A private investigator is also known as a PI, Private Detective or Private Eye is someone that is hired to undertake an investigation. Most states require PIs to be trained and licensed. Investigators often have a corrections, law enforcement and/or a military background.
- Lack of expertise
- Errors or missing information
- Potential for injury/harm
- Criminal/ civil charges (stalking, trespassing, restraining orders, etc)
It is important that you perform your due diligence before hiring a company. You should do the following: ask for and check references, obtain their license number and check with the state licensing board to make sure they are current and have no complaints.
For ala carte research services such as background checks or address history search, the price varies.
Average Cost To Hire A PI For Surveillance In TX
$1000-$5000 & up Retainer
$75-200 & up Hourly Rate
In the majority of cases, private investigators will charge a flat rate or an hourly rate. Hourly rates can vary based on the type of investigation needed as well as how many investigators will be needed. Nearly all investigators will ask for a retainer fee before taking a case. It is unlikely you will find an investigator willing to do just one or two hours of investigative work. Additionally some investigators charge for travel time and/or mileage traveled. It is important to get a retainer agreement in place that details all possible fees in order to protect both parties in the unlikely event of a dispute.
Once you book a discovery call and speak to one of our licensed private investigators, we can give you an accurate quote on the cost for your case.
- Case Complexity
- Case Type
- Location
- Investigator's Experience
- Additional Expenses
- Amount of Hours
- Research Time
- Report Time
- Travel To and From
- Last Minute Requests
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Weather
- Danger
- Being Discovered By Subject
- Physical Demand
- Report Time
- Fees Accrued During Surveillance
- Time Away From Family
Private investigators are not under any circumstances able to hack into private accounts or illicitly gain access to any private device, account, or information. Private investigators use the internet regularly for their investigative activities. We are however allowed to access people's social media profiles and any publicly available information, databases, and websites that contain information.
If you have more questions about what a private investigator can and cannot do, call the professionals at Key Investigative Services, LLC and speak with a licensed PI today.
As a private investigator, providing opinions can be problematic. Our job is to identify evidence and present facts. We are not licensed for any profession outside of private investigators so therefore we cannot provide therapeutic advice, make a judicial decision, nor do we possess mind reading abilities. We simply look for the facts, and deliver on that.
Our reports are typically used in personal and professional settings and one of the rules we learned in training is to not give an opinion. With the results, our clients can gain clarity of the facts and form their own opinion.