Neuhaus Private Investigations – FAQ

No. Computer hacking, wiretapping, or installing GPS trackers without the vehicle owner's consent are illegal in Switzerland. We only use legal methods: physical surveillance, open-source intelligence (OSINT) research, and field investigations.

Each case is unique. The budget depends on the human and technical resources deployed (number of agents, night/weekend hours, travel). During our initial consultation (which is confidential and non-binding), we assess your needs and provide you with a precise and transparent quote.

Discretion is fundamental to our profession. Our agents are trained in the most advanced surveillance and tailing techniques to guarantee complete anonymity. The person under investigation will not be informed of our actions.

Absolutely. At the end of our assignment, we will provide you with a detailed, comprehensive, and time-stamped report. Conducted in accordance with the law, our findings and photographs (taken from public property) are admissible as evidence in Swiss civil, criminal, and labor courts.

Yes, the profession of private investigator is legal and regulated. We operate in strict compliance with Swiss law, particularly with regard to data protection (LPD) and protection of privacy (Art. 28 CC). Our investigations must always comply with the principle of proportionality and be justified by an overriding interest.

At Neuhaus Private Investigations, we consider an investigation to be successful if the client is satisfied. That is why we believe it is important for a client and a private investigator to communicate very clearly about how the investigation will be conducted. Neuhaus Private Investigations is able to provide its customers with information that helps them in the vast majority of cases. Even when there is no immediate solution available, we may be able to uncover useful information.

The services of a private investigator can be invaluable in a wide variety of situations. At Neuhaus Private Investigations, we regularly take on cases from individuals, businesses, insurance companies, and lawyers. Here are a few examples of the types of clients who contact us every day for investigations.

• For civil investigations, clients hire a private investigator to conduct investigations related to conflicts between individuals, child custody, locating individuals, and any issues related to family, neighbors, work, etc.
• In insurance investigations, a private investigator is hired to verify the facts of a claim or insurance fraud, particularly against insurance fraud.
• Lawyers hire private detectives to work on behalf of their clients, usually in civil and criminal investigations.
  The public and private sectors hire private investigators for a variety of investigations.
• Investigators are also called upon for investigations within companies. This includes investigating wrongdoing by an individual within a company, internal theft, business background checks, workers' compensation claims, unjustified absences, unfair competition, etc.

If you decide to hire our private detective agency, you can rest assured that our investigators will respond quickly because they are well trained, proficient in the use of IT tools, and knowledgeable about the field. You will also receive advice on the most effective ways to get the answers you need. We work with state-of-the-art equipment.

Absolutely. Our private investigators, who operate throughout Switzerland (Lausanne, Geneva, Neuchâtel, Yverdon-les-Bains), are accustomed to working with lawyers when necessary.

The information we collect during an investigation is strictly confidential. However, you may give your consent to disclose the details to the authorities or submit them to the court if you wish.

Hiring a private investigator should not be a rash decision. During your initial contact, you should ask them several questions to find out more about everything that is important to you, including their planned strategy and the resources they will use. Make sure they can prove they have the appropriate training. Ask for an estimate of the total cost of the service. Also inquire about the billing method and ask the investigator to provide you with a detailed invoice for the services provided.

Absolutely, you can call us at +41 79 796 48 20 or contact us via our contact form. Our private detective agency will provide you with a free, no-obligation quote.

Illegal entry
The law does not allow private investigators to illegally enter private property while conducting their work. This means that private investigators are not allowed to break locks, use forced entry, or use other illegal methods to enter a residence, office, or commercial establishment.

Illegal video recording
Private investigators are prohibited from filming the subject inside private property through an open window, for example.

Hacking
An investigator cannot hack into someone's social media or email accounts. As a result, a private investigator cannot obtain various types of protected information such as the location of bank accounts, financial records, and telephone records.

Power of arrest
No power of arrest. Private detectives are not authorized to make arrests.

Private detective training is not regulated in Switzerland. In French-speaking Switzerland, only the cantons of Geneva, Neuchâtel, and Jura issue licenses. Private detective agencies and experienced former police officers offer their staff internal, on-the-job training courses of varying lengths and content. However, since 2019, federally recognized training for surveillance specialists has been organized by accredited agencies (LPGA-OPGA provisions). To be a private detective, candidates must be honest, persistent, and resilient, inspire confidence (to encourage people to confide in them), have good interpersonal skills, and be extremely discreet. Finally, keen observation skills and logical thinking are essential for solving cases.

The cost of a private investigator varies considerably depending on several factors, such as the investigative services you need, the time required to complete the case, and much more. Like a lawyer or any other specialized professional, the price of a private investigator is based on their experience and skill level. The complexity of investigative services varies considerably, as do their costs. For example, a search for missing person in Switzerland It could be as simple as a Google search. Or it could take months, even years.

Private detectives, also known as private investigators, are professionals recruited to specialize in finding information, facts, property, and people. They are trained in surveillance and conduct all kinds of investigations (civil, criminal, social, private, etc.). Private investigators are not police officers and cannot use coercive measures. Some of them have police training. Private detectives must have a keen eye, excellent observation skills, and an analytical mind. They use a number of surveillance and investigation techniques to gather accurate information about the subject or situation in question.

Private detectives conduct investigations in various fields (criminal, civil, social, missing persons, etc.). They generally perform the following tasks:

• Conduct various types of investigations and research, using computerized or non-computerized tools.
• Carry out surveillance (search for, follow, or monitor a person without that person's knowledge).
• Check a person's schedule, movements, habits, contacts, etc.
  Establish facts by gathering incriminating or exonerating evidence to be presented in court if necessary, with the aim of seeking the truth.
• Search for people in Switzerland or abroad.