paid out on condition the shady snoopers never “grass up” their employers.
If there’s one big story you’ll never see in a Murdoch tabloid it is a genuine piece of investigative journalism into investigative journalism. After all, who’d be interested in reading that, apart from Guardian readers and civil libertarians?
By Eric Beecher
PJL 14th October 2009
At another level — the wink-wink-nudge-nudge-whatever-it-takes-to-get-a-story, engine-room level of tabloid journalism — the really shocking aspect of these revelations is that they have appeared in public. The cat is out of the bag. A slimy cat and a filthy bag, to be sure, but not the kind of information that an upstanding tabloid publisher like Mr Murdoch ever intended to go on public display.
Of course, certain tabloid newspapers have always operated in a sleazy, subterranean world. Of course, their reporters (“correspondents”) and informants (“sources”) slink around boudoirs and bordellos in pursuit of scoops (“truth”). Of course they pay dubious characters to procure voyeuristic information (“news”). How else, and where else, would they so regularly obtain the dirt they publish week in and week out? From the Government Gazette?
If you need any confirmation of this subterranean tabloid world — the tactics, the culture, the ammorality, the arrogance — read “Confessions of a tabloid hack”, published a few days ago in The Guardian. Here are a few highlights:
As a reporter, we used every tool at our disposal. On one highly risky tabloid escapade in the 80s I used an electronics surveillance expert to bug Richard Burton’s hotel room to see if he was having an affair with his leading lady. We ended up overhearing him arguing with his daughter about her allowance, and learned what type of whisky he preferred, but we never stood up the affair. For every story that got in the paper, there were three like this that never made it.
By the 1990s, the News of the World’s … huge editorial budget enabled it to out-bid the others for the biggest, most salacious stories. And they certainly had the most money to spend on private investigators.
[Today] the tabloids are finding it increasingly hard to dig up any really juicy stories without using private investigators. It’s a bit like DCI Gene Hunt in Life on Mars admitting: “I had to take a bribe when I first started working as a copper otherwise none of the other bastards would have talked to me.” They’re all at it.
Private investigators rarely put their name to anything and are often paid through a myriad of companies to avoid any direct link to the story they have helped expose through illegal surveillance activities. There is even a code of honour between the private investigators and their tabloid paymasters. Massive fees are paid out on condition the shady snoopers never “grass up” their employers.
If there’s one big story you’ll never see in a Murdoch tabloid it is a genuine piece of investigative journalism into investigative journalism. After all, who’d be interested in reading that, apart from Guardian readers and civil libertarians?
By Eric Beecher
PJL 14th October 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Using Private Investigator Subcontractors: Fortune or Curse?
For most private investigators, sub-contracting assignments is like stepping off into the proverbial black hole. Many have had bad experiences, while some have never sub-contracted to other PI’s and instead simply turn away the client. There are several points-of-view that frame the idea of subcontracting, one being “the best thing I can do for my client is to pass them on to a PI who will do a good job.” Another viewpoint often found circulating includes, “I hate to subcontract. The last guy I sent a client to ended up stealing the client from me.” Let’s face it, we are a world economy and to play in the game, your clients expect you to be able to help them where ever the assignment may be geographically located.
To get down to the basics of business, sub-contracting is a practical method to help your clients while adding additional income into your pocket. You spend a lot of time, effort and resources cultivating and marketing clients so why would you simply hand them over to someone else? Your client called YOU because you have built a rapport with them and have gained their trust. This is often where skeptics jump in and say, “exactly, I don’t want to be blamed if something goes wrong with the case when I refer them to another PI.” In the unlikely event that does occur, you stand to lose anyway because you gave them the referral and they trusted your judgment and contacts. If you simply told your client you are not comfortable making referrals, they will be disappointed and may feel like you threw them to the wolves by having to go out and find a PI on their own.
Marketing is an intricate part of any successful business. Whether by word of mouth, media advertising or other avenues, you have achieved your client list. You should therefore watch over your clients like a mother hen waiting on the egg to hatch. I have a good friend that is a claims adjuster for a large insurance company. He will often call me up and tell me that he had four or five PI’s market him in a single day. Why leave the door open for another to step in and side-swipe a client from you?
Unfortunately, not all PI’s subscribe to the proper etiquette of subcontracting fundamentals. When calling other investigators to arrange to subcontract, I often state right up front that my advertised hourly rate is $80 and follow that with “but we always cut our rate for other PI’s to $50 an hour. I hope you will extend the same courtesy so that we can all make some money.” I have had many investigators laugh and respond that they charge $125 an hour and aren’t about to discount their rates. Usually they follow that up with “I would rather not work at all as to work for $50 an hour.” Most likely this is the case – they aren’t working. If you are in the industry to operate a successful business, this is a short-sided view. You may be a semi-retired investigator and this view may fit your lifestyle better.
A good sales person knows that taking a smaller portion of a large volume of deals is often more lucrative than waiting on the one large score. Statistics vary to some degree, however, based on numerous polls by trade associations, somewhere between 70% – 83% of investigative agencies are one or two person operations. The obvious question is why? Does the majority not want to grow any larger or are they still navigating the path to more business? A common practice within the industry is to have part-time investigators that you can call upon when you have an overflow of business. If you are the principal of the business, it truly may not pay for you personally to work at a lower hourly rate. It may, however, be a good opportunity to assign the case to one of these other investigators. You give them much appreciated work and you can still take a portion of the hourly rate billed to the client.
Another fundamental of subcontracting etiquette is the “turn-about is fair play” concept. If you call an investigator who agrees to work a case for you and they cut their rate, expect to do the same in return. Realistically, this is a great avenue of marketing. Once other investigators understand you can be trusted to not steal their client and you will provide a professional discount, you will be their point of contact for case assignments in your area. When working for other investigators, you should also provide a “Vendor Agreement” that details what you expect as part of the agreement and often includes:
• The hourly rate, mileage and other expenses agreed upon
• When the case is to be initiated and any deadlines for completion
• Method of supplying updates and reports
• Special instructions or circumstances
• Instructions pertaining to a “no contact” with client clause. Typically, your client should receive updates from you, not the subcontracted PI
• Obtain copies of the PI’s license and insurance
In some cases, the investigator in the field is asked to communicate directly with your client. In these cases, the investigator should never indicate that they work for anyone other than you and should not use this as a time to market your client. This is generally not a problem, but once your client has a direct number for the other PI, they may feel that it is appropriate to call them directly with any additional assignments. Again, the proper etiquette is for the investigator to simply take the information and then turn around and call the original PI. All cases pertaining to the particular client should go through the originating investigative agency, no exception. Of course, the originating agency should also advise their client that all assignments must originate in their corporate office to insure proper file handling and billing.
Once the investigation is completed, the investigator should email you the final report followed with a hard copy. The emailed report allows you to cut and paste into your report format that your client has become accustom to seeing and understands more readily. This brings you to the next topic of sales tax. In most instances, the investigator doing the actual case needs to provide a resellers certificate to the original PI agency, thus alleviating the need to charge the originating PI sales tax since it is there responsibility to charge and collect this from the ultimate client.
So what about those times when something goes wrong? Although unlikely, a client may become disillusioned with the investigation. Often this is because the end results were not what they had anticipated. When this occurs, whether you subcontracted the case or not, all you can do is try to work through it and resolve the issue. The process of investigations is not a mathematical problem where you can add A + B and get C. They used a PI because the information could not be obtained any other way and although everyone involved may their best attempts, it just didn’t turn out to the client’s satisfaction. Resolve it best you can like you would one of your regular cases that you didn’t subcontract.
How do you go about finding other PI’s to subcontract work? Look to state associations and their websites as a starter. Many allow you to type in geographic areas and specialized types of investigations to find those adept at the services you require. Call, talk and agree. It is better to make $10 – $30 an hour on work you don’t have to do than to not make any money at all.
By Kelly Riddle
Kelly Riddle is the principal of Kelmar and Associates, formed in 1989, and conducts investigations domestically and internationally. A distinguished speaker and author of 10 books, Mr. Riddle has more than 30 years of investigative experience and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Alabama. He was chosen as the “PI of the Year” by the National Association of Investigative Specialists and the PI Magazine named Mr. Riddle as the “#1 PI in the United States”. He has been designated an expert in surveillance, insurance investigations, nursing home abuse and computer investigations. He was chosen as “One of the Top 25 PI’s of the 20th Century.” Kelly obtained his Texas Certified Investigator designation (less than 50 in TX.) Mr. Riddle is also on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI).
PJL 10th October 2009
To get down to the basics of business, sub-contracting is a practical method to help your clients while adding additional income into your pocket. You spend a lot of time, effort and resources cultivating and marketing clients so why would you simply hand them over to someone else? Your client called YOU because you have built a rapport with them and have gained their trust. This is often where skeptics jump in and say, “exactly, I don’t want to be blamed if something goes wrong with the case when I refer them to another PI.” In the unlikely event that does occur, you stand to lose anyway because you gave them the referral and they trusted your judgment and contacts. If you simply told your client you are not comfortable making referrals, they will be disappointed and may feel like you threw them to the wolves by having to go out and find a PI on their own.
Marketing is an intricate part of any successful business. Whether by word of mouth, media advertising or other avenues, you have achieved your client list. You should therefore watch over your clients like a mother hen waiting on the egg to hatch. I have a good friend that is a claims adjuster for a large insurance company. He will often call me up and tell me that he had four or five PI’s market him in a single day. Why leave the door open for another to step in and side-swipe a client from you?
Unfortunately, not all PI’s subscribe to the proper etiquette of subcontracting fundamentals. When calling other investigators to arrange to subcontract, I often state right up front that my advertised hourly rate is $80 and follow that with “but we always cut our rate for other PI’s to $50 an hour. I hope you will extend the same courtesy so that we can all make some money.” I have had many investigators laugh and respond that they charge $125 an hour and aren’t about to discount their rates. Usually they follow that up with “I would rather not work at all as to work for $50 an hour.” Most likely this is the case – they aren’t working. If you are in the industry to operate a successful business, this is a short-sided view. You may be a semi-retired investigator and this view may fit your lifestyle better.
A good sales person knows that taking a smaller portion of a large volume of deals is often more lucrative than waiting on the one large score. Statistics vary to some degree, however, based on numerous polls by trade associations, somewhere between 70% – 83% of investigative agencies are one or two person operations. The obvious question is why? Does the majority not want to grow any larger or are they still navigating the path to more business? A common practice within the industry is to have part-time investigators that you can call upon when you have an overflow of business. If you are the principal of the business, it truly may not pay for you personally to work at a lower hourly rate. It may, however, be a good opportunity to assign the case to one of these other investigators. You give them much appreciated work and you can still take a portion of the hourly rate billed to the client.
Another fundamental of subcontracting etiquette is the “turn-about is fair play” concept. If you call an investigator who agrees to work a case for you and they cut their rate, expect to do the same in return. Realistically, this is a great avenue of marketing. Once other investigators understand you can be trusted to not steal their client and you will provide a professional discount, you will be their point of contact for case assignments in your area. When working for other investigators, you should also provide a “Vendor Agreement” that details what you expect as part of the agreement and often includes:
• The hourly rate, mileage and other expenses agreed upon
• When the case is to be initiated and any deadlines for completion
• Method of supplying updates and reports
• Special instructions or circumstances
• Instructions pertaining to a “no contact” with client clause. Typically, your client should receive updates from you, not the subcontracted PI
• Obtain copies of the PI’s license and insurance
In some cases, the investigator in the field is asked to communicate directly with your client. In these cases, the investigator should never indicate that they work for anyone other than you and should not use this as a time to market your client. This is generally not a problem, but once your client has a direct number for the other PI, they may feel that it is appropriate to call them directly with any additional assignments. Again, the proper etiquette is for the investigator to simply take the information and then turn around and call the original PI. All cases pertaining to the particular client should go through the originating investigative agency, no exception. Of course, the originating agency should also advise their client that all assignments must originate in their corporate office to insure proper file handling and billing.
Once the investigation is completed, the investigator should email you the final report followed with a hard copy. The emailed report allows you to cut and paste into your report format that your client has become accustom to seeing and understands more readily. This brings you to the next topic of sales tax. In most instances, the investigator doing the actual case needs to provide a resellers certificate to the original PI agency, thus alleviating the need to charge the originating PI sales tax since it is there responsibility to charge and collect this from the ultimate client.
So what about those times when something goes wrong? Although unlikely, a client may become disillusioned with the investigation. Often this is because the end results were not what they had anticipated. When this occurs, whether you subcontracted the case or not, all you can do is try to work through it and resolve the issue. The process of investigations is not a mathematical problem where you can add A + B and get C. They used a PI because the information could not be obtained any other way and although everyone involved may their best attempts, it just didn’t turn out to the client’s satisfaction. Resolve it best you can like you would one of your regular cases that you didn’t subcontract.
How do you go about finding other PI’s to subcontract work? Look to state associations and their websites as a starter. Many allow you to type in geographic areas and specialized types of investigations to find those adept at the services you require. Call, talk and agree. It is better to make $10 – $30 an hour on work you don’t have to do than to not make any money at all.
By Kelly Riddle
Kelly Riddle is the principal of Kelmar and Associates, formed in 1989, and conducts investigations domestically and internationally. A distinguished speaker and author of 10 books, Mr. Riddle has more than 30 years of investigative experience and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Alabama. He was chosen as the “PI of the Year” by the National Association of Investigative Specialists and the PI Magazine named Mr. Riddle as the “#1 PI in the United States”. He has been designated an expert in surveillance, insurance investigations, nursing home abuse and computer investigations. He was chosen as “One of the Top 25 PI’s of the 20th Century.” Kelly obtained his Texas Certified Investigator designation (less than 50 in TX.) Mr. Riddle is also on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI).
PJL 10th October 2009
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