Do you offer a cost free consultation?
Yes, all of our initial case consultations are free; there is no cost and no obligation.
Click here to contact us now for a free consultation.
I think I need to hire an Investigator, what should I do now?
Contact us by phone or email for a no cost, no obligation consultation. We can consult with you by phone or you can visit us in person at our offices at 9 Murray Street in downtown New York City. If you prefer, we can also meet with you at a location of your choice.
You will speak with our Vice President of Investigations, Joe Cordes who will dedicate the needed time to listen to your particular investigative needs. We will ask some necessary questions to ensure that we understand what you are trying to accomplish with the investigation. At that point, we will devise a preliminary investigative plan for your case and give you an estimate of the costs based upon our established fee structure. We will provide you a copy of our fees in writing along with our written agreement for services and written request for a retainer. You will also be given an estimated completion date whenever practical. If for some reason we believe that we cannot help you, we will attempt to refer you to someone who can. If we believe that your situation cannot be solved or improved with an investigation, we will tell you that up front as well.
Why should I use your firm to conduct my case?
MSA Investigations is a medium size investigative firm that sees itself as a small mom and pop operation. Our focus is always on you, the client. We are dedicated to providing you with quality investigative services, at a reasonable price and with a real commitment to personal service.
MSA Investigations is a professional full service, fully staffed firm that provides services 24 hours a day. We are properly licensed, insured and bonded. We have decades of Investigative experience and use effective investigative techniques and the latest state of the art equipment. Non-confidential references can be furnished upon request.
Is MSA Investigations properly licensed and insured?
Yes, we are properly licensed, bonded and fully insured in New York State as well as 20 other States and the District of Columbia. Per your request, we can provide supporting documentation.
Where can MSA Investigations conduct investigations and surveillance?
MSA investigations have an extensive experience conducting investigations throughout the United States. We maintain a Private Investigators license in 20 different states, plus the District of Columbia. In states and countries where we do not maintain a Private Investigators license, we will work within our network of invaluable contacts and affiliates to partner with a vetted Private Investigator from that area.
You mentioned a retainer, what is a retainer and do you require one?
Most reputable Investigative firms require that clients provide an upfront money deposit or retainer upon signing their agreement for services. In most cases the entire estimated cost of the investigation is not required in a retainer fee, but rather a portion of the estimated cost of the investigation that is based, in part on the location of the investigation, type of investigation and estimated time required to accomplish all of the investigative objectives.
Retainer fees are a show of good faith by you, that lets the investigative firm know that you are serious in your intentions and assures them that they will be paid. A retainer fee also guarantees that the investigative firm will be available to take your particular investigation and may mean that the firm may have to turn down another investigation in order to remain dedicated to your investigation. Once an investigation begins, the investigative firm will bill against the retainer and when the retainer is exhausted and upon your approval, the investigative firm will often continue to perform investigative services with the agreement that any outstanding balances will be satisfied in full upon completion of the investigation and upon release of the investigative findings.
Typically, over time, when there is an established business relationship between a client and an investigative firm, many investigative firms will waive the requirement for a retainer for future investigations. MSA Investigations does require a retainer, along with a signed services agreement for any new customers for which we do not have an established business relationship.
Will my information be kept confidential, even if I decide not to hire your firm?
We will not disclose your identity or any information that you provide during any consultation or any information acquired during the course of your investigation to anyone without your direct approval. Absolutely every communication, including phone calls, emails and written letters is considered to be privileged and confidential. We will not disclose that you contacted our company and inquired about our investigative services. We also do not share or sell any of our client’s or potential client’s information to anyone for any purpose. Your identity and information will always be safeguarded.
Note: The obvious exception to this rule is that we will comply with any properly served legal directive, subpoena, or court order requiring us to release information to the court.
How much will the investigation cost?
Knowing exactly how much an investigation will cost at the onset is almost impossible to determine because every case is different and there are too many different variables to be able to provide a firm cost. After we understand your particular situation, ask you some relevant questions and understand your goals we will be able to give you a fair estimate of the cost for your particular investigation. We will provide you with a written fee schedule, so that there will be no surprises. We strive to provide affordable options that will work within you budget.
Along with the timely status reports of your investigation, we will keep appraised of your ongoing investigative costs. You can always place limits on you’re spending and cease the investigation at any time. We will obtain you direct approval before engaging in any services not covered in our original agreement.
Finally, we are a professional firm providing quality investigations so we are typically not the lowest priced option you might find, however, we are also rarely the most expensive option. Therefore, if you are “price shopping” and looking for the cheapest firm then we probably are not the company for you. What we do provide our customers are professional investigations, with a high success rate and great value for your money.
When will my Investigation begin?
We require a signed agreement for services and in most cases a reasonable retainer fee in order to begin any investigation. Once you have decided to retain MSA Investigations and have signed the agreement for services and submitted the retainer fee, the investigation of your case can begin immediately or upon another agreed upon time.
Who will be working on my Investigation?
Our investigative staff is comprised of experienced investigators with a variety of different specialties and backgrounds and includes active and retired federal, state and local law enforcement officers and civilian investigators with an-depth knowledge of investigative procedure and skill. Our investigative plan may require the use of one or more investigator depending on the particular needs of your investigation. Our Vice President of Investigations, Joe Cordes, directly supervises all investigations.
Do I get updates or reports so I know what is going on with my case?
We make ourselves extremely accessible to our clients and will maintain close contact with you at your discretion. We will provide frequent status reports on the progress of your investigation at your convenience either through phone calls, emails or face-to-face briefings if requested.
After your case is completed we will provide you a final written Report of Investigation, which is a detailed report that contains all the pertinent evidence and information that has been uncovered during your investigation. We prepare the reports in an evidentiary manner for possible use in a court of law.
If you request, we can provide you with all the evidentiary materials including photographs, video and other physical evidence that we have obtained. MSA Investigations can also safely store these materials at our secure office if you prefer.
How long will the investigation take?
Each investigation is different and until we get started we can only estimate the duration of the investigation. Take advantage of our no-obligation consultation at which time we can better assess the duration. In many cases we are able to provide some guidance on the anticipated length and cost of the investigation.
Do you guarantee success in obtaining my desired results?
No we cannot. As a reputable investigative firm we cannot guarantee results and it is unethical and illegal for us to do so. It is impossible to predict what any investigation will uncover prior to immersing yourself into the investigation. Any agency making claims of guaranteeing results is not being straightforward with you. However, we will guarantee that we will make every effort possible and utilize all of our experience and resources to conduct the best investigation possible and provide you with as much information as possible. It is important to understand that the results may not always be what you hoped or expected.
Why should I hire a Private Investigator? Why can’t I do my own surveillance and detective work with the help of family and friends?
If you try to be your own investigator you may compromise your investigation making it more difficult and more expensive once you decide to opt for a professional agency to take it on.
Some things to consider:
Experience
It takes many years of experience and practical application to become an expert investigator. With an investigation, sometimes you only have one opportunity to conduct surveillance or obtain some other information. If you get spotted or “burned” on surveillance, you may alert the subject to the investigation and you may not get another opportunity.
Our investigators have testified in court on many occasions and are experienced in the rules of evidence and courtroom procedure. They can provide expert testimony to the court about what they discovered. Are you sure you really want your Brother in Law on the witness stand?
Legal Issues
In mostly every state you must be a licensed Private Investigator to conduct a private investigation, including conducting a surveillance on a person(s). If you are not properly licensed and insured, you could be in violation of the law.
If you are not a licensed Private Investigator, any surveillance activity you perform can be perceived by the courts as Stalking and in some cases can result in an arrest for criminal charges or a restraining order being issued against you and prohibiting any further contact with the subject.
Admissibility of Evidence
You could jeopardize your chances in court. Any information you or an associate obtains might not only be useless but can result in it being used against your self-interests. In most cases judges will dismiss any evidence that is provided by you, a friend or someone directly related to you. The judge will hold a lot more weight to any evidence that is gathered by a reputable, non-biased, experienced, licensed private investigator. A private investigator is an impartial party. When conducted properly, an investigation is a record of what actually occurred or was revealed and that information can be used during subsequent litigation.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Certified Checks, Cashiers Checks, Money Orders, Personal Checks, Wire Transfers, and Cash. We also accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Can you obtain someone's driving record for me?
An individual’s driving record is protected under privacy laws. Although we do have authorized access to DMV databases we may only access these records for legitimate, verified purposes. For example, if an individual applies for a job that requires a background investigation or due diligence check, the prospective employee must sign a release form and present it to the employer. This form will then be provided to us as evidence that the request is legitimate and meets local, state, and Federal requirements. We do not perform these services for the general public.
What if the subject of the investigation leaves the state or country?
Most states in the US have reciprocal agreements allowing private investigators to follow individuals in another state as long as the case originated in the investigator's home state. When the subject of the investigation leaves the state we have the ability to handle no matter no matter where the subject travels to throughout the world.
Can I tape conversations? Can you tap my phone?
It depends on the state as it is legal to tape conversations in some states, it is illegal in others, for example in New York State, it is legal, as long as one party to the conversation has knowledge that the phone call is being recorded. However, in every state it is illegal to tap a phone or intercept a conversation between two other people when you are not a party to that conversation. The exception to this rule is court ordered wiretaps, signed by a judge.
I think someone is listening to my calls or taping me, can you help?
Yes, in cases of this nature, you should consider a TSCM, Technical Surveillance Counter Measure, “bug” sweep, be conducted in your come, car and office, depending on where you may discuss private information.
I am concerned that someone will harm my family or me; do you offer any type of personal protection service?
MSA Investigations offers experienced, unarmed and armed Personal Protection Specialists (bodyguards) to protect you and your loved ones.
What types of equipment do you use during your investigations?
MSA Investigations invests thousands of dollars each year to maintain an up to date level for all of our training, equipment, databases and other resources, to provide you with the best service possible. MSA Investigations is fully prepared for any situation with the state of the art equipment needed for your case.
Does your company use GPS trackers?
Yes, we routinely use GPS technology in our work. We usually recommend the Live Tracking devices that report the vehicles position ever few minutes. You can ever see the position on a map online. GPS Tracking is often used in an investigation involving moving rather than static surveillance. Learn more - GPS Tracking, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Is evidence obtained during your investigations admissible in court?
Yes, MSA Investigations will build your case based on legitimate, courtroom worthy evidence and testimony. We are also available to provide expert testimony service in a number of investigative fields.
We have an employee that we believe is stealing from the company? Can you help us?
Yes we can. MSA Investigations has performed many internal investigations for companies, including investigations of employee theft. We will consider an array of different techniques to uncover such crimes, including the use of one or more undercover investigators to work within the company and observe and report any illegal or unsafe conditions that might exist.
Can MSA Investigations serve as a process server?
Yes, MSA Investigations is a licensed process server and we specialize in people that are difficult to locate and serve.
Can you help us recover our runaway teenager?
Yes, we have recovered runaway teenagers before. We can also locate other missing person(s) that you wish to locate.
Can a Private Investigator carry a Firearm?
Yes, a Private Investigator may carry a firearm if he possesses the proper firearms permit issued by the appropriate agency (typically law enforcement) or is an active duty police officer in good standing.
Do Private Investigators have Police Powers?
No, a Private Investigator has no law enforcement authority even if they have been hired by law enforcement to perform an investigation. A Private Investigator is an ordinary citizen and with a few very minor exceptions has no more powers than an average citizen.
Can Private Investigators represent themselves as government official?
No, a Private Investigator may not present himself or herself as anyone other than a Private Investigator. The law prohibits the use of any title, uniform, badge or insignia, identification card or any statement, which gives the impression that they are connected with any federal, state or local government agency.
Do Private Investigators have access to government records?
Having a private investigator’s license does allow you access to several paid proprietary databases that are not available to the general public.
Can a Private Investigator enter private property without an owner's consent?
No, a Private Investigator may not enter any private building without the owner's consent.
Can your firm obtain peoples telephone and cellular phone records without them knowing about it?
Our firm does not acquire, handle, sell, or provide, in any capacity, any personal or business phone records to any individuals or entities. Although this practice was widely used by investigators over the years, it is now illegal. Any such records should be obtained through the normal process of legal discovery.