Hiring a private investigator can cost a few hundred dollars for a week’s worth of work, depending on their expertise and experience. In case the investigation lasts far longer, charges could go up. Before long, a client could find themselves dealing with a huge bill. This is why to a potential client looking for cheaper private investigation services, the promise of a free private investigator can be too tempting to resist. But are they for real? Here’s the real deal:

Free consultation
Very likely, a client looking for free private investigators will come across ads from agencies offering free consultation. This deal is actually for real – with a catch. The free consultation is very often only the first or initial consultation. This can range anywhere from half an hour to an hour. Some agencies or private investigators might even allow an unlimited number of hours for the first consultation. They then charge you for the succeeding ones.

Is this for real? Private investigators offering their services for free know that many potential clients are wary about spending money to pay a private eye they aren’t sure they would like to work with. By going with a private investigator who offers his services at no charge, they could check if they feel comfortable with the person and whether or not they are satisfied with how the PI intends to conduct the investigation.

Another reason most private investigators work for ‘free’ is because there is a limit to the type and degree of the services they offer. For extras or more complete investigative services, they will charge their clients.

Toll costs
Some private investigators will offer free toll charges for clients who phone in. This can be quite attractive for people who communicate with their PIs from remote locations. The clients aren’t charged for their phone calls but they do pay for the cost of the consultations.

Free services
There are private investigators that advertise certain services for free. They could, for example, offer certain related services at no cost. A few private investigation agencies, for example, promote their services online. As a way to extend their business and attract clients to their company, they would offer a free online resource, such as a free people search. This is an online tool that allows both active and potential clients to look for any information regarding a lost relative, friend or acquaintance.

Is this free service for real? Private investigation agencies offer free tools such as the people search as a value-added service. It helps attract people to their site, increases awareness about their services and encourages visitors to consider their company for future needs.

image credits sxc.hu

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