Eye on you Investigations FAQ

Below are some of the most asked questions we recieve.

I have never hired a private investigator before. What can I expect?
First we will go over the details of your case with you and try to determine what is going to be the best course of action to achieve your goals. We try and narrow down that scope as much as possible to insure an effective use of our time and your money. After we have ascertained the approximate cost of the case we will assist you in filling out a service form. When you have filled out the form and returned it to us we will begin planning for and working on your case. We will update you as need through the case. When the case is finished we will provide you with a final comprehensive report about your investigation.

I feel nervous and uncomfortable about calling and talking about my personal problems?
Most people who call in for personal issues do feel nervous and uncomfortable talking about problems in their life. It is entirely normal to do so, and we do understand. Our service is here to help you in anyway we can by gathering information for you, that you wish to know. Anything you tell us is totally confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone else. We know how important discretion can be and will only call you at numbers you give us or mail you at locations you have authorized. It is our job to try and provide information to solve your problems, not to create more of them in your life.

As a large legal firm there may be times when we need services for multiple cases, can you handle the workload?
Our staff is ready and able to pick up as much work as is needed. We do ask that you give us 24-hours notice on most cases since the staff has to be made available or time set aside to take care of your needs.

What is a retainer? And will that be billed before the work is done?
A retainer is set as our cap for a job. For example you wish a person followed for many hours and some reports on their background done. We figure out how much that will cost up front, it is our estimate. This is the retainer. We will conduct the case but as the work is progressing if it becomes clear that we are at the limit of the retainer, we will stop and give you the option of amending that total to account for the additional work. But we will not go over that retainer without your consent. There will also be times when we will be able to finish the case for less than the retainer, in that case we only charge you for the work we did and not the full retainer.

How much can I expect to pay in most cases?
For flat rate cases, such as locates or personal profiles, you will only pay the fee required for that service. There will be no additional charges, unless you ask for additional services.
Other investigations are done on an hourly rate. Weekdays our rate is $65 per hour and weekends (which start Friday 5:00 P.M.) we charge $85 per hour. Additional fees consist of a one time $50 administrative (set-up) fee, mileage at .52 cents per mile plus any out of pocket expenses. There is a $500 minimum on outside field work cases, such as surveillances. This minimum includes approximately 8 hours of field work by one investigator, a $50 case set-up fee, mileage and report time will also be charged.
The greatest determiner of the charges for an investigation will ultimately be time. If the goal can be achieved in 5 hours, then you will be paying the $500 minimum, and no more. If the client wishes us to follow someone all weekend, with two investigators to avoid possible detection by the subject, then the cost of the investigation will increase accordingly.

If I hire you, is it a for sure you will get me all the information I am looking for?
There are no <for sures< when it comes to an investigation. Many factors play a part in determining the success of a case but we can promise you we will do everything humanly possible to meet all your goals, while staying within the law. If we don't think it is possible to get that information we will try and find other solutions for you or make recommendations.

After I open my investigation, how will I get the information about what is going on with it?
We will keep you informed as developments take place or if we have more questions. You may also call us to ask questions or inform us of new developments but we would ask you to keep it within reason. Although time spent with you on the phone isn't billed time, the time we are spending with you is taking away from actually doing the work on your case.

How quickly will my case be completed once it is assigned?
Most flat rate cases, such as personal profiles will be finished in just 24 hours. Some reports take longer, such as employment reports that take up to a week. For Hourly cases it will all depend on how many days the case takes and what all has to be done to accomplish it. You will not get your final report till the end of the case. You can expect to receive you final case report within a week of finishing the case, however if that falls on a holiday it could take a bit longer.

Once the case is completed, how will I receive my final report?
You can receive your final report by mail if you wish, either to your address or another address of your choosing. You may receive it via email if you wish. If you do not wish to receive a report at all please be sure to let the case manager know when your case is done, and it will be made note of in your file.

Are there limitations on what you can legally do?
Yes, Private Investigators must follow the laws to the letter as set down by the State of Washington Department of Public Safety. While we have access to information that you as a private citizen do not, there are limits on what we can do with it or who we give it too. What you should keep in mind is that what you see on TV or in the Movies isn't real. We will be sure to tell you during your initial consultation of something you are requesting isn't legally possible.

Will the subject of my investigation ever know it was me that asked for the information?
Just like a Doctor, a Priest or a Lawyer we are held to that confidentiality. What you tell us is secret and will only be accessible to investigators who are working on your case. We will only give out that information about your case to those people you authorize to receive that information. When the case is finished your file will be kept in our offices where we are by law obliged to keep it for 5 years. Even if on the off chance that a subject catches the investigator during surveillance, they will never disclose why they are there or whom they are representing.

As a law firm representing insurance companies our billing really isn't done with the credit card type of option in most case. Is there another way to take care of the retainer billing?
Yes, we also except personal and business checks. And then there is always the cash option. Where it is a corporate customer we can come to other agreements for the payment process. However payment is still due before the final written report will be delivered.