FAQs
Q: Are Private Investigators Licenced in Ontario?
A. Yes, ALL Private Investigators in Ontario MUST be Licenced. When hiring Private Investigators make sure they are Licenced. cs2i is a Licenced Private Investigative Agency.
Q: My Private Investigator says Licencing is optional?
A. No, Licencing is a MUST. There are no options. All Private Investigators operating in Ontario MUST be Licenced. You should stop working with this individual and the agency as you are not protected as a consumer.
Q: Do all Private Investigators charge the same fee?
A.No, Private Investigators charge different service fees based on their level of education, expertise and geographic location among other reasons. Do your research and find the right private investigative agency for your matter. Remember, you do not want to compromise the quality of service by just looking at the price. At cs2i our prices are fair without compromising quality.
Q: “My friend so and so paid $….., so why am I paying $….!”
A. Your friend's case is clearly different than your case. And no, you do not know the circumstances of your friend's case, you just know what your friend told you. Each case is different and each agency pricing is different based on the expertise, location and the case. You have to research and find the right agency for your case. Do not approach agencies with the attitude of "...my friend paid such and such so why am I paying such and such...." remember private investigative agencies also have bills to pay, salaries to issue and businesses to maintain. As agencies our prices are based on the cost of our services to you the consumer.
Q: Do you offer Pro bono Services?
A.Yes, cs2i does offer pro bono services depending on the case and the financial circumstances of the Client. We also offer services at reduced rates for certain cases depending on the financial circumstances of the Client. Call us to discuss whether your case qualifies. We will need to meet with the Client and get a full disclosure of all information to establish whether the case warrants pro bono work. Contact us Telephone: 416-746-2724
Q: My Private Investigator is badmouthing other agencies. It is embarrassing and uncomfortable.
A. We apologize for your negative experience. Rest assured that Licenced Private Investigators in Ontario are trained to deal with traditional private investigative needs. However, there are clear in the level of education, expertise, skill sets, professional etiquette and moral standards among Private Investigators operating in Ontario. Certain agencies have more expertise in certain areas than others. Do your research and find the right agency for your investigative needs. We will be glad to speak with you should you have any questions. Call us at Telephone: 416-746-2724
Q: My Private Investigator said he/she can access all types of personal information, share them and disclose them without consent.
A. No. All Private Investigative Agencies MUST abide by all Canadian Privacy Laws such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) just like any other organization. PIPEDA governs how organizations collect, use and disclose clients personal information obtained during an investigation/dealings. Think of it this way, would you like YOUR personal information sold, shared or posted without your consent? You should seriously consider finding another Private Investigator.
Q: Who are better investigators – Females, Males, Non-Binary...?
A. As a paying Client when looking for a Private Investigator you should look at the investigator's level of education, expertise and your rapport with him/her/them/Zir... You should look at the professional fit. You need the best person for your particular investigative needs. We should look at important factors such as level of education, years of experience, type of experience, attitude.. but most importantly rapport. If you cannot stand your own Investigator for your own personal reasons your communication is already gone downhill together with the investigation. We highly encourage Clients to contact other agencies in order to find the right agency for their case. We ask Clients to be respectful of Investigative agencies time and other work commitments. Be honest and ask the questions respectfully. Let them know you are shopping around for the right investigator for your case. Remember we are all colleagues in the Investigative industry whose priority is to help you the Clients with your investigative needs.
Q: Are Private Investigators the Police?
A . No, Private Investigators are Independent Licenced Investigators. We are not the Police. If you need the Police you can contact the Police in your jurisdiction or call 9-1-1 in case of emergency. While some Private investigators are retired police it does not mean that;
(1) all investigators have policing background
(2) Being an ex-police does not mean they can misrepresent as current police, as this is illegal, immoral, unethical, and must be reported,
(3) being an ex-police officer does not necessarily mean that the individual is a better Private investigator, or has special access to policing records. If a Private investigator tells you that they used to be a police officer, and have special policing privileges that allows them to access private police records you have a duty to report them. As no one should have access to private and confidential policing records IF an individual is no longer serving as current police officer. Private Investigators are NOT the police.
Q: Can you install GPS Devices on others' properties? NO
The installation of GPS Tracking Devices in and on others' property(ies ) is illegal.
This FAQ is as a result of the countless calls we have received and continue to receive from various individuals demanding the installation of GPS in and on others’ properties. What is disturbing is that when we refuse and explain that it is; illegal, unethical and immoral to install GPS devices on others’ properties these individuals respond with “why?” According to them “other” Licenced Agencies in Ontario are doing it, or have done it for them in the past!
It is illegal to install GPS devices in others’ properties in Canada under the Criminal Code of Canada. Private Investigators and Security Guards have absolutely no right to install any GPS devices on others’ properties. Think of it this way Sworn Police Officers require a Judge issued Warrant to install any GPS devices in vehicles etc... Private Investigators and Security Guards do not have the same powers as Sworn presently employed Police Officers. We are NOT the Police Officer(s) with a Warrant. We have no legal right to install any GPS Devices in or on others’ properties.
The installation of GPS devices opens a lot of legal, ethical and moral liabilities for a Licenced agencies. So, what could potentially happen to agencies that are found to have illegally installed GPS? There is the issue of Criminal liability, being sued civilly, issues with your insurance company, and potentially jeopardizing your licencing renewal through the Ministry due to breach of regulations. It is not worth it. Please do not do it!
We are hereby asking all Licenced Agencies in Ontario to completely refrain from installing any GPS or listening devices in or on others’ properties. It is illegal. It is immoral. It is unethical. As trained Professional Investigators - we can offer Clients stellar surveillance and other investigative alternatives. We must not break the law and open ourselves and our agencies to serious legal liabilities and ruin the reputation of all Professional Private Investigators.
Q: Are GPS Jammers legal in Canada?
A. It is illegal to use GPS Jammers in Canada.
Q: Is there an association for Private Investigators?
A. Yes, there are some that you can google and research on your own to see if they are a good fit for you as an individual, or as an agency.
It is not a legal condition of any binding Ontario licencing laws to belong to a PRIVATE Association as an investigator or investigative firm/agency.
We received an anonymous question below that we wanted to answer here in the FAQ.
Q: I was hired by an agency to follow, call, spy.. on another agency, what should I do?
A. You should not engage in such unethical actions. Any private investigative agency that hires someone to follow another agency in-person, online, steal the intellectual property of another agency, misrepresent themselves as clients in order to find out another agency's work, is unethical, incompetent, and must not be in the industry. If any agency is resorting to such actions it means they are incompetent, and unqualified to be in the Private Investigative industry. There could also be issues of harassment.
As an Investigator you have your name, reputation, professionalism and must decline such work as well as immediately report to the governing ministry bodies. You can report anonymously to protect yourself from any personal reprisals.
A. Yes, ALL Private Investigators in Ontario MUST be Licenced. When hiring Private Investigators make sure they are Licenced. cs2i is a Licenced Private Investigative Agency.
Q: My Private Investigator says Licencing is optional?
A. No, Licencing is a MUST. There are no options. All Private Investigators operating in Ontario MUST be Licenced. You should stop working with this individual and the agency as you are not protected as a consumer.
Q: Do all Private Investigators charge the same fee?
A.No, Private Investigators charge different service fees based on their level of education, expertise and geographic location among other reasons. Do your research and find the right private investigative agency for your matter. Remember, you do not want to compromise the quality of service by just looking at the price. At cs2i our prices are fair without compromising quality.
Q: “My friend so and so paid $….., so why am I paying $….!”
A. Your friend's case is clearly different than your case. And no, you do not know the circumstances of your friend's case, you just know what your friend told you. Each case is different and each agency pricing is different based on the expertise, location and the case. You have to research and find the right agency for your case. Do not approach agencies with the attitude of "...my friend paid such and such so why am I paying such and such...." remember private investigative agencies also have bills to pay, salaries to issue and businesses to maintain. As agencies our prices are based on the cost of our services to you the consumer.
Q: Do you offer Pro bono Services?
A.Yes, cs2i does offer pro bono services depending on the case and the financial circumstances of the Client. We also offer services at reduced rates for certain cases depending on the financial circumstances of the Client. Call us to discuss whether your case qualifies. We will need to meet with the Client and get a full disclosure of all information to establish whether the case warrants pro bono work. Contact us Telephone: 416-746-2724
Q: My Private Investigator is badmouthing other agencies. It is embarrassing and uncomfortable.
A. We apologize for your negative experience. Rest assured that Licenced Private Investigators in Ontario are trained to deal with traditional private investigative needs. However, there are clear in the level of education, expertise, skill sets, professional etiquette and moral standards among Private Investigators operating in Ontario. Certain agencies have more expertise in certain areas than others. Do your research and find the right agency for your investigative needs. We will be glad to speak with you should you have any questions. Call us at Telephone: 416-746-2724
Q: My Private Investigator said he/she can access all types of personal information, share them and disclose them without consent.
A. No. All Private Investigative Agencies MUST abide by all Canadian Privacy Laws such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) just like any other organization. PIPEDA governs how organizations collect, use and disclose clients personal information obtained during an investigation/dealings. Think of it this way, would you like YOUR personal information sold, shared or posted without your consent? You should seriously consider finding another Private Investigator.
Q: Who are better investigators – Females, Males, Non-Binary...?
A. As a paying Client when looking for a Private Investigator you should look at the investigator's level of education, expertise and your rapport with him/her/them/Zir... You should look at the professional fit. You need the best person for your particular investigative needs. We should look at important factors such as level of education, years of experience, type of experience, attitude.. but most importantly rapport. If you cannot stand your own Investigator for your own personal reasons your communication is already gone downhill together with the investigation. We highly encourage Clients to contact other agencies in order to find the right agency for their case. We ask Clients to be respectful of Investigative agencies time and other work commitments. Be honest and ask the questions respectfully. Let them know you are shopping around for the right investigator for your case. Remember we are all colleagues in the Investigative industry whose priority is to help you the Clients with your investigative needs.
Q: Are Private Investigators the Police?
A . No, Private Investigators are Independent Licenced Investigators. We are not the Police. If you need the Police you can contact the Police in your jurisdiction or call 9-1-1 in case of emergency. While some Private investigators are retired police it does not mean that;
(1) all investigators have policing background
(2) Being an ex-police does not mean they can misrepresent as current police, as this is illegal, immoral, unethical, and must be reported,
(3) being an ex-police officer does not necessarily mean that the individual is a better Private investigator, or has special access to policing records. If a Private investigator tells you that they used to be a police officer, and have special policing privileges that allows them to access private police records you have a duty to report them. As no one should have access to private and confidential policing records IF an individual is no longer serving as current police officer. Private Investigators are NOT the police.
Q: Can you install GPS Devices on others' properties? NO
The installation of GPS Tracking Devices in and on others' property(ies ) is illegal.
This FAQ is as a result of the countless calls we have received and continue to receive from various individuals demanding the installation of GPS in and on others’ properties. What is disturbing is that when we refuse and explain that it is; illegal, unethical and immoral to install GPS devices on others’ properties these individuals respond with “why?” According to them “other” Licenced Agencies in Ontario are doing it, or have done it for them in the past!
It is illegal to install GPS devices in others’ properties in Canada under the Criminal Code of Canada. Private Investigators and Security Guards have absolutely no right to install any GPS devices on others’ properties. Think of it this way Sworn Police Officers require a Judge issued Warrant to install any GPS devices in vehicles etc... Private Investigators and Security Guards do not have the same powers as Sworn presently employed Police Officers. We are NOT the Police Officer(s) with a Warrant. We have no legal right to install any GPS Devices in or on others’ properties.
The installation of GPS devices opens a lot of legal, ethical and moral liabilities for a Licenced agencies. So, what could potentially happen to agencies that are found to have illegally installed GPS? There is the issue of Criminal liability, being sued civilly, issues with your insurance company, and potentially jeopardizing your licencing renewal through the Ministry due to breach of regulations. It is not worth it. Please do not do it!
We are hereby asking all Licenced Agencies in Ontario to completely refrain from installing any GPS or listening devices in or on others’ properties. It is illegal. It is immoral. It is unethical. As trained Professional Investigators - we can offer Clients stellar surveillance and other investigative alternatives. We must not break the law and open ourselves and our agencies to serious legal liabilities and ruin the reputation of all Professional Private Investigators.
Q: Are GPS Jammers legal in Canada?
A. It is illegal to use GPS Jammers in Canada.
Q: Is there an association for Private Investigators?
A. Yes, there are some that you can google and research on your own to see if they are a good fit for you as an individual, or as an agency.
It is not a legal condition of any binding Ontario licencing laws to belong to a PRIVATE Association as an investigator or investigative firm/agency.
We received an anonymous question below that we wanted to answer here in the FAQ.
Q: I was hired by an agency to follow, call, spy.. on another agency, what should I do?
A. You should not engage in such unethical actions. Any private investigative agency that hires someone to follow another agency in-person, online, steal the intellectual property of another agency, misrepresent themselves as clients in order to find out another agency's work, is unethical, incompetent, and must not be in the industry. If any agency is resorting to such actions it means they are incompetent, and unqualified to be in the Private Investigative industry. There could also be issues of harassment.
As an Investigator you have your name, reputation, professionalism and must decline such work as well as immediately report to the governing ministry bodies. You can report anonymously to protect yourself from any personal reprisals.