However you are comfortable! Email or call is best, and we can discuss your case with you. We will review the details and needs of your case and determine whether we are able to take it, and what the scope of work needed will be. Please be aware that we are not able to take every case.

When the investigator agrees to take your case, a contract will be drawn up detailing the service(s) to be conducted and the specifics of costs and payment. When the contract has been reviewed and signed, the investigator will conduct the investigation, keeping you apprised of the case progress. Investigation cannot begin until the contract is signed and returned to us.

At the end of the investigation, the investigator will provide a detailed report, any evidence collected, receipts, and an invoice for your records.

As much as possible! When emailing or talking directly with the investigator, please include as many details of what you’re seeking as possible. If you need to leave a voicemail message, please provide a brief overview of what you’d like to achieve by hiring a private investigator–e.g., “I think my ex may be violating the terms of our custody agreement and I need evidence” or “We need an investigator for a personal injury case.” Please be sure to provide accurate contact information: your email address and phone number. We’ll follow up to discuss your case in more detail and to get any additional relevant information for your case.

Providing as much information as you have, even if you’re not sure whether it’s relevant, can streamline an investigation, saving time and money. The information provided could save an investigator hours searching for knowledge you already have. No detail should be left out, because it could assist in finding the best course of action and resolution.

The initial consultation with the investigator is free. Communications with Rain City Investigations are confidential. And we will work to make you feel comfortable with requesting and using our services–there is no need to feel uncertain or embarrassed about making an inquiry or providing information that could assist with your case.

The details of a specific case will determine the overall cost. Most cases are charged hourly (this includes travel time), and clients may also be charged the cost of case-related expenses. We will discuss rates and payment as part of your consultation, and details will be included in your contract.

Most cases require a retainer. Any unused portion of the retainer will be refunded to you when your case is closed.

We accept all major credit cards, and credit card payments can be made over the phone or through our website. We use Square for online payment so you can be confident your payment is secure. We also accept checks and cash.

Due diligence. There are no guarantees of specific results in private investigations, unfortunately.

All that can be guaranteed is that your private investigator will exhaust every rational avenue to bring closure to your case.

Example: We can’t guarantee a person will do a specific act while we are watching them. But surveillance may provide additional information about their activities that is relevant and useful to your case.

We do not conduct locate investigations or provide contact information on celebrities and public officials.

We also do not conduct surveillance in stalking cases.

We do not conduct vehicle license plate searches due to Washington state procedure that notifies the vehicle owner when their vehicle plate number is searched–it’s not possible to keep a case confidential due to this.

We are only licensed to conduct investigations in Washington state; we are not able to take cases in other states.

Our primary geographical focus is the Seattle area, including metro Eastside and south King County, and we may decline cases that are outside this range. However, depending on the details of your case, we may in some circumstances be able to take cases outside these areas.

We reserve the right to decline cases that are outside our scope. We will endeavor to provide referral or resources if we are not able to take a specific case.