As the saying goes “Cheaper is not always better”, and that statement holds true within the Private Investigative Industry. When it comes to cost, it varies greatly. There are a lot of Private Investigators and Private Investigation Agencies within Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Richmond Hill and throughout the entire Province of Ontario.
The main question is “What are you looking to hire a Private Investigator for?” Is it Surveillance Services, Corporate Fraud Investigations, WSIB Workplace Investigations, locating a person or persons? Whatever the service request, it is imperative that you make sure you hire a reputable agency and not just the cheapest entity out there. In this industry, when you pay a cheap fee for anything it is usually because corners have been cut or that they are inexperienced and not as qualified as they put themselves out to be.
For example, conducting a Fraud Investigation is not as simple as some may think. It is important to note that there are a handful of Private Investigation Agencies offering this type of service that do not possess the necessary skill set, qualifications or experience to do so and that can be a very costly mistake. The same plays out for Surveillance Services, simply following someone does not make you a qualified or skilled Surveillance Investigator. There is a lot more that goes in to a Surveillance Investigation.
Private Investigator rates and fees greatly vary from agency to agency within the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. However, one very common theme is an upfront retainer and then an hourly billable rate or an all-inclusive type of package. Just, ALWAYS, make sure you read the small print for any agency offering all inclusive rates/packages ensuring that, that is exactly what you are receiving. Hourly rates within the Greater Toronto Area for a reputable Private Investigation Agency ranges from $85-$150/hour for surveillance services and differs for other specialized investigative projects. When retaining, you should always receive in writing exactly what it is you are paying for. We also strongly recommend that you get confirmation that whoever you are hiring is willing and able to provide you with an itemized breakdown at some point as to where your money was utilized and some evidence to back up the billing. Meaning, if you retained a Private Investigator for 40 hours of surveillance, how can they justify the 40 hours? Receiving a few time stamp photos is not sufficient if you are hiring a reputable Private Investigation Agency. Any reputable Private Investigation Agency will always have the evidence available for you demonstrating the hours were actually worked.
Do your homework on who you are thinking about hiring. Ask them their backgrounds, meet with them at one of their offices, ask to see their license to get a good feel of their professionalism and go from there. At Haywood Hunt and Associates we pride ourselves on being subject matter experts within certain areas and employ some of the nation’s most reputable and qualified Investigators. All of our Investigative rates and packages are very competitive and within industry standards and we strongly stand by our professionalism and superior work ethic. Contact us today for a free consultation.
