Why do I pay up front for a UK Private Investigator?

When hiring a UK Private Investigator, the client generally is required to pay for the service prior to receiving it.

For example, prior to two surveillance operatives deploying for a minimum of five hours on a surveillance deployment, the client will be required to pay the service fee.

Prior to a Graphology instruction being carried out, the client will be required to pay the service fee.

Prior to a person trace being carried out, the client will be required to pay the service fee.

Prior to a background report being generated, the client is required to pay the service fee.

The reason for this is quite straight forward. So, let’s discuss each of the above examples.

If we are instructed to carry out a five-hour surveillance, and we don’t take the service fee prior to the task and the subject of the investigation doesn’t do what is expected. So for example, the subject is expected to leave the home address and rendezvous with their extra marital affair, however they don’t leave the house. The client may then withhold payment as nothing happened. We however have to pay the surveillance operatives for their time, and it is irrelevant that the subject has not carried out what is suspected.

A client instructs Titan to look at signatures on a Will as it is suspected that they have been falsified. Our Graphologist spends hours comparing the signatures and the outcome is not what the client expected, so may withhold payment.

We are instructed to trace a person to their current place of residence. We locate the individual however the client isn’t interested in knowing any more.

A background check is instructed into an individual. The research is completed, and the client decides it’s no longer of importance.

These are all genuine examples which we at Titan have experienced, therefore all instructions are required to be paid for prior to receiving the service.

The issue with some clients is that they have found us through a Google search and have never used a Private Investigator before so don’t know if we are genuine, trustworthy or if it’s a scam. We fully understand this and, in some instances, if a prospective client is particularly suspicious or has had a bad experience with a previous investigation company, we will agree to take 50% of the service fee up front and the further 50% on completion.

Our advice is to perform due diligence before instructing an investigation agency. Research their Google reviews. Ring around other investigation agencies to confirm the price isn’t over inflated. At Titan, we don’t hide our pricing structure and openly publish the prices of services on our website.

So, what are Titan’s service fees?

Surveillance – two surveillance operatives cost £60 each and the minimum deployment is five hours. So, a minimum surveillance costs £600. This includes a comprehensive report with images taken from the surveillance footage and is fully admissible in a tribunal or court.

Graphology/ Handwriting Analysis – Titan’s Graphologists can compare handwriting or signatures to ascertain whether handwriting or signatures were written by the same author. In the case of signatures, we will require the signature in question and ideally 10-12 genuine signatures. This service costs £480. In the case of handwriting analysis, we will require the handwriting in question and examples of handwriting to compare it against. This service costs £420.

Person tracing – From a person’s name and date of birth, Titan can identify their current place of residence. This is offered on a no-trace no fee basis, so if we are unsuccessful, we provide a refund in full. Tracing costs £360 and takes no more than 24 hours.

Background checks – Background checks cover an array of information about an individual. We are able to identify, however, not limited to:

• Current address.
• Current employment status.
• Current visa status.
• Contact telephone number.
• Marital status.
• National court search.

Background research is bespoke to each individual instruction and costs £600.

Lie detector testing – Lie detectors using EyeDetect by Converus take 30 minutes and up to three questions can be asked. The fee for this service is £480, and we will either come to us or we come to you.

GPS vehicle tracking – GPS vehicle tracking costs £420 for seven days tracking. All we need to know is the location of the vehicle overnight and the make, model and registration number of the vehicle.

Computer and Mobile telephone analysis – With the permission of the owner/user of a computer or mobile telephone we can conduct a full forensic download and detect malware and spyware. This service costs £600 for a computer and £360 for a mobile telephone.

Bug sweeping (TSCM) – Bug sweeps can be conducted of either a building or a vehicle. House bug sweeps are generally £1080 and vehicles are £180 for a fingertip search or £360 for a technical sweep. Office bug sweeps are calculated on the amount of rooms or terminals required to be swept; however generally start from £2400.

Penetration testing – Penetration testing is designed to test the security of your work place and generally costs £1800.

Process serving – Process serves cost £180 for up to three visits to personally serve legal documents on a person.

London UK Private Investigator – Call the Titan Investigations London Office 020 39046622

Birmingham Private Investigator – Call the Titan Investigations Birmingham Office 0121 7162442

Cambridge Private Investigator – Call the Titan Investigations Cambridge Office 01223 662022

Derby Private Investigator – Call the Titan Investigations Derby (Head Office) 01332 504256

Leeds Private Investigator – Call the Titan Investigations Leeds Office 0113 4574066

Leicester Private Investigator – Call the Titan Investigations Leicester Office 0116 2436520

Nottingham Private Investigator – Call the Titan Investigations Nottingham Office 0115 9646950

Manchester Private Investigator – Call the Titan Investigations Office 0161 3023008

Sheffield Private Investigator – Call the Titan Investigations Sheffield Office 0114 3499400

Alternatively, you can contact us directly using our fully confidential contact form at enquiries@titaninvestigations.co.uk or chat directly using our Live Chat facility and one of our private investigations team will get right back to you.