
How to Check If a Private Investigator Is Licensed
Many people are advised to hire licensed service providers as much as possible and this also applies to the hiring of private investigators. This is because a licensed investigator operates with more oversight and has a greater incentive to act as a professional in every situation. Therefore, the advantages of working with an investigator who's licensed are clear to see.
However, just because an investigator claims to be licensed doesn't mean that they're telling you the truth. It is important to be able to confirm that a private investigator is indeed licensed by the Security Industry Authority before you start working with them.
What Does A Private Investigator Need To Be Licensed?
Before looking at how you can confirm if a private investigator is licensed. It's important to first know why it's so important for a private investigator to have a license.
Before a private investigator has their application for a license approved, the Security Industry Authority will check to ensure they are:
- Citizens of the UK or have a right to work in the UK
- Properly trained by an accredited training institution and they have passed the required tests
- Not associated with criminal elements or don't have a criminal past that could jeopardize their work as a private investigator
- Free from serious mental health problems
By looking to prove the above, the Security Industry Authority ensures that anyone who holds a valid license is someone who can offer the services that they claim to offer and are unlikely to compromise the case or the safety and security of their clients. When you're dealing with an unlicensed private investigator, you don't get the same kind of assurance and this can leave you exposed to various problems.
Checking A Private Investigator's Qualifications
If you can confirm that the license held by a private investigator is valid, you can easily tell if they're the person to handle your case. For starters, you should know what an authentic SIA license looks like so you can quickly know if the one you're looking at is authentic. Since the licenses have a 3-year validity period, there are only two types of SIA licenses you should see right now.
The older design has a silver hologram and a security chip. These were issued until Mid-2016. Therefore, the last of these will expire in mid-2019.
The latest license design has a holographic overlay similar to driver licenses and other security features. They also have QR codes and barcodes. This makes it simple for you to scan the code and check if the license is valid.
You can also check if an SIA license is valid through the SIA website's license checker feature. You can search for the license holder's name or search the sixteen digits on their license card. A less reliable method is to search for the investigator's name and credentials with any known professional association they claim to be a member of.
Importance Of Testimonials When Hiring A Licensed Private Investigator
A private investigator's license is a symbol of professionalism but it's not proof of the same. The only way to know how a private investigator behaves before you hire them is to find out what their previous clients have to say about them and the quality of their services. There are many places online where you can check if a particular agency has a good or bad reputation.
If you know anyone who's worked with the agency in question at a certain point, you can also ask them what their experience was like. With testimonials, you'll know what real customers think of the licensed investigator you're planning to hire.
Related Articles
- Do Private Investigators Need A License
- How Do I Get My Private Investigator License
- How To Be A Licensed Private Investigator
- How To Get Your Private Investigator License
- Does A Private Investigator Have To Be Licensed
- What Is A Private Investigator License
- What Is A Private Investigators License
- How Do You Get Your Private Investigators License
- How To Become A Licensed Private Investigator
- What License Do You Need To Be A Private Investigator
- Do I Need A License To Be A Private Investigator
- What Can You Do With A Private Investigator License
- What Do You Need To Get A Private Investigator License
- How To Get A Private Investigator License Uk
- Do Private Investigators Need A License In The Uk
- How Do I Become A Licensed Private Investigator
- Can I Get My Private Investigators License With A Dui
- Do I Need A Private Investigator License
- How Much Should A New Licensed Private Investigator Charge Hourly
- How To Check If A Private Investigator Is Licensed
- How To Get A License To Become A Private Investigator
- Why Do I Need A Private Investigator License
- Why Does A Private Investigator Need A License
- Do You Need A License To Be A Private Investigator
- How Do I Get A Private Investigator License
- How Do You Get A Private Investigator License
- How To Get A Private Investigator License
- How To Obtain A Private Investigator License
- How Do You Get Your Private Investigator License
- How To Check Private Investigator License
- Where To Get Private Investigator License
- How Do You Become A Licensed Private Investigator
- How To Apply For Private Investigator License
- How To Get A License To Be A Private Investigator
- How Can I Get A Private Investigator License
- Can You Be A Private Investigator Without A License
- Can I Be A Private Investigator Without A License
- Do Private Investigators Have To Be Licensed
- Do You Need A License To Be Private Investigator
- Can I Get My Private Investigator License With A Dui
- Can You Work Under A Private Investigator Without A License
- How Much Does A Private Investigator License Cost Online
- How To Be A Private Investigator Without A License
- How To Find A Licensed Private Investigator
- What Does A Private Investigator License Look Like
- Why Do You Need A Private Investigator License
- Will A Protection Order Suspend Private Investigator License