| BEFORE YOU HIRE ANYONE .... Please read this page |
| SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE HIRING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR 1) "Are you licensed By the State of California?" It is not easy to obtain a Private Investigators License. The requirements are too vigorous for most people to meet. As a result of this there are many unlicensed investigators and agencies in this state. Besides committing a criminal misdemeanor with each unlicensed act, the work cannot be insured, and they have no license to worry about losing if they do wrong. Some license numbers shown in ads are only local tax registrations, which are not private investigators’ licenses, or a license number that "belongs to a friend-he let's me work under his license". That’s similar to loaning your driver’s license to a friend and letting him drive under it - it is not allowed under any circumstance. Ask the investigator or agency to provide you with a copy of their current license. CALIF-COAST INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES is California State licensed, bonded and insured. All copies of our investigation and business licenses are available upon request for examination and the originals of each hang proudly in our lobby at our headquarters in Salinas, California. 2) "Are You Insured?" Private Investigators and agencies are not required to be insured, so the majority are not. This omission leaves the client completely exposed both financially and perhaps to criminal liability for any error, mistake, crime, or omission committed by the private investigator. Many investigators claim to be insured but cannot provide proof of current valid coverage when asked to do so. CALIF-COAST INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES is insured up to two million dollars and will issue you a certificate of insurance upon demand. 3) "Have you handled many cases like mine?" Call every firm in the telephone book, and you will hear that many have handled cases "just like yours". Maybe they have, maybe not. Let them show you by asking to review their last few cases that are similar to yours. Listen to the stunned silence and excuses that follow! You don't need to see confidential names and addresses, as you are only looking for is content and attention to detail in reports. This proof of experience is not too much to ask for. CALIF-COAST INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES can readily comply with this request by showing you sample case (minus client names and other confidential material). We will also provide you with a portfolio containing our qualifications, background, license numbers, insurance information and price sheet. 4) "Are There Any Hidden Charges?" Besides an hourly rate and a per-mile charge, some agencies will try to charge extra for related items that should be included on field cases. It might be called "video camera rental", or “report fee”, or “pre-surveillance research”, or “administrative fees”, or many other cost boosting bills. CALIF-COAST INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES charges only for actual hours worked, mileage, and true expenses. 5) "Who does the actual work?" At many agencies, no matter what you are paying, a trainee does the work. Many use trainees who are learning the basics, while on your assignment. They have no training, no experience, and no idea about what they are doing. That same trainee would also be the investigator used to testify in court about your case, should testimony be required CALIF-COAST INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES requires each of its investigators to complete a 12-month training program, or have previous law enforcement background. We have no “basic trainees” on staff. Each of our investigators has over a year of intensive training in various investigative disciplines. Members of our staff are college credentialed police instructors certified to train law enforcement students at any level. We provide no “on the job training” for non-qualified “investigators”. 6) "Can You Guarantee Results?" Since so many variables can affect a case, a long record of successfully completed cases is your best assurance. No one has a crystal ball and no one can or should guarantee results. CALIF-COAST INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES and its investigators have conducted thousands of investigations with the highest levels of integrity, ethics and professionalism for over three decades in one form or another. If we can help you please feel free to call upon us to try. We stand ready to assist you in any matter of concern. 7) "Will you sell me information about someone?" C.C.I.S. is NOT an information broker or re-seller of information. While we have access to a wide variety of information resources we utilize these sources to assist us in working on assigned cases. WE DO NOT SELL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC There is never a charge for your initial telephone or in-person consultation. To learn more about how you can benefit from our personal services or if you have any questions, contact us at: CALIF- COAST INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES 9 W. Gabilan St. Suite 8 Salinas, California 93901 (831) 422-9111 <Salinas> (831) 642-9111 <Monterey> Or for our long distance clients Toll-free: 1-888-609-3275 |
| Calif-Coast Investigative Services "An Association of Professional Investigators" |
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| "Many investigators are interested only in your money ..." |