Alabama Investigator

It's important to consider several major factors when choosing to hire a private investigator. Making the wrong choice can result in not only spending unnecessary money or resources, but can also end with you not getting the quality results that may greatly impact the outcome of your case! You should choose an investigator or agency that you feel comfortable with. Their professional attitude and demeanor as well as how well they stay in communication with you can speak volumes.

The foremost step you can take is to select an honest and reputable investigations agency. Like any other field of work, private investigation has it's share of good and it's share of bad. Over the years we have seen quite a number of questionable investigative providers come and go. Fortunately, most of them eventually run their course and get weeded out.

A casual internet browse of area private investigators can tell you quite a bit about the quality of the various investigative service providers available. What the first time client may not be aware of are some potential dangers that could be present behind the scenes. For example, some agencies upon beginning your case, would outsource the case to their "investigator" who works mornings at the local coffee house as his other job. Would you want the guy who makes your morning coffee handle something as important as your investigative matter? Of course not!

For strictly "window dressing" purposes, some private investigation agencies tout the fact that they have former members of law enforcement or military working as their agency investigators. A well known axiom in our field of work that is not widely known to the general public is that a law enforcement background or military background does not automatically make someone a capable or skilled private investigator. As a potential client, what you should REALLY be interested in is NOT if they have a law enforcement or military background, but three more important things: (1) how much experience they have, specifically, as a private investigator, (2) how many years they have been licensed as a private investigator and in particular, (3) how many investigations or cases they have actually worked. The best private investigation servicing requires levels of investigative diversity, diligence and skill which only come through years of experience actually working the cases! Do not be afraid to inquire about the actual length of time the person has been licensed as a private investigator. After all, you want to know for sure that you have entrusted your case to someone who is an established private investigator and not just someone who has the attitude "if they can be a PI, then I'm sure that I can too."

Make sure that the investigator or agency you hire specializes in and is experienced with conducting the investigative services which you need provided. An agency which specializes primarily in worker's compensation cases may not have a lot of experience in working corporate investigations. All Eagle investigators are thoroughly skilled and possess many years of experience in a variety of investigative fields. In fact, Eagle has such high standards for investigator hiring procedures that we attract only the area's best and most qualified private investigators to handle your case! This ensures that you have the most competent, qualified investigator on your team!

Another thing we have observed recently are investigative companies who seem to operate primarily as a means of peddling "how to become a private investigator" courses. Don't get me wrong, individuals interested in becoming private investigators need information on the process, but we are addressing something very different here. As the client needing a service provided, you want to know that the agency you hired was completely focused on providing you with investigative results, not how many of their PI courses they can sell you!

Definitely make sure the private investigator is properly licensed and insured. There are private investigation agencies and individuals who advertise and operate as "private investigators" without having liability insurance and proper licensing. Depending on an individual state's licensing requirements, make sure that you verify the status of their license. Some of these companies or individuals may have been turned down for renewal due to negligent reasons or may even operate without a current license.

Finally, get a contract, otherwise known as a "retainer agreement" from the private investigator. This agreement should indicate what services the investigator or agency will be providing for you. Reputable private investigators will always be upfront and honest with you on what they charge for their services. This insures that you are not hit with any hidden fees upon completion of your case. Eagle keeps things honest and simple by providing every client a retainer agreement. Our retainer agreements detail the exact services which we will employ in your case and the charges we bill for those services. You can count on no last minute costs or hidden fees with us… period!