When to Hire a Private Investigator?
When Should You Hire a Private Investigator? Hiring a private investigator (PI) can be a crucial step in obtaining information, uncovering fraud, or resolving personal and business matters. However, knowing
If you’re searching for a private investigator in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow – or anywhere in Scotland – you’ll find genuine agencies like Dion International, Pegasus Investigations, Boothroyd Associates, Clinton McCraig, and Grant & McMurtrie. These firms have a legitimate Scottish footprint. But don’t be fooled by the dozens of others—many masquerade as local while operating out of England and Wales with bogus details, from fictional offices to made-up manpower. We’ve named most of them here—so you don’t waste your time or money.
Pegasus Investigations Ltd – 20+ years, active in Edinburgh.
Boothroyd Associates – 45+ years, with an office in Glasgow
Clinton McCraig – Genuine operators serving the Scottish market, no flash, just honest service.
Grant & McMurtrie – Full-time Scottish investigation team
These firms are fully rooted in Scotland, with actual teams and infrastructure on the ground.
Bond Rees – Edinburgh façade, Wales central operations
Covert LTD – Claims “Edinburgh PI”; likely virtual front
Edinburgh Private Detectives – Generic EH3 virtual office; no local team
Global Investigations – Lists Glasgow/Edinburgh but in London
PEL Consultancy Services – Edinburgh page, but based in London
Insignis Investigations – Presents as Scottish but run remotely
I-Spy Detective Agency – Another company related to Bond Rees, but rebranded to fraudulent activities
Nationwide Investigations Group – Uses Edinburgh but operate out of London
Virtual Edinburgh Investigations – Transparent virtual-office presence
Private Eye Scotland – Virtual-only storefront and connected to a company in London
Principal Investigations – UK with no evidence of Scottish staff
Private Investigations UK / UK Private Investigators / UK PI Solutions – Networked brands, not Scotland-based
Intime Investigations – Digital-only presence, no local operatives in Scotland
Vilcol Investigations – Uses Edinburgh branding but based in Surrey
Rosewood Investigations – London HQ, not local to Scotland
Trojan Investigations – Markets in Aberdeen/Edinburgh, but addresses point to England
Bluemoon Investigations – Established firm, but England-based
Impartial Investigations – Virtual presence; not rooted locally
Investigate / Investigate Ltd – Generic UK network with no Scottish staff
Tremark Associates – Global process-serving, no boots-on-ground for Scotland
Anderson Chance – Markets as Scotland-based, but operations are London-centric
Hunter Private Investigators – Generic reach, not based in Scotland
Low Cost Detectives – Budget-focused, not truly local
Edinburgh Private Detectives – Generic name used by multiple virtual-office firms, Glasgow etc
Aggregator platform, not an investigative agency, which shares your case across the whole of the UK to the cheapest unvetted bidder
These setups may look attractive online—but when it comes to execution, you’re relying on outsourced casework to low-cost, remote teams with limited local insight.
Response delays – Cases will be dispatched from south of the border, not Scotland. (Subcontracted to under-qualified staff over open networks) Potentially with your information open across the internet.
Limited local insight – No knowledge of Scottish law, landscape, or courts.
Weak evidence chains – Unverified subcontractors may compromise GDPR or court standards.
Hidden fees – Extra travel/admin costs often tucked into your bill.
Misleading credibility – Virtual addresses manipulate trust signals.
Feature | Dion International | Impostor Agencies |
---|---|---|
HQ & Presence | Actual Edinburgh office and local team | Virtual places operating out of bases not in Scotland |
Staff Credentials | Full-Time Vetted Staff, Ex British Government Agency Backgrounds, training accredited | Unvetted subcontractors who have been contacted through open networks and appointed to conduct your case on the fact that they are the cheapest, not because they can do the job professionally. |
Senior PI Access | Speak with your lead investigator from the start | Routed through call-centres and you will never be in direct contact with the lead investigator on the ground. No trust due to subcontracting your case out and they don’t want client poaching. |
Evidence Integrity | GDPR-compliant, signed, court-quality | Inconsistent or weak standards |
Pricing Transparency | £35–£275/hr + £0.60/mile clarity | Hidden, add-on charges. Likely paying for 2 or more investigators while they send out 1 so they can provide local prices and still make money. |
Deployment Speed | 1–2 hour mobilisation anywhere across Scotland | Delays, London etc-based rollout, but usually passed to unvetted subcontractors over open networks, if they even deploy at all. |
Choose Dion International for real local service, fast results, legal-grade reporting, and complete transparency.
Confirm Companies House registration.
Ask where the investigators are based and deployed from, if Scotland ask about the subcontractors credentials, experience and if you can be put in direct contact with them, if not, please avoid!
Demand the detailed fee schedule (rate + travel).
Verify professional credentials like ex-police or military service.
Ensure evidence chain: GDPR compliance, logs, signed affidavits etc.
Rapid dispatch (within 1–2 hours) across Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Inverness
Full service suite: Covert Surveillance, Digital Forensics, Matrimonial, Corporate, Asset Tracing, Counter-Surveillance, Claims Investigations
Transparent quotes: £35–£275/hr + 60p/mile, no hidden costs
Court-ready documentation, trusted by lawyers, firms, and individuals alike
30-minute, no-obligation call with an Edinburgh senior investigator
Call now: +44 (0) 131 212 5900
Email us: [email protected]
Avoid the impostors—Choose a team with a real local presence, proven expertise, and complete transparency—not just clever marketing.
This information is accurate as of 2025. Please note that the private investigation landscape can change over time. We recommend verifying each company using the vetting guide above. By following these steps, you can avoid misleading operators and make an informed, professional decision when hiring a Scottish private investigator.
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