If you’re searching “hire private investigator” right now, you’re probably not just stressed – you’re worried about being lied to again, this time by someone you’re paying to tell you the truth.
After 30 years conducting investigations across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, and throughout Ontario, we know what questions actually matter when you’re choosing a private investigator and which ones are just noise.
Here are the 10 questions you should ask before hiring anyone, and what the answers should tell you.
1. Are You Licensed in Ontario?
This isn’t negotiable. Every private investigator in Ontario must be licensed by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. If someone can’t immediately provide their license number or show you their credentials, walk away.
Licensed investigators have background checks, meet training requirements, and are held to legal standards. Unlicensed investigators can’t legally conduct investigations in Ontario and any evidence they gather probably won’t hold up in court.
Ask for their license number and verify it if you want. A legitimate private investigator in Toronto or anywhere in Ontario will have no problem showing you their credentials.
2. What’s Included in Your Rate, and Why Does That Matter Legally?
This question isn’t just about money, though that matters. It’s about whether the investigator is cutting corners that will destroy your evidence later.
Many private investigators in Ontario quote one low rate then add surprise charges for mileage, report writing, equipment rental, administrative costs, and rush fees. That pricing structure often means they’re farming out work, using cheaper equipment, or rushing documentation to keep costs down – all of which affects whether your evidence is court-admissible.
At Investigation Hotline, our rates include surveillance, equipment, mileage, documentation, and comprehensive written reports because those aren’t optional extras, they’re what makes evidence defensible.
Ask specifically what’s included. If an investigator won’t give you a clear answer, they’re either planning to surprise you with fees or they don’t know their own costs – both bad signs.
3. What’s Your Experience With Cases Like Mine?
A private detective who specializes only in corporate investigations might not be your best choice for an infidelity case, and vice versa. Ask how many cases like yours they’ve handled and what their success rate looks like.
We’ve been conducting infidelity investigations, corporate fraud cases, background checks, and surveillance across the GTA for three decades. That experience matters when you need results that hold up legally.
4. How Long Will This Take?
No legitimate investigator can guarantee specific results, but they should give you a realistic timeline based on what you need documented.
Most infidelity investigations take a few days to two weeks depending on the subject’s schedule and patterns. Corporate investigations might take longer because patterns emerge over time. A straightforward background check might take days.
If someone promises you results in 24 hours, they’re either cutting corners or telling you what you want to hear.
5. What Will I Receive at the End?
You should get a comprehensive written report with timestamps, photographs, detailed documentation, and evidence that’s admissible in court if needed. Not a phone call with a verbal summary. Not a few grainy photos and a one-page writeup.
Ask what format the report comes in, how detailed it will be, and whether it includes photo and video documentation. For a typical surveillance case, reports can be 40+ pages with full documentation of every movement.
6. What Happens If the Case Takes Longer Than Expected?
Cases sometimes require more time than initially estimated. Ask how that’s handled. Do they discuss it with you first and get approval for additional hours, or do they just keep billing and surprise you with the total?
We discuss any timeline changes with clients before proceeding. You should never be surprised by your final invoice.
7. Can You Provide References or Reviews?
Legitimate private investigators should be able to point you to reviews from past clients. We have 250+ five-star reviews because we deliver what we promise with no games and no hidden fees.
Check Google reviews, look at their reputation, see what other clients say about working with them. If someone has consistently bad reviews or no reviews at all, that tells you something.
8. What’s Your Approach to This Type of Case?
This question tells you whether the investigator actually understands what you’re dealing with.
For infidelity cases, we don’t just document cheating – we help clients understand whether they’re emotionally prepared for proof. Most people aren’t ready for what happens after they get evidence. That’s not therapy, that’s emotional risk management. We’re not going to hand you documentation that blows up your life without making sure you have a plan for what comes next.
For corporate cases, we explain how we’ll gather evidence without disrupting your business operations. For background checks, we explain what records we can legally access and what we can’t.
If an investigator can’t explain their approach clearly, they might not have one.
9. Where Do You Operate?
Make sure the investigator actually works in your area. We conduct investigations throughout Toronto and Ontario, so we know the locations, the traffic patterns, the parking restrictions, and how to conduct surveillance effectively in different areas of the GTA.
An investigator from another province trying to work your case in Toronto probably doesn’t have the local knowledge that makes investigations efficient.
10. What Can’t You Do?
This might be the most important question because the answer tells you if someone’s honest or desperate for your money.
We can’t hack phones. We can’t put GPS trackers on someone’s car without permission. We can’t trespass on private property. We can’t guarantee you’ll get the results you want.
Any investigator who offers illegal services or promises specific outcomes is either lying or planning to do things that will get your evidence thrown out and possibly get you in legal trouble.
The Red Flags
Beyond these questions, watch for investigators who:
- Won’t meet in person or video call before taking your case
- Ask for full payment upfront
- Guarantee specific results
- Offer services that sound illegal
- Pressure you to decide immediately
Legitimate investigators want you to feel confident in your decision. They answer questions directly, provide clear pricing, and give you time to think it over.
What Happens Next
Once you’ve asked these questions and feel confident about an investigator, the consultation process should be straightforward. You explain your situation, they explain what an investigation would look like, you discuss timeline and cost, and you decide whether to proceed.
You don’t have to be ready to hire anyone today. Most people aren’t. But if you have questions about whether an investigation makes sense for your situation, or what it would actually look like, we’ll answer them honestly – even if the answer is “you don’t need us yet.”
Investigation Hotline has been a licensed private investigator across Ontario for over 30 years. We provide transparent pricing, comprehensive documentation, and investigations that hold up in court.
To learn more, contact Investigation Hotline at +1 416-205-9114 or Speak with the Experts Now
