HOUSTON BUSINESS REVIEW

5 THINGS EVERY BUSINESS OWNER SHOULD KNOW WHEN HIRING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
By Bill Pellerin

Bill Pellerin is President of Texas Investigative Network, Inc., a licensed Private Investigations firm serving Corporations, Law Firms and Insurance Companies throughout the United States. The firm, founded in 1994, specializes in obtaining hard to find private and publicly held information, and is frequently engaged to perform mobile surveillance in issues concerning employee activity and liability/workers compensation claims. Bill can be reached at (713) 807-8811 or bpellerin@texasinvestigators.com.

1. A Private Investigations company must have an active license in order to conduct business within the state of Texas

The company license insures that the Owner/Investigator has passed a Criminal History Background Investigation performed by the Department of Public Safety and the F.B.I., has completed and passed the required amount of Continuing Education Courses (16 hours per licensing term) and has shown proof of Professional Liability Insurance.

2. A Private Investigator is not a Police Officer and thus has no special powers of arrest.

A Private Investigator has no authority in Texas to carry a concealed firearm beyond that of a private citizen. Private Investigators are prohibited from breaking Federal, State or Local laws in the course of conducting any investigation or surveillance. A Private Investigator cannot tap telephone lines, conduct illegal searches and seizures, or violate anyone’s civil rights.

3. The Private Investigative industry offers a variety of investigative services to prospective clients.

Mobile/Covert Surveillance, Insurance Claims, Corporate Theft, Undercover, Infidelity, Background Investigations, Locating Debtors/Witnesses, Asset/ Business Record Searches and Accident/Incident.

4. Most Private Investigative Firms specialize in a few specific areas.

Texas Investigative Network, Inc. - Mobile/Covert Surveillance, Civil Litigation (Insurance Defense, Product Liability, Locates, etc…), Electronic Countermeasures and Interrogation/Polygraph Examinations.

5. A Private Investigative Firm typically charges by the hour plus mileage and expenses for their services.

With client authorization, an investigative strategy is proposed and implemented. Upon conclusion of an assignment, clients may request a professional report which addresses all prior areas of concern.