How much does it cost for a private investigator?

How much does it cost for a Private Investigator? 

Well, that is a good question. Private investigation in Australia is a relatively small industry, albeit a competitive one. There are quite a few single operators appearing to be bigger than they are, and a few dodgy operators as well. All private investigators need to be licensed in their relative states and this can normally be checked fairly easily – ask for their licence number and check with the authorities in your state. 

So the cost …….. there are a number of different services we offer and each service can vary in cost depending on the hours and expertise required. And to make things more difficult, most investigations don’t come with a fixed fee because we often don’t know how long it will take to get the answers required……. I’m sure that makes sense if you think about it logically. 

For example, many investigations nowadays are solved by using surveillance (following the target) because this is one of the few legal avenues we now have. Surveillance is charged at an hourly rate – not ‘per investigation’. Unless you know exactly the amount of hours you need then it is just a time based exercise until the results come your way. Surveillance is charged at an hourly rate of $95 per agent on the job. Some jobs require 2 and even more agents and the costs rise accordingly. It is difficult to predict the average expenditure for a surveillance job but we would suggest somewhere between $1500 and $3000 would be quite normal. Plenty of assignments come in less, and plenty go over this average as well. We have solved problems for as little as $380, and some clients have spent in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If more of a factual investigation is required, we may send an agent out into the field asking questions of people, canvassing for witnesses, interviewing associated persons etc. All field work that isn’t surveillance comes in at a higher hourly rate of $150.

And then there is everything we do as licensed private detectives. From missing persons, to background checks, to general database inquiries, mobile phone and computer forensics, electronic bug sweeps …….. the list is never ending. In these situations we have to have a chat about the circumstances of the problem and then we can ascertain how much it may cost to investigate. You may be pleasantly surprised that many investigations may be cheaper than you would imagine. Give us a call and we are only too happy to advise.

Should you wish to contact us here at Agency99 Investigations in Sydney or Brisbane and the Gold Coast, please feel free to call us on 1300 547 784 or email us directly at enquiries@agency99.com.au

Your relationship, and the private investigator

Hiring the services of a private investigator isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Whether trying to catch a cheat or look into the background of a potential business associate, it takes a great deal of sensitivity and professionalism to deal with such cases and the client places an enormous amount of trust in the private investigator. These frequently asked questions should provide readers with an insight into some of the issues that have to be considered very carefully before trying to catch a cheating partner.

Is it ethical?

This is one of the most common concerns when contemplating hiring a private investigator, especially when attempting to catch an adulterer. If a secret affair could be described as duplicitous and deceitful, then how would we describe the act of secretly employing an investigator to monitor their every move?

Unfortunately, cases in which initial suspicions prove true account for the vast majority of matrimonial investigations. In these cases, there is hardly a moral case to argue. Often, the suspecting spouse has given the cheating partner every opportunity to come clean about their affair, choosing only to turn to the help of a private investigator when the cycle of suspicion and denial continues. But that doesn’t make the decision to hire a private investigator any easier.

In cases when actions can be explained innocently, the ethical and moral case can seem less clear. But finding out that initial suspicions are unfounded can bring long lasting peace of mind. In these cases the suspecting party may choose to tell their loved one which aspects of behaviour caused suspicion in the first place, spurring them on to change their ways and help re-establish trust in the relationship.

What steps can I take myself before hiring help?

If you are reading this article, the chances are that you already have strong suspicions that your partner is having an affair and feel that hiring a private investigator might offer a solution. But how can you be sure that you’ve taken every step to offer your cheating partner to come clean? Confronting your partner may be enough to either confirm or allay your suspicions. However, if you still have doubts, it’s time to call in the experts. The flipside of this argument is that if you confront your partner before investigating the issue, then they have just be made aware that you are suspicious and this may hamper a surveillance investigation in the long run.

What if I get found out?

When attempting to catch a cheating partner it is important to choose the right private investigator for the job. An experienced private investigator will have all the necessary experience and know-how to carry out surveillance effectively and discretely without compromising the client. Choosing the right private investigator is one of the most important factors that will determine your success.

Do I really want to know the truth?

You already know the answer to that question. Finding out the truth can be one of the most devastating and heartbreaking moments that life can throw at you. For some couples the damage is irreparable but others learn to work through their differences, emerging from the trauma stronger and with a renewed sense of commitment.

Should you wish to contact us here at Agency99 Investigations in Sydney or Brisbane and the Gold Coast, please feel free to call us on 1300 547 784 or email us directly at enquiries@agency99.com.au

Sydney Private Investigator takes on "Homeland"

Sydney private investigator Agency99 Investigations was recently asked to provide a short surveillance training course for some media types to assist with the promotion of the Emmy award winning US television show “Homeland”.

Agency99 Investigations, along with sister agencies Integral Investigations and Lipstick Investigations, and its training arm The Investigative Collective organised a crash-course being a private investigator in Sydney coinciding with the release of Homeland Season 2.

Part of the surveillance training course was held in a classroom and then after covering all of the basics the students set out into the beautiful city of Sydney for a field exercise. Of course we had to engineer the whole private investigation exercise due to the limited time so we had a couple of licensed private investigators briefed to be the ‘bad guys’ and there were two other investigators leading the students around explaining techniques and the best way to carry out an investigation of this nature. We had to engineer the exercise in such a way that it covered the common types of activities a target will do – static surveillance (watching a target form a fixed point), foot surveillance (Following on foot) and mobile surveillance (following in vehicles).

The class followed one target through the city streets on foot before she jumped on a bus, then a ferry, where she met with a second target and exchanged some ‘stolen documents’. They both then went and got on a train, before separating. The new target then hailed a cab where we had a pursuit vehicle waiting. The cab was followed to a drop-off point where the ‘stolen documents’ were delivered to the final destination.

The private investigators and the students all met up at the end for a debrief and a chat about the difficulties encountered – and the successes enjoyed. All participants agreed that being a private investigator in Sydney is not the easiest thing to accomplish!

There were a number of articles written by the students (journalists) including these light-hearted looks at being a Sydney private investigator. The first is an article written by Toby McCasker from the Fairfax publication “The Vine”. You can read the article by following this link 

And a second entertaining article was written by Cathy Morris and published in mX Magazine – of which over six hundred thousand copies are handed out to Sydney commuters.

Agency99 have offices in Sydney and the Gold Coast, and have trusted affiliates right around the country. Call us on 1300 547 784 or email your inquiry to enquiries@agency99.com.au

Hiring a Sydney Private Investigator?

Hiring a Sydney private investigator? Private investigators sometimes get a bad rap in the movies but in real life, they can help you with a number of investigative issues from finding missing people to making discreet inquiries about potential significant others. In Australia many investigations are solved by using surveillance techniques. As licensed professionals we often investigate a variety of issues that the police normally do not or will not handle. There are several reasons why you should not handle sleuthing matters on your own.

Knowledge of the Law

Do you know what you can and cannot do legally when it comes to investigating by yourself? Unless you are well-versed in the law, an expert should be hired to conduct the investigation for you. Licensed private investigators will know and understand the law as well as the best legal way to collect evidence that will hold up in a court of law should the situation call for it. Because you likely will not know or understand the many nuances of the law, you could potentially gather information or evidence illegally or unintentionally contaminate it – negating it’s use, and landing yourself in hot water.

Experience

The average person will not have the experience necessary to conduct an investigation. Hiring a professional makes sense because they are more likely to identify lies when questioning people as well as know when they are following false leads. They can handle themselves in various types of tricky situations and have the general experience to take an investigation through to the end.

Skills and Technology

Investigative work is a special ability that takes a lot of study, training and dedication. It takes more than tailing a vehicle or taking covert pictures of cheating spouses. They understand the legalities of tracking and listening devices, how to conduct surveillance properly whether it is following a vehicle or stationing themselves at a particular location without being seen.

Technology is a large part of investigations these days so an investigator will know which internet resources to tap, what databases to search through and even trace IP addresses and emails. Investigators have access and know how to use a variety of surveillance equipment that can help their cases as well.

Potential danger and the time factor are additional reasons why you should not conduct an investigation on your own. You likely do not have the experience to stay safe or identify hazardous situations. Plus, investigating takes time and sometimes it is tedious work. Can you clear your schedule and devote yourself to your case? Chances are you have to work, go to school or raise a family, leaving little time for investigating. Take the safe and smartest route and look to professional private investigators to help you.

Agency99 have offices in Sydney and the Gold coast, and have trusted affiliates right around the country. Call us on 1300 547 784 or email your inquiry to enquiries@agency99.com.au

Investigators in Sydney, and the issue of Infidelity

Relationships are getting increasingly complicated. The number of infidelity and adultery cases is increasing and using a private investigator in Sydney is the safest way to gather information. We tend to suspect our spouses even with small changes in behavior such as extra care with their appearance or when the spouse starts coming home late. This is a delicate issue, yet serious complications are involved here. There may or may not be an affair. Regardless of your suspicion being true or false, clashes are bound to exist if you do not confront your spouse with proper evidence. We have heard of many clients who have accused their partner of infidelity, only to be told they are crazy. If they had the proof first, then that wouldn't happen……..

However baffled and troubled you are by your spouse's suspected affair, it is important that you have patience and handle the problem in a proper way. First, you need to be sure that your suspicion is true. Although there are many "Catch a cheater" and "surveillance technology" devices available online, they can be illegal and you don't want to land into trouble by using them. There are chances that the device gives you wrong results which can cause serious trouble in your relationship. Instead, you can hire a licensed Sydney private investigator who will understand the specific details of your case and plan an investigation accordingly. When emotions and lives of two people are involved, its best to use a human to investigate the affair instead of using machines.

The private investigator is experienced in handling many cases like yours and can professionally guide you in finding out whether your spouse is cheating on you or not. Once this is done, you also get the required evidence you need to confront your spouse about the adultery. The private detective may also advise you in confronting your spouse and on possible actions you could take in order to move ahead in your life.

In an emotionally drained phase such as having a cheating spouse, the investigator can be a pillar of support guiding you in taking the right steps in dealing with the matter.

Stay tuned for regular updates. If you have any questions in the meantime, just call us on 1300 547784 or email us at enquiries@agency99.com.au

How do you choose the best private investigator for you?

Take your time in choosing a private investigator to suit you. A number of private investigators conduct professional investigations all across the state. It could be a matter of catching your cheating spouse, finding your long lost friend or gathering evidence for the sake of your child custody. Whatever may be the case, only some of the agencies are proficient enough to deal with your investigation. If the agencies follow the federal, state and the local laws, you can be sure of the fact that the private investigator you have chosen is at least trained and licensed.

However the decision of hiring a private investigator absolutely depends on you. Don’t fall for a smooth talker promising you the world – a licensed private investigator can’t deliver the world. We can only do what the law allows us - think about it for a moment before making your decision.

Determine the type of your investigation:

You have to first decide about the type of investigation you are looking for. People appoint private investigators for varied reasons. You may need them for investigating into the criminal past of someone, finding a lost person or helping you with a divorce. Different investigators have proficiency in different areas of investigation. In Australia, investigation itself is a relatively small field and most licensed investigators take on everything – although some tend to lean just towards surveillance, or skip tracing. Work out your requirements then decide.

Inquire about the license of an investigator:

You should also inquire about the license of an investigator. A good number of people perform the job of private investigation without a license. However it's always better to trust somebody who is having a proper license. In order to get the license, an investigator has to pass certain tests as well as background checks, and depending on the Australian state is monitored by the police or state government. Moreover with a license it becomes easier to inspect an investigation agency about its business for checking out whether it has any complaint or not.

Make a written agreement

It will always be a wise decision to make a written agreement. You should make a written agreement before hiring a private detective. This will help you to prevent any form of misunderstanding in future. Furthermore it will help to protect you legally. Some agencies have thick legal contracts, more for their protection than yours. But do get something in writing – an email will suffice – just so you know what page you are both on.

These are just a few simple considerations you can follow while hiring your private detective. Search for the best by weighing up these considerations and make your private investigation successful.

If you have any questions at all, just call us on 1300 547 784 or email us at enquiries@agency99.com.au

Private Investigator Sydney - Surveillance Investigation

Undetected surveillance is an art professed by private investigators and law enforcement groups throughout Australia and the world. Surveillance is a commonly used tool by Private Investigators across Sydney, NSW and Australia which has many forms to facilitate an ongoing investigation. It can be a very effective tool for a private investigator and their clients if done after proper training and hands-on experience in the field. All of Agency99 Investigations staff are fully licensed after completing government nominated training standards equal to or greater than Certificate III in Investigative Services under the Australian National Training Authority framework.

First of all, the meaning of surveillance should be understood. It can be defined as close observation of a person or group, especially one under suspicion. There are numerous reasons why private investigators do surveillance in an investigation, but the most important reason is to learn how, who, where and when a subject will act – and to catch them during that act for evidentiary purposes.

The investigator needs to plan on the way surveillance will be conducted. Whether it would be conducted on foot, by car, using static surveillance cameras or by just following the suspect using a combination of methods. Also the feasibility of surveillance in traffic, at home, at the office or even out in the Australian countryside should be considered. All these and many more factors must be determined before surveillance can even be initiated. The private investigators would normally already have the target identified with information supplied by their client. They only need to decide on the location of the target, and where he or she needs to be observed. Surveillance assists the investigators with gathering facts or proofs regarding the target’s background, career, and life style. Another very important factor when it comes to surveillance is the timing of the surveillance. Mostly the private investigators are left with no option about the timing as they have to act as per the routine of the suspect.

There are many private investigators providing excellent surveillance services, but of course some are better than others. Agency99 Investigations with offices in Sydney and on the Gold Coast is one of the most highly reputed private detective firms in Australia. Licensed since 2005, Agency99 Investigations performs surveillance using the most advanced and sophisticated equipment, like surveillance vehicles, digital / video cameras, and sophisticated communications equipment. The surveillance operatives have an assortment of vehicles fit for every situation. A detailed report as well as video is provided on the subject’s movement and actions once the investigation is complete. For more information visit us at www.agency99.com.auwww.agency99.com.au

Private Investigation in Sydney, Australia

Welcome to Agency99 Investigations, a boutique private investigation firm managed by The Investigative Collective – the guys that brought you Integral Investigations and Lipstick Investigations. We have an office in North Sydney, New south Wales as well as a manned office on the beautiful Gold Coast of Queensland.

We have been carrying our private investigation services under the very same management right around Australia since starting in 1996. Our customers come from Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Tweed areas as well as around Australia, as well as the United States of America and the United Kingdom, Asia and Europe. No assignment is too big or too small.

The methods used to gain results for our customers are certainly varied (to be discussed individually in later articles). We are licensed by the government in each state, and we are limited by strict Australian laws strict so we aren’t prepared to plant listening devices or use vehicle trackers like other private detectives do in the movies. Each private detective has to have completed government training standards to at least the level of Certificate III in Investigations.

There are two popular types of private investigation used in Australia.

• Surveillance is the most common. Surveillance is literally following a person around and recording their movements - where they go – who they meet – what they do. If you need to establish an employee is not working to their full extent, or what your business competitors are up to, investigate a fraud or crime, if your partner is cheating or committing infidelity or if you need information for difficult Family Law case then this is often the best way to document the events that are happening. Photographic evidence is king!
• The second method we use to gather information is using information sources. This entails pretty much anything that is not surveillance! For example, we will carry out computer inquiries from public and private databases, monitor social media such as Facebook and Twitter, we can analyse computers and telephone records, and we will go out and talk to people the get the answers you need. This type of investigation can be used to carry out background checks, asset checks, locate missing persons and anything else that you may need a private detective for.

Of course there are some cases which require an individual specialty – something out of left field maybe? There aren’t too many investigations cases we have not been able carry out – just ask if we can help. We wish we could give you an idea of some of these fantastic cases, but of course the privacy and discretion owed to our customers is extremely important.

Stay tuned for regular updates. If you have any questions in the meantime, just call us on 1300 547784 or email us at enquiries@agency99.com.au