1. Not all private investigations companies are created equal. Some specialize and some perform a variety of investigative tasks. Some specialize in surveillance, research, technical countermeasures, or forensic accounting. Ask what they specialize in and what the bulk of their work is.


  2. Not all police officers make good private investigators. There is some assumption that private investigation is a natural career choice after the force, so much so, that provincial licensing bureaus grandfather ex-police officers to the status of full private investigator. They dont always take into account what type of police work the officer is experienced in. Police departments have large budgets to work with; private investigators do not. They have to obtain product, often on a shoestring budget. Many companies market their services based on having ex-law enforcement on staff. It is a good selling feature and some ex-law enforcement make excellent private investigators. Ask if they are retired, and if so, from what force. How many years did they work? What was the bulk of the police work they did?


  3. Is the company licensed, bonded, and insured? Any responsible investigation company will be licensed with the Solicitor Generals office, will be properly bonded for the number of employees it has, and be insured with both general liability (GL) and error and omissions (E&O). They should also be registered with Workers Compensation Board (WCB).


  4. Who will be doing the work? Many companies are strong marketers and then contract out the work to smaller investigation companies. Ask them who will be doing the work - themselves, or will they be subbing it out to someone else at a lesser rate. Get rid of the middleman. Also, ask if the work will be performed by a junior investigator or someone training.


  5. What are their rates? The average rate is in the $65-70 per hour range. If you get a quote for significantly less, such as $50 per hour or less, ask why such a difference. You will find that busy and respectable investigation companies do not need to lower their rates. Remember, you only get what you pay for.


  6. Believe it or not, not all PI companies are ethical. Private investigators are experts in the field of investigation and know what they can and cannot do. Some will quote jobs knowing full well they cant or wont be able to do the work. Always get a full written report (with accompanying video if necessary) and a detailed bill. Ensure the hours billed are reflected in the report and video. A well-trained investigator will document their time and activities. Do not accept a verbal report; remember, you are paying a significant fee, you are entitled to a full report.


  7. Retainers. The majority of investigation companies work on a retainer basis, and rightly so. Retainers weed out the not-so-serious and those who have no intention of paying. However, ensure you get full value for your money by insisting upon detailed billing and reporting.


  8. Contracts. Any surveillance related investigation should have a contract in place, outlining the investigative task, the agreed upon hourly rate and disbursements, and well as a budget and cap. This protects both the client and the investigative company. If the investigation company is wary about signing a contract and wants a retainer, find another company.


  9. Investigative Body Status. By virtue of our provincial security business license and our membership in the Private Investigators Association of British Columbia, The Preston Matthews Group Inc is deemed an Investigative Body pursuant to the provisions of the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

    This designation allows our firm to collect, use, and disclose personal information on a non-consensual basis in compliance with PIPEDA where we have grounds to believe there may be a breach of an agreement or a contravention of the laws of Canada or a province. In addition, the Investigative Body designation provides organizations with the authority to provide our firm with personal information in these circumstances, and for our firm to in turn disclose the information we collect to our clients.