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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

inspired by another thread. aibu to think I could become a private detective?

18 replies

acupofcocoainbed · 10/03/2018 20:21

Also inspired by watching the beautiful strike and robin..
I could easily follow people, watch them take photos. Not too sure about the tech side of things and don't know the legalities of hacking messages and what not.
Please tell me what I'm missing and why this might be a ridiculous idea.

OP posts:
BrazzleDazzleDay · 10/03/2018 20:42

Not ridiculous at all. I would love it, and be bloody brilliant at it.

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 10/03/2018 20:45

Legally you can take a photo of anyone or anything in a public space so go for it.

frasier · 10/03/2018 20:45

I would be good at the online stuff. I personally wouldn't like it as a job because the hours are unpredictable! But, if you think you'd like it, go for it! Take a course. Is there a course?

frasier · 10/03/2018 20:49

There's a course!

www.pi-academy.com/how-to-become-an-investigator/

EinsteinsArousedSausagesHCB · 10/03/2018 20:50

DH has had it in his head for a while now that we should set up a PI business. On further discussion it appears I'd be expected to do most of the leg work. Hmm Nah, fuck that!

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 10/03/2018 20:54

You take a course, if I recall. I have a chum who has looked into it and I think I recall him saying that. You should be able to find out how if you look in to it. X

Original poster
acupofcocoainbed · 10/03/2018 21:00

Thanks for the positivity I wasn't expecting that. The course is 800 quid! Not sure if legally I could offer services without a licence but I will definitely be looking into it.
Maybe start small and get the money to do the course. I'm thinking maybe a honey trap type thing could be good or is that crazy? I don't want to be in any danger.
First things first pay as you go sim and new email address.

OP posts:
HughLauriesStubble · 10/03/2018 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
acupofcocoainbed · 10/03/2018 21:04

Sitting around wouldn't bother me at all, I'm on my feet all day at my job which I would have to keep until I was established anyway.

OP posts:
64BooLane · 10/03/2018 21:18

Can I be your invaluable back office person, looking background stuff up on t’internet and updating you by message while you’re out in the field doing the dangerous bit?

I will also do some filing and make wisecracks when you stop by base.

frasier · 10/03/2018 21:19

nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/private-investigator

I wonder if there is another field - such as road traffic accident investigator - that you could get into, paid, that would give you experience in one of the aspects but pay you so you could save for the course...

AaarmadillosWhy · 10/03/2018 21:27

It's not what it looks like at all.

It's not just about "sitting around all day". It's (for example) sitting in a cold car in the winter the dark for hours and hours until someone leaves a building which might not happen anyway. This time cost has to be built into a reasonable fee.

If you want to go for it go for it, but be prepared for a lot of dull and poorly paid grunt work.

AaarmadillosWhy · 10/03/2018 21:28

And it's not like you can "do anything" like read a book or watch stuff on your ipad because you have to keep watching. Dull dull mind numbing dull.

Original poster
acupofcocoainbed · 10/03/2018 21:40

I'm already doing poorly paid grunt work for someone else's business with no hope of progression while my dc is still young enough to need me.
I'm thinking I could work this around my current job.
Some jobs might be hours and hours of waiting but if you think your husband is cheating and you know what time he leaves work or has lunch it would only be a couple of hours?
Maybe I'm missing something..

OP posts:
AaarmadillosWhy · 11/03/2018 00:03

^but if you think your husband is cheating and you know what time he leaves work or has lunch it would only be a couple of hours?
Maybe I'm missing something..^

So the husband leaves work and you follow him to a bar where he meets friends. He's there from 6.30 until 11pm. At 11pm he leaves and goes to a private house. Your job is to get photographic evidence and when he goes in you have just got there too and don't see who opens the door. You will need to wait til he leaves. His wife is away hence your tip off. This is a one off because his wife is away and she tells you this is the prime opportunity.

He could have a shag and leave in 30 mins. He could stay for 2 hours. 3 hours. He could stay all night and leave at 9am.

I think you are missing something.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 11/03/2018 00:05

Apparently the successful PIs are involved in fraud, now, rather than divorce etc. There are so many things a person can do for themselves (trackers, etc) that they don't need to pay for a PI to follow someone around.

blastomama · 11/03/2018 00:27

I think you're missing that you don't know anything about the job and don't have the skills to do it?

Cavender · 11/03/2018 01:23

I think it would be really depressing. Following people about trying to catch them in immoral or illegal activity.

Surely you’d develop a very poor view of your fellow man.

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