Hiring a private investigator for video surveillance is no easy task. Regardless of where you are, the private investigator you hire can have lasting effects on your case. Choosing the wrong private investigator for video surveillance based on the price alone may expose you to scrutiny by the plaintiff’s counsel, targeting the competence of the hired investigators. Worse, when it comes time take the stand and testify will your private investigator be there? Has he or she ever testified before?

To avoid these pitfalls and more I have put together 5 questions I recommend asking any private investigator that you are considering hiring for video surveillance.

1. Ask For A Copy of Their State Issued Private Investigators License

Insure that they are licensed in the State in which you intend to hire them. Don’t be afraid to confirm with the State that the private detective you are looking to hire is in good standing. Note that the State of Connecticut does require private investigators to be licensed.

2. Ask If The Private Investigators Surveillance Videos Have a Date & Time Stamp

Make sure that your private investigator’s videos are authenticated with a date and time stamp on every scene. If there is no date and time stamp the video can not be admitted as evidence into court, and will be of no value to you. It amazes me how often I still see videos with no date or time stamp on them. If you ever get a video with out a date and time stamp, do not pay the bill.

3. Ask The Private Investigator You Are Hiring What Type Of Plan They Would Implement For Your Specific Surveillance Scenario.

Present the facts of your case to the private investigator and ask for a surveillance strategy. Every surveillance is different, and your potential video surveillance expert should have no problem sharing their ideas with you about they plan to achieve surveillance success on your behalf. A private investigator specializing in video surveillance should have good rationale in their approach to your case. The strategy should be logical and based on the facts of the case resulting in an efficient and effective plan to achieve the desired objectives.

4. Ask How Much Your Private Investigator Charges – Be Leery Of The Cheapest Price

In all walks of life – you get what you pay for. The two investigator formula is a formula for success. After obtaining video the next most important thing is avoiding being made. Years of experience in the field often correlate to an increase in the price of surveillance. It is worth the extra money to assure that you are hiring a veteran investigator(s) that knows how to avoid being detected.

Once the surveillance is comprised and a subject is aware they have been followed by a private investigator you can never follow that person again with out them looking over their shoulder limiting all future success. Two private investigators covering every possible exit, mode of transportation and the ability to follow long, short or quick and frequent stops is the best strategy for conducting video surveillance undetected, allowing for multiple attempts and increasing your chance for success.

Going with the cheapest price in the beginning may end up costing you twice as much in the end.

5. Ask The Private Investigator If They Have Ever Testified In Court On Behalf Of Their Surveillance Videos

This is on of the most important credentials to look for when hiring a private investigator to conduct video surveillance, and is also the most often overlooked: Their ability to testify on the stand. How will they present in court? Do they know what questions will be asked of them? What is their track record on the stand? Are they aware of the rules of discovery? Aware of how to maintain the surveillance video as evidence?

Hiring a private investigator to testify and authenticate his or her surveillance video is the second half of the service you are hiring for.