Is following someone legal? Absolutely. It is legal to shoot video of someone in any public space too!

Is the Investigator you hiring local? Most companies who offer 800 numbers for their service are not local to Texas. They are subcontracting agencies operating from a call center and will want you to believe that are licensed in Texas.

These companies traditionally are NOT licensed in Texas and will charge higher prices for the Investigative service. They then subcontract to another Investigator in Texas at a lower rate so that they can make their profit. Many of the Investigators that these companies subcontract the service to have expired licenses, are not insured, may have been suspended by the State of Texas for violation of law, or may not have a license at all to do business in Texas. If you do hire Nationwide subcontracting company ask for the name of the Investigator who will be handling the case and get his direct phone number and the name of his company. The Nationwide company should be more than happy to provide you that contact number.

If they DO NOT offer the name and number, continue your shopping for a legitimate company. If by chance they do give you the contact number go ahead and call the Investigator to get his Texas License number and then verify his registration with the Texas Department of Public Safety. If the company does not provide you the Investigator's information they are in violation of the rules and regulations of the Texas Private Investigation Bureau (TPIB) and you can file a complaint by downloading form PB-22. This activity is illegal and is a class A misdemeanor in Texas. You will also not be able to present their work in a court of law for you case.

Alert Investigation & Security Services is local to the DFW Metroplex and our company license number is C-13902, when hiring us for out-of-state work, we follow the appropriate laws of the state where our work is conducted.

Does a company need an investigation license? Yes. According to the laws governing private security and investigation in the State of Texas, a company must have a valid license. This license guarantees that the company has met the training and insurance requirements. If you hire an individual who is not licensed, the information they obtain may not be admitted to a court of law. Alert's license number is C14810.

Can I tap a phone? You may record a conversation as long as you are a party to the conversation.

Can I put hidden camera's in my home? You may put a hidden camera, GPS unit, or recorder in/on any property that you own. Make sure your name is on the title and registration or you will be held liable for an illegal tap.

What is a retainer and why do you require one? A retainer works like a debit account. You give us money to guarantee payment and to initiate a valid contract. We work and deduct the money you have on your account.

Is the information you collect admissible in a court of law? Yes. We will give you the proper documentation, and we will attend a hearing if you request.

Will I get a copy of the video tape and report? Yes.

Will you keep my information? At the conclusion of an investigation we return all photographs and materials to you. We typically only keep a contract on file once a job is completed. This guarantees that your confidentiality is protected.

What do I need to provide you with? At the beginning of an investigation, we recommend that you give us as much information as possible. Try to collect photographs, vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers, potential people the person may come in contact with, etc. The more you can provide us, the better chances we will have at receiving positive results at the lowest price.