Have you ever hired a private investigator or private detective?

Question

What have your experiences been with a PI, did they find what you were looking for and was it worth the cost?

I need to gather evidence on some lowdown, stinking druggy lowlife who is upsetting my stepdaughter.

Answer 1

I hired one when my ex decided to de-bunk and leave me with 2 small children and a mountain of debt. He was recommended by my solicitor.

He was relatively inexpensive, and worth every penny as he not only tracked the lowdown dog to his hideout but gave me an opportunity to catch the scrubber he had moved in with claiming as a lone parent and housing benefit etc...good result all round! lol

I must say the extreme pleasure I got from the play on words for her address too was magical as I watched his face turn quite puce!

Hahahahahahahahahaha....never mess with a woman scorned who has more brain than the man trying to pull a fast one!

Answer 2

No.

Answer 3

My son employs 2 Russians, they are not adverse to 'social re-adjustment' situations, you don't need evidence, just a bloody pile of c**p left on the floor that was once, in the shape of a lowlife druggie.

Answer 4

I did.  We consulted the bar association - not an attorney we were paying.  We asked for several names of people they would recommend.  It's important that you get local recommendations from someone who is not interested in making money off you.  You want to know who will do a good job, not who will tell you what you want to hear.  

Once we got the names, we contacted them all and made appointments.  We were tracking a stalker, and so we got the names of the PIs who worked with stalking the stalker - he also had experience in domestic abuse, because that turns into stalking so often.

He did exactly what he said he would do.  He brought in a forensic expert and also a stalking expert who teaches at the local college.  He did find the guy - but the cops wouldn't do anything.  (long story)  But the PI did his job well.  He charged by the case - no matter how long he worked.  That was much easier for us than the billable hours thing.  

Answer 5

I have hired one as part of my job and they carried out their instructions and also advised me on the most likely times that they would be able to trace where he lived and what he did, advising me to amend the instructions given thereby saving my company a lot of money. The whole exercise was a success.  

Answer 6

They are very expensive and they will ask you the reason as to why? you want the info?  

If he is upsetting your step daughter, she can make a complaint under the harassment act, he will get a warning and then arrested if he continues.

Answer 7

I hired one some years ago to trace some cretin who owed me money. He traced the guy some 300 miles from where he used to live and gave me a fully detailed report of all his debts, from County Court Orders to his tab at the local shop. His honest advice was to drop the case because he had absolutely no assets.

I never met my PI but he certainly did not lash out on luxuries such as a word processor. His report must have been typed with one finger on an ancient machine which filled in all the 'o' and 'p' letters. This amused me as I could picture a down at heel Shoestring. Very funny. The cost (at todays prices) would be about £300 which I thought was very good value.

Answer 8

My ex hireed a PI to chase me about.  He said I was having s*x with a blonde in a van.  She paid him for this information.  Actually I was having s*x with a brunette in a hotel.  The really interesting part was they tapped my phone.  This is very illegal, but our police (the best in the world) get caught doing this sixty odd times a month, if you believe the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.  How can you check the veracity of the PI?  Cuis custodiet etc.

Answer 9

No, if i wanted to find something out i'd do it myself, as opposed to relying on someone who probably deals in information.