|
Expenses:
Our standard mileage rate for local work remains at our 1985 rate of $.25 per mile for autos and $.40 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.
|
|
