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.