INSURANCE CLAIM SERVICES

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veillance conducted on weekdays would fail to detect a claimant's evening employment or weekend bowling and golf activities.  We strongly suggest that in most cases surveillance only be considered when neighborhood inquiries indicate relevant activity on the part of the claimant is occurring--and then gear the surveillance for the optimal days and time periods.  While some investigative firms recommend follow up surveillance in every neighborhood investigation report they submit to clients, we only make this recommendation on those few occasions where such follow up appears warranted.

Retiree and Survivor Updates:
We service clients with multiple claimants in this category, where brief updates occur annually or semiannually on a diaried basis.  We generally handle these cases in an open manner and by spending some effort on efficient scheduling, these cases are handled exceptionally inexpensively.

Data Base Searches:
While we believe that in 1986 our investigative data base search services were the first in Michigan, today most every investigator is on line with one information brokerage or another.  Generally, all these brokers provide the same information.  Our focus, however, remains on staying up to date with the laws relating to access that seem to change almost daily.  Many information brokers are less than circumspect in advising their clients when they may be unwittingly violating the law.  Ours, on the other hand, provides ongoing training and assistance so it is next to impossible to inadvertently violate new laws or rulings.  Additionally we realize that data bases contain many errors and the information is of little value until confirmed in a traditional manner.  Information on our data base search services in posted on this Web Site under that heading.

Flat Rate Services:
We prefer to work on an hourly basis, but offer a variety of flat rate services, as well as the innovative concept we call The Best Flat Rate^SM.  This concept is covered under the billing options on a following page.

Firearms Policy:
Unlike some investigators, we do not carry firearms on routine insurance claim investigation work.

Our Insurance:
Surprisingly, insurance company clients seldom ask contract investigators about their liability or workers compensation insurance.  Most Michigan investigative agencies are uninsured.  We are fully insured for the protection of our clients as well as our own protection and detailed information on our coverage can be found at the Basic Company Information section of this Web Site.

Obtaining Assignments:
Routine claims work from insurance companies is often received by mail, by fax, by phone or by E-mail.  Our preference, however, is to stop by the client's office and review the relevant file.  In many cases, particularly in workers' compensation matters, our clients will assemble several files and we will spend a few hours obtaining all the details.  This is generally more convenient for the client and gives us more to work with.

Hourly Charges, Plus Expense with a Limit on Maximum Charges:
We prefer billing for claims-related services to be handled on an hourly basis.  In these cases the client stipulates a maximum that can be charged without further authorization.  Thus, if exceptional leads are de