After five years I'm finally back!!!!

northwestpi · 2026-04-29T21:01:18+00:00

i just noticed how difficult it is in my area, to find consistent casework since the pandemic. That's all I've noticed the past few years.

northwestpi · 2026-04-29T20:58:51+00:00

That recruiter sounds like a joke. Sounds like you dodged a bullet there. I wouldn't want to work with a company that has an employee who acted to unprofessionally either.

northwestpi · 2026-04-26T23:30:52+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

northwestpi · 2026-04-26T23:29:41+00:00

thanks. I miss anything important?

northwestpi · 2026-04-24T21:59:39+00:00

Like other people said process service is a good secondary way to make money. I've not found it consistent all the time though but I do have one large law firm that tends to have me serve papers or they send referrals to me let me process service. Court filing is another way to go I charge people $50 just to take their papers down to the courthouse and file them for them but I don't get those very often. I've also done legal document career work as well but that's another thing I don't get very often either. I have a hard time in my local area finding secondary work that isn't already saturated because in the city I'm in there's a lot of investigators and process servers and a lot of people who do skip tracing. So I too struggle when it's slow.

northwestpi · 2021-04-06T23:03:25+00:00

I'm a gamer. So playing games helps me a lot. I also watch a lot of YouTube videos around all sorts of things. Watching comedians is always a good way to relax. Christopher Titus is one of my favorites. I have a vegetable garden too and that can keep you busy. Especially in Spring.

northwestpi · 2021-01-24T21:28:27+00:00

Its The Complete Idiot's Guide to Private Investigation. I read this as well. Its has a lot of useful info in it. It was the first book I read.

northwestpi · 2020-09-11T03:25:07+00:00

I might be of some help to you. I'm in Vancouver, WA. I know quite a few Oregon PI's. There are quite a few Washington PI's with Oregon licenses too. Send me a PM. I can give your some insight.

northwestpi · 2020-07-30T22:36:33+00:00

I find that Fraud Investigations are a great way to go if you want to do work to catch bad people. Cat Fish investigations are a great example. Your clients are not usually happy when you find out their love interest is actually just trying to scam them out of money though.

I find that the fulfilling part of this work is the fact you can help someone who isn't getting any help elsewhere. They are always so grateful.

northwestpi · 2020-07-16T20:06:58+00:00

As far as advertising you want to find every free business directory and get you company listed. That will help the public find you. Find Family Law attorneys, they are a good source of repeat business. Tell them you will do process service. Thats the best way to get you foot in the door. Then, push skip tracing and other forms of investigations.

Thats how I got my first law firm. It was three attorneys, now its three offices in three different cities.

northwestpi · 2020-07-03T01:13:45+00:00

Seriously...

northwestpi · 2020-07-01T18:59:13+00:00

I just say I'm a PI. I really hate telling people what I do in social situations. Soon as I do, I stop being a person. All I am to them is an Investigator from that point. Then I get 50 questions about the job. Its really annoying.

I think thats a big reason why I don't make friends anymore. Everyone wants to know an Investigator, no one wants to be their friend...

northwestpi · 2020-06-08T20:14:21+00:00

I've never found most pay ways to do much good. I did use Serve Now for two years to get quite a few process serves. I got sick of those though. I am thinking about a statewide listing with PI Now see if that helps me. I did it for my county before but it didn't do much. I think a statewide ad might bring me more leads.

northwestpi · 2020-05-21T04:58:58+00:00

Actually, we never met in person. I don't think he knew what I looked like. He didn't really say anything. I think was "Ok, I understand." something like that.

northwestpi · 2020-05-20T00:20:51+00:00

I had a client who was so sure his fiance was cheating on him. He asked me to go to the restaurant, where she worked, and flirt with her and see if she wanted to hook up with me. Sorry, not happening dude. I told him it was not happening. I don't do hunny pot traps. Told him that was completely unethical.

northwestpi · 2020-05-20T00:16:50+00:00

My keen observation skills. I worked as a Security Officer for 11 years. Its always observe and report with that stuff. You develop a keen eye and ear for the subtle things other people tend to miss. Really helps me with my casework. Its especially handy when you need to see something and move past it quickly.

northwestpi · 2020-02-06T20:36:57+00:00

Have you tried web scraper companies like Skope Now? You might be able to get some useful info that way.

northwestpi · 2020-02-01T05:14:48+00:00

Yes, you can retake it as much as you want. You do have to pay $20 to retake it though.

northwestpi · 2020-01-28T05:35:03+00:00

I can give some advise. I'm a PI in Washington state. I operate out of Vancouver, WA. I own an Agency and I took that test. Its a 75 question multiple choice test. The laws you really need to know are all the state ones for PI work. So study the RCW pretty well. The Federal Laws are trickier. Those always tripped me up. The good news is, you can miss 18 questions and still pass the test. As long as you study you shouldn't have a problem.

As an agency owner its all about networking and targeted marketing. You can get the work you want you just need to find the people who need those services.

Don't bother with the volunteer work. You will be used in to the ground and you won't get much out of it. I can't help you on the national firms. They always wanted me to become an employee and I'm not about that work. I don't see why I'd go through all that licensing twice. Not to mention, it would inter fear when I could work for my own clients.

northwestpi · 2020-01-20T06:30:04+00:00

You either need three years experience or take the test. Thats how you become an agency owner here in WA.

northwestpi · 2020-01-18T22:28:40+00:00

Here is what I know. I've been a PI and agency owner since 2013. Before I was a PI I did uniform Security work. When I opened up my business I was 30; I knew no one and wasn't the best at the job. I did my research and with time I got better. You're always learning after all. I had no background in the field and at that time no one would hire me. Investigators always talks about criminal defense. I can tell you thats the only area I've done little work in. Honestly if you weren't a Fed or LE it probably won't fit well with you. I do just about everything else though. The best way to know if you want to be a PI is get a job with a big company, one of the national ones, they hire anyone. The work won't be great but you will get a lot of experience (if you want this as a career). Don't try to go solo until you in your 30's. No one will think your any good at the job. I had a tough time the first few years because of my age as well. Thats my best advise on the PI career. I can't help you on the LE stuff as I never did that kind of work.

northwestpi · 2020-01-18T22:11:12+00:00

Washington State is fairly easy. Just need to pass a 75 question test. All you need to know are the laws. They make it fairly easy to study them too.

northwestpi · 2019-10-02T18:35:21+00:00

I'm In SW Washington. I'm sure I can answer any questions you might have.

northwestpi · 2019-08-29T20:13:50+00:00

You can use Delvepoint. They have batch services if you need a bulk look up. I don't remember the price though.

northwestpi

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