How Process Servers and Private Investigators Can Effectively Handle Deadbeat Clients

How Process Servers and Private Investigators Can Effectively Handle Deadbeat Clients

            Those who have served in the field of private investigations or process serving for any length of time know all too well the perils of working with companies and individuals who cheat them.  Most times these law firms and companies promise to pay money upon successful completion of services but simply never do.  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com explores possible options and solutions for Oklahoma process servers and private detectives who find themselves facing these tough situations . . .

            Many process servers and almost all private investigators require payment in advance.  Indeed, since the amount of money that private detective agencies stand to lose can range in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, most such firms require a specific retainer up front.  Process servers, on the other hand, usually have much less to lose and sometimes allow their customers to receive an invoice after they have completed the service.  Either way, when customers fail to pay as promised, it puts the Oklahoma process servers and licensed private investigators in a bit of a bind.

            One effective way to prevent this from happening is for process servers and private detectives to simply require all of their customers to pay up front.  This is an effective measure which will prevent clients from failing to pay.  This option also helps deter clients who might like to cheat the process server or private investigator.  However, this choice also comes with significant limitations.

            Some clients prefer to receive the bill after the process server completes his or her tasks.  These types of clients often include, but are not limited to, high end attorneys and others who stake their reputation on quality and efficiency.  This type of clientele often does not have time to issue checks or money orders right away and tends to work on very tight schedules.  Process servers who refuse to bill these firms and individuals will often lose their current and future business.  Private investigators, of course, should continue to require the money up front; they simply have too much to lose.

            Before informing clients that they have not paid what they owe, it is imperative that process servers ensure that they have not already paid it.  Sometimes it is possible to not mark down a check, money order, or other payment the client has made.  By first checking with the bank, with Paypal, etc., private detectives can almost eliminate the chance of inadvertently asking for money from clients who have already paid their bills.  

            Process servers who choose to allow clients to pay after the completion of services do not really have many of the same protective preemptive safeguards in place.  Thus, they must choose how to handle the situation after the fact.  They do, however, have a string of options and at least one thing they can do to protect themselves.

            Generally speaking, process servers should always require their clients to make their service requests up front and in writing.  This is especially true for process servers in Oklahoma who do not require their clients to pay in advance.  A special form such as this http://www.oklahomajudicialprocessservers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Process-Server-Client-Questionnaire.pdf can require the client to waive all liability and guarantee payment in writing.  This formal agreement not only helps to shield process servers from harm, but it also helps deter potential deadbeat clients.  Those individuals and businesses who do cheat process servers out of their fees also become more vulnerable in court, as process servers now have something in writing. 

            If the amount the client owes is very small, it is sometimes easier to “un-serve” the person.  In doing so, the client may have to reschedule his or her court date.  This will require the person to go obtain the services of yet another process server.  If the Oklahoma City process server has already turned in an affidavit of service, he or she can subsequently submit an affidavit of non-service.  This second affidavit might potentially nullify the previous affidavit on grounds such as, “I accidentally served the wrong person.”  In the event that an affidavit of service is not already on file or otherwise in the client’s possession, then the process server can simply refuse to write one.  Either of these efforts will likely frustrate the former client and may hinder his ability to receive a timely judgment.  However, if a Norman, Oklahoma process server is seeking a financial judgment, this will not suffice.

            Oklahoma process servers and private investigators can also write and submit a brief or letter that informs the judge of the client’s failure to pay.  Filing a letter of this sort so will most likely hurt the client’s credibility in court.  Who can trust a person or business that would stiff his own process server or private investigator?  In addition to doing so, the Oklahoma process server can also file a small claims suit against the former client and have that person served.  If successful in both of these attempts, this can frustrate the client both in his or her own legal case and simultaneously force him or her to become embattled on yet another front.  Of course, this endeavor also takes time and money, and some process servers one or both lack both.

            Some process servers and private detective agencies prefer to outsource all of their deadbeat clients to collection agencies.  These companies will often handle the entire process for fee.  In doing so, they take the stress and pressure off of process servers and private investigation firms, and this frees their time and resources to engage in other meaningful business pursuits.  Of course, these companies also require up to one half of the amounts they recover as payment, thus trimming the process servers’ and private detectives’ bottom lines.

            Process servers and private investigators whose former clients have breached their trust agreement can also choose to leave a bad written review for professionals and companies.  If the deadbeat client is a business entity, this can range from a blatantly honest and thorough review on www.yellowpages.com to other sites like www.angieslist.com.  Believe it or not, some customers read reviews written by former and current  companies they are considering working with.  If a professional company or individual has cheated a process server out of his or her fee, then he or she will likely happen again to others.  The public deserves a fair warning about the company’s unscrupulous business practices.  However, if the former client happens to link the written review back to the process server, then he or she can also write a bad written review – even if untrue – about the process server, private eye, and/or his or her company.  Thus, caution does indeed become the “better” part of cyber revenge.

            The Better Business Bureau (BBB) www.bbb.org can also help to mediate complaints against the wayward company or business.  However, they tend to be most effective against those whom they accredit. The Better Business Bureau is unable to compel a company to act or require action.  Of course, the company can still lose its BBB accreditation, and this is something that many businesses wish to maintain.  Indeed, many law firms have their accreditation by the BBB to help prevent lawsuits and to let their customers know they are trustworthy.

            If the individual is a member of a professional organization or association such as the Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) http://www.okbar.org/, the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS) www.Napps.org, or the Oklahoma Private Investigator Association (OPIA) www.Opia.com, then process servers can file complaints against the individuals or businesses with their respective professional organisations and licensing committees.  These types of associations often require higher standards of ethical conduct from their members and/or respective licensing boards.  They want their members to represent their profession well and to help others.  While it is true that these governing bodies often protect those within them, they can also serve to help field complaints for little or no money or time.

Sometimes clients really do not have the ability to pay their bills, and money really does become an issue for them.   This is when alternative forms of payment through bartering sometimes become more feasible.  This is especially true when the client does not have the ability to pay his or her bill but also practices some sort of trade or profession which may provide necessary services for the Oklahoma City process server or private detective.  Such trades and professions include, but are not limited to, those who are plumbers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, and almost anything else of relative value.  Of course, the entire bartering process tends to work best when utilised from the start rather than as a substitute for nonpayment of services. 

            The only other viable option a process server has is to simply turn the other cheek, cut his or her losses, and move on.  Pursuing the attorney, process serving firm, private detective agency, or individual may turn out to be more of a headache than it is really worth.  Indeed, the recoverable amount may not be worth the time or effort.  Plus, collecting on a judgment is not always easy and may require even more time and resources. 

On the other hand, licensed process servers and private investigation firms should not let unscrupulous companies run all over them.  By doing so, they might become emboldened by the apathy and are more inclined to keep doing the same thing to others.  Process servers and private eyes must strive to protect one another and their fields both professional and respectable.

Sometimes clients will write bad checks or will initiate a chargeback on their credit card authorizations.  If the process server or Oklahoma private investigator has already meritoriously performed the work, then this kind of misbehaviour on the part of clients is just as unprofessional as those who refuse to pay at all.  Sometimes it is even more damaging, because it can cost the Oklahoma process server even more money, time, and can hurt his or her reputation within the financial community.  Once again, process servers have many options at their disposal.

Aside from the other methods previously discussed in this article, a good Oklahoma City private investigator can also take other action against bad check and credit card users.  In these cases, process servers can also contact their district attorney’s office to press charges against bad check writers.  In addition to other civil action their might pursue, this can add criminal charges to the client’s list of new problems as well. 

When clients initiate a chargeback on a credit card payment, private investigation companies can and should actively participate in every part of the dispute.  All too often, companies like Paypal www.Paypal.com will try to side with the consumer too easily, leaving the seller or provider of goods without proper payment.  Private investigators should stick with it each step of the way, taking action against the credit card companies, if needed.

            It is vital that process servers and private detectives remember that most clients will happily pay for good service.  Indeed, sometimes attorneys and other professionals just become so busy and backlogged that they may accidentally forget about making a payment.  Their staff may become sick, or they may think that they have already paid the amount they owe.  By taking a more diplomatic approach, Oklahoma City private investigators and process servers can offer gentle reminders via e-mail, mail and telephone calls.  Sometimes clients need more time to pay or would prefer to make a payment by credit card or via another alternative method.  Process servers and private investigators who work with their clients instead of against them will go further.

            When it comes to getting paid, licensed process servers and private detectives in Oklahoma and elsewhere have a variety of options at their disposal.  From preventive measures to collection procedures, there are many ways to minimize exposure to clients who cannot or will not pay their bills.  By ascertaining which option is best according to each situation, Oklahoma City private investigators and process servers can often regain their hard earned money in the most professional way possible.

Teaching Private Investigation Courses Helps Give Licensed Private Investigators Special Advantages

Teaching Private Investigation Courses Helps Give Licensed Private Investigators Special Advantages

            Some licensed private investigators in Oklahoma often stay on top of the game by teaching private investigator certification courses at places like Metro Tech and elsewhere.  It is true that teaching these Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) classes at career technology schools seldom pays as much as an Oklahoma private detective could earn while on a stakeout.  Nevertheless, not everything is about making money. Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com explores the other benefits that a private investigator can receive by taking an active role in helping to educate future private investigators . . .

            One of the biggest benefits that a private detective can receive is the knowledge that he or she has helped train others in a wonderful field.  The intangible reward of knowing that one has made a lasting difference in the world is truly incredible.  Private detectives can truly make their mark in the specialised field of private investigations.  Indeed, teaching others is a way to stay current and can help private investigators learn and relearn what the latest and greatest methods are.  After all, is all too easy for experts to become complacent and lose touch with how the field has evolved.

            Teaching future Oklahoma private detectives also helps private investigators who are already in the field continue to network.  Those who are students now may provide referrals later down the road.  Teachers can often gauge how a student might perform in the field by how well he or she does while in class.  Unless the school has policies in place that prohibit doing so, teaching these classes can help the instructor recruit new private investigators to work at his or her private detective agency.  Thus, access to the up and coming stars in the field are right at the teacher’s fingertips!

            What experienced armed private investigator does not also concurrently work in the field of private security?  Well, perhaps some do not, but many do!  Numerous students who take Phase III, or the private investigation course, and Phase I, the first part of the CLEET security guard certification class, often take Phase II and Phase IV, too.  Phase II involves the remaining part of the security certification portion, while Phase IV entails the use of a firearm.  Students who take all four phases can receive their license to become certified as an armed security guard and armed private investigator.  Once again, many teachers have the chance to make a difference in mentoring students in all phases, while also gaining access to high quality future security officers!  What a bargain!  Hiring can become so much easier.

            Since the field of private investigations is often, though not always, more of a competitive field rather than a collaborative one, teachers at these schools sometimes like to size up their potential competition in advance – their students.  Sometimes unscrupulous instructors will try to crush their new competition down before or after they become licensed, but this is a horrible reason to teach those CLEET classes.  Private investigation educators who go into the teaching aspect of the field for this reason have no business being in the classroom.

            Licensed private detectives also have the opportunity to help future Oklahoma private investigators and sometimes even others in the community stay safe from harm.  By providing and carefully supervising opportunities for meaningful, practical, hands-on activities that most private investigators perform, new private eyes will not find themselves left wondering what to do.  It is amazing to see just how many people do not know how to sweep for bugs, operate a video camera while conducting surveillance, and much more!  These students have to learn how to do this, and it is often hard to do while in the field with no one to lend a hand.  Sadly, many private investigators have no mentors and often have to struggle to learn the trade on their own.

            These are just a few of the many reasons that those who run their own private detective agencies should also teach school.  Blending investigations and educating those who conduct them can yield many rewards for Oklahoma private investigator instructors, their students, clients, and society as a whole.  Private detectives with a proclivity for teaching should definitely consider teaching and mentoring others in the profession as well.

How Oklahoma Private Investigators Can Write Effective Surveillance Reports

How Oklahoma Private Investigators Can Write Effective Surveillance Reports

            Oklahoma private investigators often perform surveillance in a variety of situations.  From investigating cheating spouses to custody cases and more, private investigators often need to write up reports for their clients.  This is particularly important, as Oklahoma private investigators’ reports often end up before judges and elsewhere in courtrooms.  Private detectives need to know the best practices for writing reports.  By doing so, it will help their clients, too.  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com examines some tactics which can help with writing these special reports.

            First and foremost, it is vital that private investigation companies that are writing reports include the facts and exclude opinions.  Commentaries have no place in formal written reports, and they can often do more harm than good in the courtroom.  It is indeed as  they used to say in the television show Dragnet, “Just the facts, Ma’am.”

            The formal presentation of the written investigative report is also just as important.  The following is an outline which is often helpful to private detectives in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Moore, Yukon, Tulsa and elsewhere.  While there is no set format per se, the following can be helpful for a private investigator to use:

Summary Report - Surveillance Performed for [Insert Name Here]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

It is often helpful to include the name of the person for whom the private investigator has prepared the investigative report.  The word “for” can be changed to “on” and the name that follows thereafter may also be different.

Location:

This is an important place for an Oklahoma private detective to note the location(s) where the surveillance took place.  The areas may include several places, and the private investigation company should also note the times that the surveillance took place.  All reports should accurately reflect the date and time stamps of any video recording devices the private investigator used.

Purpose:

This is the place where an Oklahoma City private investigator should note the purpose of the investigation.  Was the purpose to find out if a married husband was visiting a special lover?  Perhaps there is a court order that specifically prohibits a husband or wife from cohabitating with anyone else while divorce proceedings are in progress.  Whatever the reason for the private investigation, the person conducting it should carefully but succinctly note the purpose(s) of conducting the investigation itself.

Integrity:

Some Oklahoma private investigators prefer to make note of integrity footage they took while on surveillance.  This time and date stamped video footage can show which times that the private investigator was still out there.  This way if a private investigator is ever asked how he or she knew if someone was at a particular place all night long, then the integrity shots can help prove the private detective’s continued presence in the area. 

Observations:

This is the perfect area for the Oklahoma private detective to denote what he or she saw.  Who was there?  What happened?  When did these events take place?  Where did everything happen?  Once again, it is important for the private detective to be thorough, but also clear and concise.  Commentaries and opinions are not necessary.

Identification of the Subjects:

This is the perfect spot for an Oklahoma private investigator to list how he or she identified the subjects in the video.  Did he or she have photographs of the individuals in the video footage beforehand?  Perhaps the client provided photographs or at least a physical description of the person beforehand.  It is important for surveillance purposes for the licensed private investigator to be able to properly identify the person or individuals he or she is conducting surveillance on.  Of course, sometimes this is not always possible, especially if the subjects are not known. 

What if there are people in the video that the private detective could identify but others that he or she could not?  Sometimes other people who are not known to the client or the private investigator unexpectedly appear.  If there are unidentifiable people in the video footage, a private investigator definitely needs to note this in the written report. 

All Oklahoma private investigators should be sure to include their names, private investigator license numbers, and private investigation agency license number(s).  This is extremely vital, if others are to view the report with any credibility.  A report, which should include the date it is signed, is not official unless signed by all private detectives involved in the case.  Private investigators should take great care to do so in front of an Oklahoma notary public.  The signature area can look something like the following:

         _________________________                      _________________________            

         [Insert Private Investigator’s Name Here],                       Date:

         Licensed Private Investigator

         PI License #: [Insert # Here]

         Agency License #: [Insert # Here]

All private detectives should ensure that a notary public has authenticated the signature of their investigative reports.  This makes a formal written report more credible, and it helps the judge know that the client or some unknown party did not unlawfully forge the private investigator’s signature.  A sample notary statement that reports can include is as follows:

Signed and affirmed before me, _______________________, a notary public for the State of Oklahoma, by [Insert the private investigator’s name here], on this _______ day of _______, 2013.

Each investigative report should also include page numbers (i.e., Page 1 of 3) and places on each page for the private investigator or private detectives to initial.  This helps to ensure the integrity of the report, and it makes it harder for someone to change out pages for unethical purposes.

Private investigation reports can really help to present the findings in the best possible, accurate, organized light.  They can greatly complement video footage, photographs, and courtroom testimony, if applicable.  All Oklahoma private investigation agencies should ensure that their private detectives prepare and write professional reports for their clients.  Doing so not only benefits the people they serve, but it also adds to the professionalism of those working in the field.

Why Private Investigators and Process Servers Should Keep a Low Profile on the Internet

Why Private Investigators and Process Servers Should Keep a Low Profile on the Internet

            Oklahoma private investigators and process servers should often intentionally try to keep a low personal/individual profile on the Internet.  Indeed, many private investigators and process servers do indeed own their own private detective agencies and process server companies.  However, revealing the owner’s identity and those of the private investigators that work there can sometimes prove hazardous to private investigators, process servers, and the clients they serve.  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com elucidates . . .

`           Oklahoma City private investigators and process servers, by their very definition, may want to keep their identities as secretive as possible.  While these professionals do have to identify themselves when asked by law enforcement officials, etc., it is usually best if their identity is not out there all over the Internet.  If it is, then it is quite a bit easier for those seeking to discover their identity. 

            Let us assume that a process server has gone to make a serve.  His or her name will be there on the affidavit of service (AoS).  When someone eventually files this document, it becomes a matter of public record.  Given how many people have taken to insulting, attacking, and even killing Oklahoma process servers, who wants to make their personal information easily accessible on the Internet?  Why give someone who might be very mentally or emotionally unstable the extra opportunity to track down and potentially harm a licensed process server who was merely doing his or her job?  It is bad enough that many people already try to do so while process server is trying to serve the papers.

            This same concept holds true for private investigators.  Private investigators are supposed to try to keep their identities more secretive, hence the word “private” investigator.  Someone who has his or her name out there all over the place is sometimes doing a disservice to both himself or herself and his or her clients.  This is especially true for private detectives who may get called in as expert witnesses during court cases. 

Anyone who has ever served as a private investigator in Oklahoma for any length of time has undoubtedly had to take the stand at least once.  Why make it easy for the opposing side to find out things about an Oklahoma private investigator that could discredit him or her on the stand?  Privacy is already a thing of the past, and there is no need to make the other side’s job easier.

Of course, keeping one’s identity a secret is not always an easy task, and sometimes doing so comes with its downsides.  Many professionals use their identity to market their business.  A great number of private detectives and process servers work alone or perhaps with a partner, and they need to market themselves.  Otherwise, they will not have any clients and will soon go out of business.  Besides, by having a great deal of positive information out there about one’s company, it can help preempt the negative kinds of feedback that can hurt business.

Others in the field might contend that there are many ways in which one can market his or her company on the Internet without using personally identifiable information.  For a little extra money, one can conceal the owner’s name of a website domain name.  Likewise, instead of the process server or private investigator choosing to use his name to market the detective agency or process serving company, he or she can use actors or can use other marketing methods that focus more on the company and less on any one individual.

If someone wants to find out the “goods” on an Oklahoma private investigator or Edmond process server, then a simple report that a private investigator can run on TLO www.tlo.com can often do the job.  While TLO will not always pull up much “dirt” or “goods” on an individual, it sometimes does.  In addition, TLO can also provide the “beginning pathway” to help make it easier to find additional information about a process server or private investigator. 

Facebook www.Facebook.com is one of these beginning pathways that can also add more information, which is why it is inadvisable to keep much identifiable information easily accessible the public on social media networks.  Facebook and other social media sites have proven to help lead to the ultimate downfall of politicians, teachers, and a wide variety of other professionals.

While having a personal life on the Internet might be fun and is sometimes helpful when promoting a business, those conducting private investigations and who serve process must first give it serious thought.  There are pros and cons to putting one’s personal information out there, and either way it is a double-edged sword.  Private investigators and Oklahoma City process servers should weigh the costs against the benefits to decide what works best for them.

Oklahoma City Private Investigators Need to Wear Proper Attire When On Duty

            Oklahoma City private investigators should be mindful about what they wear while on duty.  This is particularly true for armed private investigators in Oklahoma, who may carry weapons which they must conceal.  There are many factors when it comes to proper clothing attire which can affect an Oklahoma private investigator’s performance.  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com examines some of the circumstances in which certain clothing could prove to be more desirable for private investigators.

             It goes without saying that private investigators should dress professionally.  That being said, an adept private investigator also has to blend in with his or her environment.  Thus, whereas a coat and tie might work in one situation, a T-shirt and a ball cap might be most appropriate in another.  While dressing professionally for any profession is indeed vital, wearing the right attire for the occasion is equally essential, if not more so, for Oklahoma private investigators.

            Private investigators should also be mindful about the various weather conditions they will be working in.  If it is going to rain, then the need for rain jackets, umbrellas, and other such gear could come in quite handy.  If, on the other hand, it is going to be extremely hot, then sunglasses, a light T-shirt and shorts will probably prove to be much more desirable.  Given Oklahoma’s sometimes bizarre and volatile weather conditions, the weather can change at any moment.  A skilled Oklahoma private investigator will often keep a set of backup clothes into which he or she can change as the need arises.

                Oklahoma City private investigators who carry firearms also need to wear clothing that will help them easily conceal protective guns, tasers, etc., that they carry.  Most private investigators do not want those they are investigating to know what they are carrying, if anything, or where it is located.  By wearing jackets with special pockets and other loose clothing, a licensed private investigator can help conceal what he or she is carrying.  This helps put the private investigator at a tactical advantage and aids in decreasing his or her risk level.

            Private investigators working for private detective agencies might have other corporate attire that they must wear.  While most private investigation firms do not require their Oklahoma private investigators to wear clothing which will distinguish them as working for a private investigation agency or as a private investigator, some do.  However, anyone working as a professional private investigator who is sporting easily recognizable clothing which associates him or her with a private detective agency or as a private investigator, is going to find himself or herself at a significant strategic disadvantage.

            There are a plethora of reasons as to why Oklahoma private investigators should dress professionally and appropriately.  What private investigators wear and when they wear it can have a significant impact on their overall success or failure.  The overall goal of private investigators is to follow the laws, try to bring his or her clients the greatest amount of success, and to stay safe in the process.  Clothing can indeed play a significant part in this process.

Oklahoma Private Investigator Essentials for Conducting Surveillance

Oklahoma Private Investigator Essentials for Conducting Surveillance

Whenever an Oklahoma private investigator is going to conduct surveillance for a client, there are several things he or she should do to maximize success.  The professionals at Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com suggest that these include items that private investigators should  do before, during, and after conducting surveillance.  By following these best practices, private investigators will help their clients get the biggest bang for their buck and the most success with their cases.  Meanwhile, Oklahoma City private investigators will also profit through customer referrals and continued business with the clients they already have.  The following is a short, non-exhaustive list of things every Oklahoma private investigator should follow:

Properly Assessing Clients’ Needs:

Private investigators need to begin by properly assessing what the real needs of their clients are.  By having a checklist and/or via a thorough conversation, the private investigator and the client can work together to determine the best course of action, can troubleshoot, select the best methods, analyze budgets, etc. 

This assessment also includes the responsibility that private investigators have to not unnecessarily spend clients’ money, if they are visibly suffering from a mental illness.  While most private investigators are not dually licensed as therapists, sometimes such indicators of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia, etc., can sometimes become blatantly apparent.  Good judgment and common sense are key elements.  

Determining the Appropriate Number of Private Investigators for the Job:

It is also necessary to determine the right number of private investigators for the job.  How many Oklahoma private detectives are really needed to complete the surveillance successfully?  What will best work within the client’s budget?  These are all questions that an Oklahoma private investigator and his or her client should discuss together in advance.

Signing a Contract That Clearly Outlines Everything:

Signing written contracts can often help eliminate confusion, can limit liability for the private investigator, and can generally assist everyone in staying on the same page from the beginning.  Verbal agreements/contracts are often very difficult to prove, and they can lead to unnecessary conflicts, unrealistic expectations, and confusion.

Obtaining a Retainer in Advance: 

In most circumstances, clients should pay their private investigator in advance.  This helps keep clients from trying to cheat a private investigator.  If, for example, an Oklahoma private investigator spends fifteen hours conducting surveillance on a house where a person lives and no one ever comes back home, the client may not want to pay.  This can potentially lead to a rather large and unnecessary legal conflict.  Private investigators will want to make sure that all personal or business checks clear prior to starting services.  

Preparing, Bringing and Maintaining the Proper Equipment:

Oklahoma City private investigators should always bring what they are going to need for the case.  The following constitute a few of the many important items that private investigators generally need:

ü  An abundance of surveillance tapes

ü  Various recording devices

ü  Charged batteries for the recording devices

ü  At least one cell phone

ü  Cell phone charger

ü  Flashlight with strong batteries

ü  Notepad and Pencil/Pen

ü  Food, drinks, and something to urinate/defecate in

ü  Tinted car windows

ü  Pillow, warm/cool clothing, blankets, etc.

ü  Phone numbers for local law enforcement agencies

ü  Address, identifying information, photos, etc., of the area and people being watched

ü  Car that does not readily stand out from the surrounding vehicles

ü  Gun or other protective equipment for which the private investigator is licensed

This is not an all-inclusive list.  The needs for each surveillance case may vary greatly, and they should be brought on a case-by-case basis.  It always helps to have something on hand and not need it than to need it and not have it!

Alerting the Police and Other Oklahoma Staff About Your Presence:

Private investigators who call the police in advance to let them know about their presence can benefit in many ways.  Once the police already know the general location of the private investigators, their physical description, a description of their car, how they can be reached by phone, etc., they often feel better about the situation.  This can potentially benefit both the Norman, Oklahoma private investigator and the police. 

If someone calls about a “suspicious car” or an “unusual person” outside of a home or business, then the police may or may not come out to investigate the matter.  However, sometimes the police, if they know about the private investigator in advance, may simply drive by the car without stopping, getting out of their car with the lights flashing, etc.  This can really help to save a private detective’s cover!  However, it is important to remember that privacy laws which protect the client still apply when interacting with the law enforcement personnel.

Also, it is always important for those conducting private investigations to let at least one other staff member know where they are at any given time.  This way if something bad happens and things go south, someone else can at least know the private investigator’s general whereabouts.  Private investigators should also check in with someone else from time to time.

Selecting a Decent Observation Point:

Private investigators should always try to choose an observation point whereby they will attract the least attention to themselves.  Of course, they can only assume a position/location they have the right to be on (i.e., a public street), and they may have to move or change places from time to time.

Keeping Free of Distractions:

While conducting surveillance, it is imperative that private detectives keep themselves free from distractions.  Playing with cell phones, sleeping, or other unnecessary items are disruptive to the process.  It can take mere seconds for something to happen, and it is vital that these precious moments are not lost to an “LOL”.

Taking Integrity Shots/Footage or Collecting Continuous Video Footage:

Often surveillance can take many hours to complete.  Clients and judges often want to know that their Oklahoma City private detectives were there the entire time.  If clients do not want and/or need their private detective to run continuous video footage the entire time, then integrity shots become important.  One can obtain these by simply turning on the video camera, stating the date, time, location, what is happening, etc.  The private investigator should also have the camera’s setting to where it should automatically note the date and time on the video, too.  Integrity shots are quite helpful for a variety of reasons.

Many clients who do not want continuous footage run on a place want to know that their private investigators did not go home.  By taking integrity shots, a private investigator can show that he or she was indeed there at the location at the intervals noted on the camera.  This way the client cannot come back and demand money for surveillance the private investigator supposedly did not conduct.

Judges also like to see integrity shots for similar reasons.  They, too, want to know that the private investigator did not just pack up and go home.  That way someone under surveillance who arrives home at 10:00 p.m. and stayed there all night, would have greater difficulty in court claiming she had left at midnight.  This would be particularly true if the woman had parked her car or truck outside in the driveway the entire time.  The judge could easily ask, “Why then, do we have video footage of your car being parked there all night?”  Once again, integrity shots can help for many reasons!

Use Night Vision Camera When Appropriate:

If it is even remotely possible that surveillance could occur when it is dark, then special video cameras can certainly help!  Cameras with infrared detectors can help determine if people arrive home at night.  While they cannot provide clear visual images of the faces of those entering and exiting an area, they can at least help show that people arrived, left, etc.  Once again, these can become helpful to clients who are seeking to know the truth.  

Effectively and Timely Communicating Information With Clients:

Private detectives should take the time to communicate with their clients on a regular basis.  The amount of communication may vary from client to client.  Some people may want continual updates whenever possible, while others just want to know the final result.  Oklahoma private detectives who communicate information and evidence discovered during their surveillance with their clients, can also help collaboratively determine the best course of action for the rest of the assignment.  Oklahoma private investigators should always discuss the amount and type of information disseminated and to whom, before beginning surveillance.

Writing Effective Reports & Delivering Evidence:

Oklahoma City private investigators should take care to ensure that the reports they write for their clients are clear, concise, truthful, and to the point.  Those working for private detective agencies should take great care to only state the facts and to eliminate opinions and commentaries from their reports.  These are legal documents that could very well end up in a courtroom as evidence, so they need to be as accurate and professional as possible.  Also, private investigators should take care to turn over any other evidence that belongs to the client (i.e., video footage), too.

Testifying in Court, if Asked:

Oklahoma private detectives who have served in the field long enough will likely attest to the fact that courtroom testimony sometimes becomes very necessary.  Sometimes an attorney will need more than a written report, and testifying is often considered a billable part of the written contractual agreement.  This is sometimes just a routine part of surveillance and is something a private investigator needs to prepare for.

These are just a few of the many things that those operating an Oklahoma private detective agency should consider.  Sometimes items on the aforementioned list may not apply.  In other circumstances, one might need to add extra items not mentioned above.  However, by following this general list of necessities, Oklahoma private investigators and their clients will generally enjoy much more success!   

Oklahoma Private Investigators Should Join the Oklahoma Private Investigator Association (OPIA)

Oklahoma Private Investigators Should Join the Oklahoma Private Investigator Association (OPIA)

Oklahoma City private investigators and private investigators all throughout Oklahoma should give strong consideration to joining a professional Oklahoma private investigator organization.  Professional associations are a convenient, fun, and often inexpensive way to network with others in the private investigation field, gain additional in-service training, benefits which may include insurance, and more.  Teachers, medical doctors, dentists, process servers, and numerous others have also joined together in this same endeavor. 

One such organization in Oklahoma for private investigators is the Oklahoma Private Investigator Association (OPIA).  One can easily find the website for the organization on www.opia.com.  The men and women who spend their professional careers conducting surveillance, investigating crimes, civil cases, finding out whether a spouse has been cheating, etc., have a wonderful time.  At the monthly meetings, an Oklahoma private investigator gets to enjoy a nice lunch with colleagues, listen to guest speakers, share new ideas, and much more.  Sometimes a private investigator in Oklahoma even wins a pretty intriguing door prize.

Another great thing about the OPIA is how it brings private investigators from Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Norman, Tulsa, Piedmont, Guthrie, Bethany, Yukon, Mustang, Midwest City, Del City, Stillwater, Owasso, Lawton, El Reno, and counties such as Tulsa County, Oklahoma County, Canadian County, Cleveland County – basically all throughout the state – together!  Great minds share fantastic ideas, and self-improvement is always a goal.  The chance that private investigators have to collaborate and refer clients from cities and counties that are far away from their office is an added and appreciated bonus!

The chief executive officer of Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers (www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com), Dr. John Keefe II, is a proud member of the Oklahoma Private Investigator Association.  Always a strong supporter of professional organizations, Dr. Keefe encourages his staff to join the Oklahoma Private Investigator Association.  The more Oklahoma private investigators that the OPIA has, the better they can work together to help serve the clients (i.e., attorneys, governmental agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals).  While it is true that private investigators often compete against one another for business, private investigators who collaborate through the Oklahoma Private Investigator Association also help bring the word “professional” into their chosen profession.   

Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers Set to Work With B&R Global Investigations

Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers Set to Work With B&R Global Investigations

            This is to formally announce that Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers will team up with B&R Global Security & Investigations.  While there will not be a formal merger or anything, Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers http://www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com and B&R Global Security & Investigations http://www.brgsi.com will begin to subcontract work with one another very soon.  Both companies bring a vast wealth of experience and knowledge in a variety of fields, and they are very well run companies.  Both companies offer a wide variety of services, which include process servers, private security, mobile notaries, armed private investigations, bodyguards, and more.  By working together on various projects, services for all clients will undoubtedly only get better!