ThePIGuy
10 Years Experience
Anaheim, CA
Male, 40
Been a private eye for 10 years. The job's not for everyone. If you love odd hours sipping coffee in a dark parking lot waiting for something to happen you should definitely jump at this job immediately. I get hired by spouses, employers, insurance companies, and you name it as well. Oh...and I field a lot of very interesting phone calls that even the most seasoned defense attorneys would raise an eyebrow at.
Probably. But they'd need a reason and be able to prove it. I have the luxury of not having a 9 to 5 job, so I can show up in court any day of the week and appeal it. The plaintiff can be cited for "lack of prosecution" from the judge if they can't prove their case. I may not have to do a thing but show up and dispute the prosecution's case. Remember, the plaintiff needs to prove their case, not the defendant.
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The city I felt was the most "dangerous" was City Terrace & Boyle Heights in E. Los Angeles near the 10 fwy. They're very small in square mileage and have issues w/ rival gangs. Because Hispanic gangs are very old school and traditional, they've kept the same boundaries throughout the years, so it's easy to be walking and cross over into territory by mistake. You have to have a "uniform" (gang clothing, cop clothing, religious clothing) or you'll pretty much be a victim after dark if you're by yourself.
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I was a meter reader for a utility company. In all honesty, my GF at the time saw a flyer posted at her campus and gave it to me. I submitted my resume and got a call. The rest is history. It was never my dream job, I don't think anyone as a kid wants to become a PI. It kinda just happens, that's life, it swings you in a certain direction and you either go with it or not.
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I usually charge an hourly rate....but I have been known to charge a "flat rate". It usually depends on the case and how confident I feel I can get the client results. I won't say how much I charge, but I will say that it's within the industry standard. Usually, I break it down into 3 categories. Surveillance, bug sweeps and locating people. That's the "Big 3" in my line of work. It really depends on what kind of case you have that determines the hourly rate and/or "flat rate" for the case.
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REALTOR®
What's the best way to know if housing prices are going to rise or fall?
Sommelier
What's your favorite bottle of wine for under $20?
Audiologist
Are earbuds dangerous for my ears?
Very eloquently put! Usually, you just gauge the client and get an idea of their personality from the initial consult. Some clients are no bullshit, they just want the facts. Some clients need a little more sensitivity. Men like being kept up to date constantly on the progress w/ the case and want the facts as they come in. Women are much more passive, they usually want to wait until there is confirmed cheating and they always want to see what "the other woman" looks like. Even if their man is cheating, they have a hard time believing he did it with malice or they blame themselves for something that went wrong in the relationship. Women are great to work with, 90% of the women I had as clients were very classy and took the news very well, they prepared themselves for the worst before they picked up the phone to call me.
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Private detectives aren't sworn law enforcement, clinicians or social workers, so technically we don't have a "duty" to report. You use your own judgment, a lot of the time people are frustrated with their situation and sometimes say things they don't mean. But if you feel those hairs sticking up in the back of your neck...it's time to make that call. The cops will usually have the PI come down to the station and game plan the sting. There was one of these in the news a few years back. After being briefed by law enforcement, the PI met up with the client in his car and had an audio recorder rolling. Once the client handed over payment, the cops swooped in and arrested her.
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My hourly rate is within the industry rate. The hourly and/or flat rate tends to depend on the type of case, ie: bug sweep, surveillance, subpoena service. In my experience, the average rate is between $50 to $125 per hour. If the PI offers services in an area where there are not many PIs, they may charge more. Lie detector rate is a bit different, usually $350 per person w/ an average of 8 to 12 lie detector questions asked.
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