What We Cannot Do: Understanding Our Limits

Our Policy: Commitment and Transparency

Our work requires time, effort, and often a financial investment. To ensure thorough analysis and transparent case management, we have structured our operational process into two levels:

1. Preliminary Surface-Level Assessment

The first step involves analyzing the information provided by the client to assess its usefulness and relevance. This includes:

• Verifying the data provided, including its reliability and importance.

• Evaluating the availability and presence of our partners, collaborators, and informants on-site.

• Determining whether the case is potentially viable.

At this stage, we do not yet delve into the investigation itself. Instead, we provide a general overview to understand whether the case can be pursued with reasonable chances of success.

2. In-Depth Preliminary Investigation

If the initial assessment confirms the feasibility of the case, we move to the next phase, which involves:

• Activating our operational resources.

• Conducting preliminary field investigations.

• Making phone calls, contacting informants, and gathering additional data required to plan a targeted intervention.

This stage requires a concrete commitment in terms of time and resources. Therefore, before proceeding, we request a small advance payment.

This advance:

• Covers initial costs.

• Serves as a mutual guarantee: our commitment to invest professional resources and the client’s commitment to proceed seriously and determinedly.

The advance is then deducted from the total investigation cost if the client decides to move forward.

As with other professions – such as architects or business consultants – our work requires skill and preparation even in the preliminary phase. This step is crucial to evaluate whether and how we can be of assistance.

A Real Example: Finding a Person Who Doesn’t Want to Be Found

A common case involves a husband trying to find his wife who has fled to Europe. In many such cases, the person has deliberately chosen not to be located, significantly complicating the situation.

Often, the client provides only fragmented information, such as:

• A copy of a passport (possibly expired or in a foreign language).

• Details of a flight taken 15 months ago.

Why Is This Type of Case Particularly Challenging?

1. The person doesn’t want to be found → This fundamentally changes the nature of the investigation, making it more difficult and costly.

2. The search area is too vast → In European countries, the freedom of movement within the Schengen Area makes narrowing down the search impossible without additional details.

3. Outdated information → A flight from 15 months ago is not a sufficient starting point. In many cases, even the correct transliteration of the person’s name into English is unknown.

4. Insufficient data → Without new leads (such as phone contacts, recent bank transactions, or recorded movements), the chances of success drop dramatically.

5. Living in hiding → If the person resides in Europe as an undocumented individual, the investigation becomes even more complex, especially without a clear starting point.

What Does This Mean for the Client?

Even though technically it’s possible to launch an investigation, starting from zero in such complex cases entails:

• Significant financial investment → Deploying field agents, identifying useful contacts, or obtaining updated documents can result in high costs.

• Extended timelines → Gathering enough information to establish a solid operational basis might take weeks or even months.

• No guaranteed results → Even with the highest level of effort and resources, success cannot be assured in such situations.

European Privacy Laws Add to the Complexity

Strict European privacy regulations, such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), represent an additional challenge for investigations.

These laws severely limit access to personal information, making it extremely difficult to obtain relevant data without the explicit consent of the parties involved.

Even in legitimate situations, such as locating a missing person, we must operate in full compliance with the law to avoid legal sanctions and safeguard our professional credibility.

In many cases, this means crucial information may be inaccessible or require lengthy, complex procedures to be legally obtained.

We believe in complete transparency from the start:

• If we identify low chances of success or high costs outweighing the benefits for the client, we communicate this openly.

• It is then up to the client to decide whether to proceed or not.

While this approach might lead us to decline certain assignments, we are firmly convinced that honesty builds trust, fostering long-term relationships with clients who may return to us in the future.

Building a Relationship Based on Trust

Our goal is not merely to accept assignments or receive payments but to provide a useful, realistic, and transparent service.

Here’s how we achieve this:

• Carefully analyzing each case.

• Clearly communicating limitations and challenges.

• Offering alternative solutions when necessary.

• Informing clients if a case proves too complex or costly relative to its benefits.

We believe that an honest and professional approach is the best way to build trust and establish lasting relationships with our clients.

Every investigation is unique, but with transparency, professionalism, and collaboration, we strive to maximize the chances of success.

👉 If you need advice or wish to discuss a specific case, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be happy to evaluate your needs and propose a clear, realistic solution.