Ways to Hire Private Investigator Toronto
How to Hire a Private Investigator in Toronto
The vast majority of people probably think that they will never have the need to hire a private investigator. However, an ever-increasing chaos permeates our daily lives and every day more people find themselves in problems in which hiring a private investigator is the only logical solution.
Whether for personal reasons, infidelity investigations, child custody disputes, fraud investigations, intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, etc., over time, the work of a licensed private investigator has become more and more a primetime, mainstream, type of gig.
If you ever find yourself in need of a private investigator in the Greater Toronto Area, you will have no shortage of options. In Ontario alone, the private investigator industry grew by more than 1000% over the last few decades. Presently, there are over 70,000 registered private investigators, many of which work in Toronto.
However, this surplus of options has the potential to become a detriment when time comes to choose. Therefore, we are going to outline a few things you must keep in mind and consider before you commit.
HOW TO HIRE A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR IN TORONTO
The importance and significance of the work done by private investigators can be seen manifest in the fact that all private investigators in Canada are regulated through the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005. This piece of legislation governs all issues regarding private investigators, such as licensing, training, regulations, and limitations.
How do you go about hiring a licensed private investigator in Toronto?
The process is easy enough. First, you must perform a search for private investigator agency in your vicinity; you should have no problem whatsoever finding one through a quick Google search.
Make sure that your chosen investigator is specialized in the specific type of investigation that will be commissioned since many agencies specialize only in certain areas of private investigation. For example, some agencies will only work corporate fraud while others dedicate themselves fully to cheating spouse investigations.
If you require the services of a private investigator in Toronto, we propose that you consider the following recommendations.
FIRST AND FOREMOST: MAKE SURE THAT THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR OF YOUR CHOICE IS AN AUTHORIZED, LICENSED, AND TRAINED PROFESSIONAL
Prioritize agencies that inspire trust and not those that offer the cheapest services. Never get fooled by private investigators that sell themselves on the fact that they are cheap. Somethings are just not worth skimping on.
My father is fond of saying that one should never buy cheap shoes nor a cheap mattress. Well, I would like to add a cheap private investigation agency to that list. That is not to say that you absolutely must hire the most expensive agency on the market; however, it is good to keep in mind that you get what you pay for.
Private investigators will regularly handle highly confidential and extremely sensitive information; therefore, you must prioritize trust and confidence over bargains.
Never settle for the first private investigator with whom you come into contact. We advise all citizens of Toronto to take advantage of the city’s vast diversity and a wide range of agencies. Do your due diligence and choose the agency that best suits your needs.
Private investigations is always a complex issues, and sometimes they can be dangerous. Therefore, one of the qualities that will most likely affect the outcome of your investigation is an investigators level of experience.
If applicable, we also recommend that you do everything in your power to establish rapport between the private investigator you hire and your attorney. To get the most out of the investigation, it is recommended that the lawyer participates in the planning of the investigation.
Your investigator and attorney need to set clear objectives for the information and evidence that is gathered during the investigation. If a judicial process becomes an inevitable outcome of the investigation, you will be in a much more favorable position if your attorney has been in the loop from the get-go.
Let yourself be advised.
Remember that when you hire a private investigator in Toronto, you are hiring a private investigation professional with sufficient knowledge and experience to be able to perform your investigation in the best possible way and thus obtain the evidence you need.
Let yourself be advised and remember that a licensed investigator can see all the potential ramifications and legal consequences that may derive from any investigation.
WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS OF A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
Thanks to decades of film and tv portraying the private investigator industry under a certain light, plenty of people have misconstrued notions and inaccurate ideas about what private investigators can legally do.
For example, under the Ontario Trespass to Property Act, no private investigator is allowed to enter someone’s private property without obtaining prior authorization. Furthermore, if permission is given and then subsequently withdrawn, a private investigator must immediately exit the premises.
Another example of the limitations of a private investigator in Toronto is that under Canadian Criminal Code, a private investigator may not record or wiretap a phone line without explicit permission to do so by the individual in question. The only exception to this rule is through the acquisition of a warrant.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HIRE A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR IN TORONTO
Private Investigation fee and investigator salaries are not regulated under Canadian law. As such, investigators that work in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, or the GTA may charge wildly different salaries based on a variety of factors.
Since fees and payment terms are entirely dependent on the discretion of each firm, clients should consider an investigator’s level of experience, the complexity of the proposed investigation, the expected timeframe of the investigation, as well as the possibility of incidental expenses, before signing any contract.
The vast majority of private investigators in the Greater Toronto Area will charge hourly fees that range from $25 on the lower end to several hundred dollars on the higher end of the spectrum. Whatever the scope of your investigation may be, it is sometimes advisable to negotiate the initial fee proposal.
Licensed private investigators that are also registered under the auspices of the Community Safety and Correctional Services of Ontario enjoy insurance and bonds, which will likely increase their fee.
But, remember what we said earlier about getting what you pay for.
