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Expenses:
Our standard mileage rate for
local work is presently at $.50 per mile for autos and $1.00 per
mile for our surveillance van. When possible, mileage is
always prorated with other cases in the area.
On out of state operations, the use of a mileage free rental auto
often provides the client with substantial savings. In one
case, two investigators used a mileage free auto for their round
trip travel to the site of the inquiries, then utilized it during
the five day long operation. The capped travel time was
comparable to air travel time and the bottom line expense savings to
the client for this single week exceeded $2,000.
Even on overseas travel, we are frequently able to provide
substantial savings to clients by prorating time and expense with
other work or with association or training commitments. For
instance in one case, round trip travel to London's Heathrow Airport
was billed to a client as a flat rate of $500 including all time and
airfare. (Normal time
and expenses were in effect for the balance of the European
operation.)
Lodging is typically in the mid-range Holiday Inn category and meal
costs are kept extremely reasonable, or handled as a per diem
item.
On extended operations where our Mobile Operations Center (MOC) can
be utilized for increased efficiency, we generally work out
estimated charges with the client prior to commencing the
operation. This often proves to be an exceptionally cost
effective method of efficiently handling longer term remote
operations and also proves economical on cases involving short
visits to several smaller communities that lack direct air service.
From time to time, we utilize private aircraft and watercraft, but
here too, costs are usually well below standard charter
prices. The use of private planes has proved particularly
economical in remote areas and when an unusual amount of equipment
is needed for a relatively short operation.
We do not charge for the use of expected equipment, such as video
cameras, portable computers, portable printers, scanners,
computerized video capture devices, et cetera.
Other expenses incurred are usually minor items such as parking
fees, taxis, public transportation, tolls, record copies, long
distance telephone, remote fax, mobile communications charges, visas
and other minor out of pocket costs. Unusual or unexpected
expenses are discussed with the client prior to expenditure.
On sting operations, gray market cases, and other matters involving
exceptionally large expenditures, we usually create a separate
entity funded by the client with an interest free note or loan
deposited in a separate checking account. These funds are never
commingled with the L.P.C. Ltd. account. At the
conclusion of the case the balance of the funds are returned along
with a detailed accounting of the expenditures.
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