Selecting & Hiring a Private Detective / Pre – Employment Screening Service

Private Detective Licenses in both Michigan and Wisconsin are issued and administered at the state level. Take the time to verify that the service you want to hire is properly licensed, for how long the business has held the license and whether that licensee is in good standing with that state’s regulatory agency. Also check to determine if a complaint has ever been filed against the licensee.

Investigation and Background Procedures should be discussed in detail! You should understand how the investigation or background inquiry will be performed and whether the private investigator service is close to the assignment.  Private detectives should be experts at legally gathering evidence that can be used in court. Those with the best knowledge usually are retired from police ranks with experience of successfully managing cases through the process of litigation.  If you have a doubt about methodology, consult with an attorney to understand whether the proposed techniques are legally compliant with federal, state and / or local laws or rulings.

Investigator Qualifications should be examined to confirm if that agency’s closest, best and most qualified personnel are being utilized on your assignment.  For instance, RNI – Research North, Inc. and Backgroundcheckswork.com personnel are all retired state or local police detectives who have extensive experience in conducting physical and electronic surveillance, forensic data recovery, business investigations, civil and criminal defense matters, background investigations and family / infidelity inquiries. Each RNI – Research North, Inc. Field Investigator works out of his / her home allowing for local billing from Lansing, Saginaw, Cadillac, Gaylord, Alpena, Traverse City, Petoskey (Headquarters location), Marquette and northern Wisconsin. Pre-Employment Screening is conducted by field as well as in-house staff. Satisfy yourself that your investigator is conversant in the necessary civil and / or criminal law and possesses all of the necessary technology to deliver what you need.

Professional Liability Insurance should be verified.  Request a copy of the agency’s insurance declaration page. An investigative service should carry a minimum of $2 million in professional liability insurance for your protection!

Pre-Employment Screening / Investigation should be conducted deliberately, thoroughly and in-person whenever necessary. The largest, lowest cost and / or online service offering unrealistically quick turnaround cannot offer the best, most complete service. Ofttimes these services employ and outsource to persons without adequate experience or qualifications so as to keep pricing low.  In that regard, you really get what you pay for. When your business needs competent support, choose a vendor employing experienced personnel who are tenacious, thorough, detailed, aggressive, have good problem-solving and strong communication skills. Check on that vendor’s professional certifications and employee training, and develop a relationship with a vendor manager. Satisfy yourself of training, quality assurance and confidentiality.

Reputation Matters – Check with local law firms, businesses and/or insurance claims offices for their recommendations of the best local services. Look for at least one statewide and one international professional association membership. If you don’t know the requirements for membership, find out. Some investigators have initials after their name, such as CII, CFE and others. Again, if you do not know what they represent, find out before you are impressed. A national network of support through respected professional organizations is often necessary to complete assignments that cross state and national boundaries. Finally, insist on references.  Ask a potential vendor for names and contact information of attorneys, insurance adjusters, business managers and HR personnel who can attest to the quality and professionalism and pricing of the investigative / background service you want to hire. If the vendor cannot provide that information look for one who can.