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Deciding to conduct an investigation and selecting the right agency is challenging. We know that making the right decision is critical. Many companies have turned to Business Controls, Inc. to fill their investigations needs. However, we encourage you to shop around before making a decision. You should consider the following when selection an investigations provider:
Training
The agency selected should provide professional training and rigorously screen its investigators. All of the better organizations operating in the U.S. today have some form of structured training for their investigators.
Experience
Ensure the agency as well as the employees they assign to the investigation have the experience necessary to do the job properly. Interview them and demand answers to difficult questions regarding their knowledge and experience with investigations of the type under consideration.
Reputation
Reputations vary widely in the industry. The best agencies are well-known in the business community and are active in their professional associations. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. Find out about the firm's litigation and claims experience. A reputation of sloppy work, high profile lawsuits, and big settlements could spell trouble.
Willingness to Testify
All investigators must be willing to testify and see their cases through to completion. Sometimes that means testifying in court or before an arbitrator. An unwillingness to testify could be nothing more than fear. However, more often than not, an unwillingness to stand behind one's investigation and testify suggests inexperience and a lack of professional sophistication.
Reports
Reports are an important part of every investigation. As such, detailed reports should follow all investigative efforts. The information provided in a report should be complete, concise and correct. Ask for samples and examine them thoroughly before selecting your vendor. Also ask if they retain their investigator's notes. Experienced agencies know that document retention is an important part of any successful investigation.
Insurance
All quality agencies carry general liability and errors and omissions insurance. In fact most states that license investigators require insurance. Bonding is not enough protection. In order to be safe, require the agency under consideration to provide a Certificate of Insurance naming your organization as an additional insured. Also make sure the coverage is occurrence, not claims-made.
Willingness to Involve the Police
Employee prosecution is not always necessary and can be complicated and expensive. As such, the decision to prosecute should be made for business reasons only. However, a good agency knows its limitations and when to involve the authorities. Investigations involving illegal drugs for example cannot be done without the assistance of the police.
Ask the agency to provide police references. Also ask the agency about their success with prosecution. The answer will provide some idea as to how many cases the agency has run, and how complicated they were. A low prosecution ratio should not patently disqualify an agency. Instead, examine the organization in its totality before making your selection.
Attorney Involvement
All experienced agencies insist on the involvement of their client's attorneys. The attorney's role is an important one and the attorney should be an active participant during most of the investigation. Sophisticated investigative firms know the attorney will contribute to the smooth running of the investigation and coincidentally protect its interests and as well as the interests of clients.
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