Cheap Private Investigators and Why to AVOID Them

June 21, 2021 - Reading time: 7 minutes

Everyone likes to save money and we all enjoy finding a bargain. However, there are some times in life when choosing the cheapest possible option might not be a good idea. For example, if you were deciding to jump out of a plane, would you buy the best parachute possible, or would you buy a cheaper parachute made from weaker materials? We all understand that jumping out of a plane is a situation where the course of your life could be in danger if something goes wrong…

There are, however, many other examples where deciding to cut costs could alter the rest of your life, which are much less apparent without the benefit of hindsight. We believe that choosing to hire a private investigator is one endeavour which falls into this category.

At the time of writing, there is currently no licensing system for private investigators working in the UK, and without oversight from a regulator, anyone can effectively claim to be a private investigator without necessarily having the relevant training or experience. One of the main warning signs of an inexperienced or unqualified private investigator would be their decision to undercut the standard market rates for their services.

Choosing to instruct a private investigator is a serious decision and not something we feel should be taken half-heartedly. As the results of your case are likely to vary depending upon the firm you choose to engage, deciding to choose the cheapest possible investigator may not always be a good idea in the long run.

Why are cheap private investigators cheap?

Brand new firms, which have little-to-no relevant experience within the detective industry and no existing client base, will often attempt to lure their first clients in by undercutting existing agencies with lower fees. 

Another reason for a detective agency to offer knock down pricing could be because they just aren’t any good, and their poor reputation is not conducive to charging the market rate for their services. 

In either of these situations, you may not be truly saving yourself money by choosing to instruct a cheap private investigator. If a cheap private investigator is not able to capture the evidence which you need, then ultimately you will achieve nothing. And if their cover is blown during the assignment, then any future efforts to surveil the subject will be hampered – potentially ruining the chances of ever reaching a satisfactory conclusion to your case.

For many of our clients, choosing to hire an investigator is in someway an investment for their future. Regardless of the case or circumstances, instructing a private investigator is always a serious undertaking, and not something which we recommend doing “on a whim” or without the proper forethought.

Why you should avoid cheap private investigators

• Evidence may not be captured within the law: If your evidence was not captured within the law then it may be inadmissible for official uses.
• Lack of experience: Many cheap private investigators have low fees in order to attract their first clients, and because they have yet to build a track record and reputation for their businesses. Experience makes all the difference when it comes to getting results during private investigations.
• Lack of equipment: As private investigators, we rely on camera gear and gadgets which costs thousands of pounds in some cases, and we are always looking for new tech as it hits the market. Using the best possible cameras will secure the best possible images… Cheap private investigators may not be able to afford the same gear which is used by seasoned investigators.
• Risk of compromised investigations: If a subject becomes aware that someone is watching them during surveillance, this can not only remove any chance of success in the initial investigation, but also hamper any efforts to catch them by other detectives.

Is your private investigator articulate?

No matter what experience or qualifications a private investigator claims to have, you would be wise to read their e-mails and judge whether they are articulating themselves in a clear and coherent fashion. 

This may seem like an obvious point, however, over the years we have seen many reports written by so-called private investigators which were riddled with nonsensical grammar, spelling mistakes, or just badly formatted with massive walls of text. Making sense of these reports can prove to be a real headache.

Not everyone claiming to be a private investigator will have the relevant experience, or even the basic writing skills needed to compile a coherent report.

Even if the private investigator was cheap, if their report turns out to be inherent, or unclear, and you cannot understand it, or use of it for any official purposes, then you have ultimately wasted both time and money.

Resuming a case with a more competent detective leading the investigation may prove to be less productive (and more expensive) than having started the case using a more competent agency in the first place. 

What is a private investigator retainer?

When it comes to surveillance cases, our clients will often pay a retainer for our services, rather than paying for each respective session of surveillance. 

Paying a retainer allows our clients to set a budget for their case, and to periodically review the situation and decide whether they would like to continue with the case by adding funds to their account, or to close the case and discontinue their investigation.

If we are monitoring a subject during surveillance, and something unexpected happens or they suddenly make an unexpected move, then having funds on account in the form of a retainer allows us to prolong the investigation without having to wait for additional funds. Our clients have the ability to allow us discretion in such cases and to continue with surveillance for longer than previously agreed if we feel it necessary; or if they prefer then we can act strictly under their instructions.

We always prefer that our clients pay a retainer for surveillance cases, as this allows us leeway in unexpected situations which may occur during the case.

How much do private investigators charge?

Fees for private investigations can vary hugely depending on the location of the case and the services required. PrivateInvestigators-UK are a leading detective agency covering the UK, Europe and beyond. We offer free, no pressure quotes for all work. If you would like a quote then please feel free to contact us, remembering to include the location (post code) along with any relevant details.

Husband Cheating on Me With Escorts

June 18, 2021 - Reading time: 12 minutes

Marriages can withstand many ups and downs over the years; however, when it comes to one partner cheating on the other and committing acts of infidelity, this can often act as the catalyst for marriage breakdown and divorce.

Over the years we have seen many cases where men of all ages were cheating on their partners with escorts. Escorts, or sex workers, can be found in a number of different places, and if your husband is paying for sex then catching him out can prove to be very difficult. If a man is having an affair with another person, then the warning signs can be more prominent than if he is simply using escorts on a regular basis.

Most married men that pay for the services of escorts will never be caught out by their partners, and their behaviour can continue for many years in some cases.

If you discover that your husband is cheating on you with escorts, this can cause deep emotional wounds which are difficult to heal, and coming to terms with the situation can prove troublesome for many women.

My husband was cheating on me with escorts

All contact with our agency is strictly private and confidential, we will never disclose information which is sent to us without written consent from our clients. With that said, we received a contribution to this blog post from one of our clients, for the purpose of this article we will call her “Sarah”.

Sarah contacted us in April of this year regarding concerns that her husband may be involved in a relationship with another woman. We were asked to place her partner under surveillance, and ultimately gathered damning evidence against him. 

What follows is a written testimony from Sarah:

I had been seeing my partner for almost 7 years. He is 34 and I’m 33. We had been engaged for 16 months and were due to get married in the summer of next year. Lately we had been going through a tough patch in the relationship. Everyone has arguments and bad patches, but this time felt different. 

One thing I noticed was that he was less interested in becoming intimate with me. He has felt sort of disconnected from me for a good while.

I always knew that he had used escorts in the past before meeting me. I was shocked at the time he confessed to this, but he told me that it was at a dark time in his life and he needed female company. I felt sorry for him.

As his behaviour became more and more odd, I decided to look through the internet history on his iPad and found that he had been looking at escort websites. I confronted him and he brushed it off by saying that he was looking for a friend and would never do anything with an escort. I didn’t believe him but I needed proof.

This is when I decided that I needed help and contacted PrivateInvestigators-UK. I was apprehensive at first but they were great and explained the process to me and what I could expect.

The first evening that my fiancé was followed nothing really happened. On the second night however, when he was supposed to be at the gym, I received photos of him entering a house, which looked like a normal terraced property. He returned out 30 minutes later before driving home.

Whilst he was inside the house, one man left and another one entered. It seemed like the writing was on the wall, and with some more research we were able to find the property mentioned online where it was described as a brothel.

My suspicions were confirmed. He was seeing cheap escorts on a regular basis and probably for months of our relationship. 

I felt betrayed, dirty, and sickened. But most of all, I was glad to have discovered my partner’s true colours before it was too late and we tied the knot. 

Why do men cheat on their partners with escorts?

There could be many different reasons which lead married men to solicit services from escorts, whether it is purely the physical enjoyment and thrill of sleeping with other women, or the emotional bond which can follow in some cases. We have listed some of the more common reasons below.

• The enjoy the thrill of being caught

The thrill of being caught soliciting services from escorts can prove to be a turn on for many guys, whether they enjoy the seedy nature of indulging in an illegal practice, or the risk of being caught out by their partners or the authorities.

• They began using escorts while single and continued while in a relationship 

Some men will begin using the services of escorts while single, but find the habit hard to break after entering into a serious relationship or even marriage. It would seem that old habits can die hard for many men that use escorts.

• They lack excitement in the bedroom

Many couples will experience a lack of excitement in the bedroom over the course of their marriage. As the years go by, many couples become more and more used to the habits and preferences of one another. Rather than trying to bring excitement back into sleeping with their partners, some men will choose to venture out and seek their excitement with other women. Escorts can provide an easy and discreet means to this end.

• They are addicted to paying for sex

If your husband has been secretly paying for the services of escorts from a young age, then breaking that habit is often easier said than done. Massage parlours, strip clubs, and similar establishments can be found in most cities around the UK… Many of our will walk past these places on a regular basis without realizing what is occurring behind their closed doors.

Other men will prefer to meet escorts through websites or apps, which is as easy as browsing photos of different escorts and making a selection. If your husband has been accustomed to paying for sex from a young age, then he may have developed an addition to paying for sex which he will seek to feed.

• They enjoy the feeling of power

Make no mistake about it, some men thoroughly enjoy the feeling of power which they can receive from having the pick of their next sexual partner, and the ability to have sex whenever they choose. 

Signs that your husband is cheating on you with escorts

If your husband is cheating on you and soliciting services from escorts, then detecting this can be very difficult. Men that visit escorts tend to do so over many years, or decades in some cases… Their behaviour becomes normalized to them and they learn how to conceal their habits from long-term partners. 

With that in mind, we have put together the following signs which could indicate that your husband is cheating on you with escorts: 

• He has browsed escort or hook-up websites

Why would someone browse through escort websites if they are not considering paying for services from an escort? There is simply no logical answer to this question. If your husband has been searching for escorts online then this should act as a strong indication of his interests.

• He is carrying strange smells

If your husband is coming home smelling of strange fragrances, this could act as a sign that he has been intimate with other people. While this is an age-old adage, strange smells on your husband can still give his game away. Some people even claim that they can “smell sex” or bodily fluids on their partner.

• He is showering more often and irregularly 

If your husband is becoming intimate with other people behind your back, then he will likely decide to shower more regularly in order to mask the scent and freshen himself up. If your husband has started to shower more often than usual, and at irregular times when he would not usually bathe, then you would be wise to question why he is doing that.

• Money is going missing

Escorts do indeed cost money, with some ladies at the top of their profession commanding hundreds (or even thousands) of pounds per session in some cases. If your husband is spending more cash and withdrawing more money from his account than usual, and he cannot reasonably explain why that is, this is another sign that something could be amiss.

• He is less intimate with you

Have you have noticed a drop in your husband’s libido? Perhaps he has started telling you that he is “not in the mood” more often than usual, this could be an indication that he is satisfying his urges with another woman. It should be noted that not all men are the same, and some guys will not become less intimate with their partners whilst paying for time with escorts in their spare time.

• He hides his phone screen and won't let you use his phone

If your husband hides or turns off his phone screen when you are around him, then you need to ask yourself why he is doing that. Similarly, if you ask to borrow his phone for any reason and he won't let you, or needs to "do something" on his phone before allowing you to use it, these are strong indications that he might be communicating with other people he doesn't want you to find out about.

How we catch cheating husbands

We are a leading detective agency covering all areas of the United Kingdom. If you suspect that your husband is cheating on you with escorts, or with anyone else; then we can help to launch an investigation with the goal of catching him red handed, and providing the proof needed to make decisions about your relationship.

Our primary method for catching men that are suspected of cheating be our personal surveillance service. As part of surveillance we would follow your husband on foot, or in vehicles, and capture photos/video as proof and confirmation of his activities.

The total amount of surveillance required to catch a cheating husband can vary from case to case. Some of our clients will end an investigation once they have received photos showing their partner committing infidelity, other cases can remain open for longer periods if our client requires proof for divorce proceedings or is simply curious about how often their partner is visiting escorts.

Please visit our homepage for more information, or feel free to get in touch with one of our experienced team members and request a free quote.

Related articles

• 10 surprising red flags that your partner is cheating on you
• What are private investigators allowed to do in the UK?

Hiring Private Investigators to Trace Debtors

June 12, 2021 - Reading time: 6 minutes

If someone owes you money and you don’t know where they are, then we would suggest taking steps to remedy the situation as soon as possible by tracking them down and requesting what you are owed. If the debtor refuses to pay, you may then choose to pursue further action through the courts, or instruct lawyer or collections agency to try and make good on the debt.

We are regularly asked to assist our clients with tracing debtors in the UK; and we can often do so on a ‘no find no fee’ basis, depending on the nature and complexity of the case. We are also able to assist with tracing debtors in other countries around the globe. 

If someone owes you money, then you should take comfort in knowing that the United Kingdom has long established processes for remedying the situation. If you are owed under £10,000, for example, then you may file a claim in the small claims court using the Money Claims Online service; the process is relatively easy and straightforward. 

Once you have secured a judgement in your favour, you may then take steps to recover the debt by instructing a county court bailiff, or by applying to the high court and instructing high court enforcement officers to visit the subject and seize their assets in lieu of payment.

Your debtor might succeed in forgetting about the money which they owe you until they are looking at a letter before action, court paperwork, or a bailiff physically removing items from their property. 

When it comes to recovering money which is owed to you, don’t allow for time to pass and for the debtor to forget about their obligations. Tracking people down is often more difficult as more time passes, and whilst no efforts to recover money will be 100% guaranteed to succeed, we believe that if you don’t try then you have already failed.

If your debtor has disappeared and you aren’t in possession of their current address, then hiring a private investigator would be a good step in locating them as quickly as possible. You may then proceed to request payment from the debtor and ultimately take steps to recover the money should they decide not to pay up. 

Benefits of hiring a private investigator to trace a debtor include:

• Our experience allows us to trace debtors as quickly as possible
• Accurate results, even in difficult cases
• A professional and cost-effective service for locating debtors
• If a private investigator can’t find them, no-one can

Tracing a tenant's new address

If a tenant has left your property after accruing unpaid rent, or has damaged your property during their tenancy, then you have every right to track them down and demand payment.

Rouge tenants will often drag out the eviction and courts process in order to live in the property for as long as possible without paying rent; in some cases, tenants will deliberately damage properties before vacating. Either situation creates untold stress and financial hardship for landlords across the UK.

Some landlords that are unfortunate enough to deal with so-called rouge tenants may find themselves out of pocket, and feel personally victimised by the experience of leasing their property.

If you need to track down a tenant’s new address, then we would recommend starting a trace sooner rather than later; as the more time that passes, the more difficult it might be to track down your ex-tenants.

Choosing to trace your debtors

Too many people that are owed money will not pursue recovery efforts if the debtor disappears and tracking them down them is perceived to be difficult. We would urge anyone that is legitimately owed money to reach out to us and see whether we are able to help in locating their debtors. Making a claim to recover money after the debtor has been located is not usually a difficult process and proves to be a worthwhile endeavour in many cases.

If you need to recover money and cannot locate your debtor, then choosing to hire a private investigator is a sure-fire way to get the ball rolling on tracing them and ultimately being reunited with your cash. 

When it comes to tracing and recovering money from people, it is almost always best to pursue action as soon as possible, as the more time that passes, the more difficult it can be to trace people.

At PrivateInvestigators-UK, we operate an extensive network of private investigators across all areas of the United Kingdom. With decades of experience in tracing people, we aim to provide the best and most cost-effective tracing service available.

We can trace debtors located all over the UK, and even abroad in some cases.

Rest assured that we will aim to reach a swift and successful conclusion in your case. All contact with us is strictly private and confidential.

Getting help to trace debtors

If you need help to trace a debtor, then feel free to reach out to one of our experienced team members for a free, no pressure quote. In order to locate the subject, we will need as many details from you as possible, such as their full name, current address (or any previous addresses), their date of birth (where known), and any other details that you are able to provide us.

What Skills Do Private Investigators Need?

June 10, 2021 - Reading time: 7 minutes

Detective films, series, books, stories, are extremely popular and exciting. We follow the investigator’s actions and marvel at their sharp mind and ability to catch the criminal. But a real-life private investigator (PI) has to have certain skills to be able to crack a case. These skills can be learned through training courses or from past experience within law enforcement or the military.

A private investigator has to have some basic inherent characteristics that make him a suitable candidate for detective work and there are skills that he or she can learn to become proficient in the profession.

Inherent skills required to become a private investigator

• An investigative mindset: Curiosity is what compels a private investigator to analyze situations and logical thinking directs the thoughts in the right direction. Well-developed reasoning skills help the PI decipher evidence and reach the correct conclusions. He/she also has to have the ability to keep emotions out of the picture and remain completely objective.
• A keen sense of observation: An essential quality of a detective is his keen sense of observation and attention to detail. The smallest of clues can make or break a case. It pays to be thorough. This quality helps the investigator to solve the cases by getting to the bottom of a riddle. 
• Intuition: A private investigator has to depend on his/her intuition to be able to guess when a person is lying. It’s this intuition that aids his/her deduction skills. He/she also has to be a keen student of human behavior and be aware of and trust his/her deducing abilities. 
• Patience: A very important quality of any investigator is patience. Hours of watching and waiting are a part of conducting surveillance assignments. A dedicated investigator has to be tenacious to ferret out the truth. Patience and that persistence are the keys to successful surveillance and interviewing of difficult persons of interest.
• An unbiased mind: Any preconceived notion will negatively impact an investigator’s conclusions vis-a-vis the case he/ she is handling, particularly if it is regarding the color of the skin or race of a person. A PI has to be impartial and detached from the case which they are investigating.
• A great memory:  A private investigator has to depend on this quality to be successful in his trade. He/she has to be able to think on his/her feet and make prompt decisions. He has to be well-read and aware of previous cases of crime which can be used for reference.  

Private investigation skills which must be learned

1. Surveillance skills: The primary job of any private detective is surveillance. Many hours have to be spent sitting or standing without being conspicuous. Handling cameras and video equipment to gather evidence is a part of surveillance. Photographs and video footage form the primary evidence in most cases. Investigators should be proficient in their camera equipment and have good photography skills.

2. Research skills: Today there are different types of sources like phone calls, interviews, social media, online documents, and of course informants and police evidence. Being able to understand the crux of the matter from the varied information is a skill to be learned. Reading body language and understanding the implications is another skill that can be learned.

3. Critical thinking skills: A private investigator has to have well-developed reasoning skills. His/her logical mind should guide him to the motive behind a crime, the method used to commit the crime, and reach the correct conclusions. He can learn the intricacies of filing a log with relevant information. A well-written report will not only collate all relevant information, it will also help in communication with the client or the authorities.

4. Verification of evidence: A good private investigator should be able to verify the truth behind evidence. Evidence is collected from varied sources, so computer proficiency is as important as handling GPS trackers and video surveillance. Photography skills come to good use since the most credible type of evidence is usually photographs or video, especially in court. 

5. Communication skills: Interrogation is an important part of a PIs daily routine. He/she must know the art of persuading, convincing and listening to people. The actual meaning behind the words uttered can be deciphered by an intuitive, well-trained detective. Studying body language, facial expressions, and asking appropriate questions are skills that a diligent detective or PI must develop.

6. Sound knowledge of the law: Many surveillance actions are restricted to the police and law enforcement agencies. A PI must be educated about relevant codes and statutes in the area he operates. This legal knowledge will prevent him/her from indulging in activities that may cause their license to be revoked, and to ensure that evidence is admissible in court.

7. Organizational skills: For a busy private investigator, organizational skills are essential to prevent evidence from different cases from getting mixed up or losing the focus of each case. Time management is a part of this skill too. He/she will be able to build up the clients’ faith by responding promptly to their call and being available to them at all times.

8. Confidentiality: This is a quality possessed by most dedicated private investigators. Not only is it highly appreciated, it also builds up the client’s trust.

9. Resourcefulness: New technology has made it easier and faster to access records. With the right training, a diligent detective will be able to utilize public records online, such as employment history, driving records, criminal records, and even financial records of the subject.

Private investigators are highly regarded and their services are used and much appreciated by individuals as well as law enforcement agencies. Stories about them line the shelves and the video platforms. But although on-screen or in books the private detective’s life seems glamorous and exciting in actuality it is a difficult profession. It requires dedication, honesty, commitment, and all the skills described above. It can be tedious, boring, and often frustrating. But those bitten by the curiosity bug make very good private investigators. After all, they do not rest easy till they have found out the truth.

Private investigator resources

If you enjoyed reading this post, then check out these related articles:

• What are private investigators allowed to do in the UK?
• How to become a private investigator in the UK
• What clothes do private investigators wear?
• How private investigators dig up dirt on people