So you want to hire a private eye?

Hello all,

Is anyone familiar with hiring a private investigator?

Without going into detail, I would like to
have a photograph of someone in another state.
No, this is not for a crime, about a crime or related
in any way with illegal activity. Yes, I would prefer the
photo to be a head shot. LOL.

I'm not sure how much this would cost or if it can even
be done. This person is of no significant stature in society,
just an average person.

Any tidbits of advice?

Many thanks!

What state ?

New York. Upstate.

:-)

Sorry, I'm nowhere near there., not that I am a p.i. but used to do skip tracing. If you know where the person lives or works then it shouldn't cost you that much. Finding someone can be quite expensive. If your going to have to find someone or if trying to prove residency you can sometimes do that yourself and it will save you money before hiring a p.i.

Ah. Thank you. I've invested years and years and have all the
information. Name, address, kids' names, spouse's name, the works.

I just need someone willing to take a picture.

If I was to want to do this, here's what I'd do. I'd get on the phone and call either a lawyer or a freelance court reporter firm in the target city, and just casually visit with them about who they know in the p.i. industry in their area. Because they take depositions of these investigators fairly frequently, they would be able to give you an objective opinion as to which one might work out best for you.

Another approach would be to seek out a p.i. in your own town and go and sit and talk with him/her, and then pay that person a reasonable fee to seek out the right person in N.Y. to do the job.

Brought back some memories...stold someone's trash one night after they put it out for the trash truck..amazing what you can find out about someone by their trash. No,I wasn't stealing someone's id!

Bloom, too funny. Reminds me of the time my cousin and
I used to have major crushes on all the high school cuties.
We once fought over a discarded soda because a certain
pair of HIS lips had touched the straw.

LOL

Grazier, thank you so much for the advice! :-)

Oh, or like putting on make-up to watch the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show ...dumb. I guess that just about tells how old Iam!

Edited out.

This message was edited Dec 2, 2006 1:44 AM

Oh My!! Didn't know anyone else put on makeup to watch the Beatles! I did it for Elvis, too!!!

I guess we were both pretty weird kids! Or was it just an excuse to put on make-up? I'm sure some of the younger ones out there are saying " who was Ed Sullivan?"

Maybe it was an excuse for make up, hadn't thought of that. And you are right...most won't remember Ed Sullivan. What about Your Hit Parade, one of the singers was Snooky Lansen maybe? Funny how one thought leads to another!

Snooky was the best. He's actually the only one from that show that I remember,

here's a blast down memory lane for you...do you remember Eddie Cantor

I had a terrific crush on Robert Mitchum in those days too.

I do remember Eddie Cantor, but don't remember that he was one of my favorites. There was a blond that sang on the Hit Parade, maybe Dorothy something. Yep, Robert Mitchum was right up there on the top of my list.

we're dating ourselves, but whose counting (years)

Dorothy Collins
Snooky Lanson
Gisele Mackenzie
Russell Arms
Are the ones,I can remmeber.

cc, wonderful memories. maybe we should make a memory lane thread, rather than hijacking this one.

yes,sounds good to me.

ok, here goes. now to fins the right forum for it. i'll check and post it here when it's begun.

http://davesgarden.com/place/t/675161/ WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE THREAD

OOOPS...wrong thread

This message was edited Dec 3, 2006 2:08 PM

lilyhostaky, come to the new thread

so sorry wuvie for taking over your thread.

Upstate New York is a pretty big place. I live at the west end of it, but I doubt I'd have enough nerve to take a stranger's picture. Sorry.

No imagination? You're on a scavenger hunt, they look so much like someone you know in Montana, catch them getting out of their car , click & run,........endless possiblilities there.

It's not so much 'imagination' that I lack. It's that I'm so honest that I'd probably spit out all the details of who I am and why I'm doing it. My ability to lie is about nil.

Hhhhhmmmmmmm well I guess I'd go thru the forum list for ppl who may live in the upstate area. Then I'd scan thru that list of names and see if there is anyone in there who has shown an adventurous spirit and has access to a digital cam. Then I'd pass on the info to them and see if they are interested in doing me a favor.... a lot cheaper than a private investigator and you KNOW we gardeners are bored in winter time...lol.

I mean it's just a pic right. I would think someone could very casually get a pic while they were out taking pics of other "scenery"

~Julie =0)

I edited my previous post as I felt it was no business of mine, having thought about it it's still not my business but I will say if I were the person concerned I'd be seriously worried, angry and downright frightened that someone would search for information about me and my family let alone commission someone to take a photo of me without my knowledge. Then again I am aware that there could be a cultural difference that I'm unaware of here, I was surprised to be requested to produce a passport or photo driving licence practically every checkout in the US, something that I'm not used to although it might have been because I was clearly not a US citizen and in some cases was accused of not being a British citizen too.

I don't know your reasons and I'm not going to ask for them but if you can't ask for the photo directly, is it really a safe thing for you or this other person? Sorry for being a wet blanket, just a concerned bystander :)

Hello Baa,

I wondered why you edited your original post. :-)

I don't mind sharing my reasons at all, as I mean the person no harm
whatsoever. It would be similiar to looking at a yearbook, a newspaper
photograph, etc. I merely wish to see this person for reference. Physical
traits, actually. And I can't do that long distance.

If I were in New York, I would simply knock on the door, and when
they answered, I would probably act like I had the wrong address, then
never bother them ever again. I don't want this person bothered at all.

:-)

now that almost sound like an adopted child looking for a biological parent.

or maybe a long lost lover who . . . fill in the blanks

WUVIE

I didn't think it would be for a sinister reason :) I just know how I would feel were it me, even for a benign reason. I suppose I just don't want you to be exposed to any trouble, like I say it's none of my business.

Things are not always as they seem. I knew someone who went to welfare and told them her husband left her. The whole five years he was living with her & supporting the family. Well guess what, the state came after him for 5 years worth of child support. The kicker was, they waited 9 1/2 years to do this and wanted intrest . My friend and I spent months digging up everything from hospital records, school records, you name it. The state wouldn't even give an address of where the checks were being sent. All they would say is pay it or appeal it in court. By the time I got done investigating her we had three boxes of paper. Did he win in court..Yes! I'm not a p.i. but pretty good at getting the scoop. Would I normally snoop into someone's personal life, no, if there is a reason, yes.

i live in the mid hudson valley in upstate new york. where does this person you want photographed live.??

I have a friend that is a P.I. but I'm not sure if he would be willing to go to NY to take a photo unless he would be compensated for his time and expenses. I can ask him if you would like for me to.

Jesse

Wish I lived in upstate NY I'd do it in a heartbeat for you...I never got to meet my estranged Grandfather and while I knew where he lived, name etc I really had no real intrest in meeting him other than to just see him...if that makes any sense. Just as a curiosity to know what he looked like, since I take after that side of the family. It would have been neat if I could have had someone who lived in Ocala snap a photo of him for me without me going through the hassle of having to meet with him.

Update. Found a p.i. in New York who will do this. I'll have
to toss it around, not exactly cheap, but a do-able option.

Many thanks, everyone!

KM

That is great that you found someone that can help you out who lives in NY. I hope you get what you have been looking for.

Jesse

If this person went to high school or college that you know of, you can probably track down a copy of their yearbook.

I can't help wondering if it's a long lost love - I'd be curious myself.