IPIU
Ham Sandywich
Input appreciated.
kitty
"Ham Sandywich" <H...@samiam.com> wrote in message
news:CQsdc.402180$B81.6...@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
> Anyone heard of IPIU? Is it just a scam?
>
> Input appreciated.
>
>
I've heard of it as I am trying to be hired as entry level investigator. I
didnt apply with them , because they wanted money up front--didnt sound
kosher to me. Would surely like to find out how the heck I can get hired !!!
Kitty
Jimbo
>
> Input appreciated.
I've been an unofficial member just bebopping around the forums (Level
1 only; I'm not qualified for the vaunted "Level 4" yet). It's an
interesting concept that serves a purpose and some people may use it
as a valuable resource for finding a career in the PI field. On the
other hand, they make some sweeping generalizations and potentially
unrealistic promises to get you in the door.
The bottom line is that several national and regional firms need
people to do secret shoppers (they call them "Integrity
Investigations") and pay-per-view broadcast investigations (called
"Federal Anti-Piracy Investigations"). Other firms need gophers all
over the country for record searches and reviews, etc.
For a certain amount of cash, you get a training package and other
material. If you pass a test, buy a badge, etc., you can receive
assignments from these firms.
It appears that the pay system actually works through IPIU, so they
get the membership fees, they get a cut of the money on each
transaction and they get to sell gee gaws such as an official IPIU
"badge." You can also get ID cards, buy books from their bookstore,
etc.
On the plus side, someone entering the business wouldn't know that
secret shoppers and pay-per-view spot checks are akin to scut work for
real PIs. I haven't seen the training material, but I'm assuming that
the package is fairly complete, so you've got that.
Also, the forums have a vast amount of information - and sometimes
misinformation - from people involved in the business. I've
contributed a lot of posts as an experienced investigator, as have
quite a few other experienced investigators.
Just the section of the forums regarding the laws for private
investigators state by state is expansive and complete. That's well
worth the price of admission, which is free as a Level 1 member.
You can join as a casual member and have access to a lot of these
posts in "Level 1." As you train, you move up in the levels until the
much hailed "Level 4" when you can start taking assignments.
I've asked for a peek at the Level 4 material, but the "moderators"
ignore such requests. The moderators will also censor negative posts
and provide party-line responses to questions ("You'll understand how
that works once you've reached 'Level 4,'" is a fairly common
response).
I had a variety of questions about IPIU and conducted a little
investigation:
While I can't see what's going on in the Level 4 "assignment" forum, I
can see what topics there are via the "forum jump" pull down menu. I
checked this out a few months ago and just did it again today. There
have been 44 "agencies" listed here, from Franchise Compliance Inc.
(http://www.franchisecompliance.com/) to Courtesy Counts Inc.
(http://www.courtesycounts.com/) since the first time I looked at this
list.
There may well be other - possibly a large number of other - companies
making assignments through IPIU. I had even pursued "Level 4"
membership as a way for our agency to utilize investigators around the
country. But the initial language indicated that IPIU set fees and
such and it appears they are always the middleman, so that was a
negative for us and my boss put the kibosh to the deal. We usually
deal face to face with anyone we hire out of area, and like to
negotiate our own deals.
IPIU comes down pretty hard on efforts to directly connect with people
through the forums. There are strict rules against making contact for
the purpose of conducting business, unless IPIU gets their cut. Again,
this is from my Level 1 perspective, but from all I've seen it is
consistent throughout the levels.
I also searched out long-term and short-term members to see what
success they had had through the forums. I tried to reach several and
tried to verify whether they had become investigators in their home
states.
For the most part, a lot of people come, look around, buy the entry
package, then appear to disappear. A few of the actual investigators I
chatted with said they like the forums but have had no real use for
the business end. Again, since I'm not Level 4, there may be a teeming
world of Level 4 people doing millions of dollars in business daily,
but I doubt it.
Some things about IPIU are just hinky. The badges, ID cards, etc., are
a goofy idea when looked at from the point of view of a licensed
investigator. But for a newbie, they are an opening on a whole new
world.
On the other hand, the world IPIU hints at - real private
investigation - has little to do with secret shopping and anti-piracy
investigations.
Overall points:
Would joining and engaging in the IPIU program be of value? I'm from
the school that any cheap education and any job opportunities are good
things. And I don't really know what happens in Level 4.
Do they exaggerate claims to hook potential members? From a PI point
of view, yes. An official IPIU badge is pretty worthless in the real
world, and secret shopping isn't the Philip Marlowe version of private
investigation.
Are there worthwhile aspects? I like browsing the forums and talking
about a business that we normally don't get to talk about with anyone.
It's liberating to have such a forum, but then IPIU also controls the
forums.
And there are a bunch of other resources: the book store, John Grogan,
the possibility for assignments, etc. Access to the forums regarding
state laws is of incredible value, and it seems that any new
developments - such as a new search engine - gets mentioned fairly
quickly.
I'd love to hear from anyone who has actually made it to a higher
level. Was the "training manual" of value? Are there plentiful and
interesting assignments? Is it more than just secret shopping and
checking bars for pay-per-view violations?
At this point, I like to browse the forums and stir things up. If I
had my own agency, I think I would pursue membership just to see if it
could provide another revenue stream for the agency, and access to
out-of-area investigators.
Would I recommend it as a way to become a private investigator? Check
out the forums, you'll see my response.
JPL
infospy
it must be a duck.
"Jimbo" <jimlyo...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b2aabc6f.04040...@posting.google.com...
Russell B Waters
> If it looks like a duck and it sounds like a duck and it smells like a scam
> it must be a duck.
>
What if it drops duck shaped turds as it waddles?
Rusty
--
A special Stephen King Sig, in honor of "Secret Windows" coming out on
March 12th:
'Ever eaten your wife?'
'No.'
'What?'
'No!'
'What's the last book in the Bible, Don?'
'Revelations.'
'Actually it's just Revelation. No s. Right?'
'Right, sure, right.'
'Who wrote it?'
'John.'
'What was your father's middle name?'
'John.'
'Ever get a revelation from your father, Don?'
- Rage
Heeling over slightly, the Lockheed struck the Games Building dead on,
three quarters of the way up. Its tanks were still better than a
quarter full. Its speed was slightly over five hundred miles an hour.
The explosion was tremendous, lighting up the night like the wrath of
God, and it rained fire twenty blocks away.
- The Running Man
As he measured coffee with a shaking hand, he thought of his constant,
strident protestations that he hadn't plagiarized Shooter's story, that
he had never plagiarized anything.
But he had, of course.
Once.
Just once.
- Secret Window, Secret Garden
Ham Sandywich
"Russell B Waters" <huskydu...@luckymail.com> wrote in message
news:fgKdc.242$_K3.15165@attbi_s53...
> infospy wrote:
>
> > If it looks like a duck and it sounds like a duck and it smells like a
scam
> > it must be a duck.
> >
>
> What if it drops duck shaped turds as it waddles?
> Rusty
>
<snip>
> Once.
> Just once.
> - Secret Window, Secret Garden
>
Thanks all for responding. Sounds like either way (useful or over the moon
like a duck) someone will be pleased to hear about it so Ill post my
findings.
O - and Kitty - as an ex network ad/factotum I sympathize and wish you the
best of luck. The job market has been very disappointing down here and my
pals in Chicago, Kalamazoo and Austin tell me things are no better in their
respective areas.
starwars
Xomicron
> infospy wrote:
>
>> If it looks like a duck and it sounds like a duck and it smells like a
>> scam it must be a duck.
>
> What if it drops duck shaped turds as it waddles?
Then it's really cool.
Ham Sandywich
"starwars" <nob...@tatooine.homelinux.net> wrote in message
news:57b80def8a43a413...@tatooine.homelinux.net...
> Fuck you
>
>
Was that directed toward me?
HEHE
Unfortunately!
Ray-Ray
>
Do dat means Ray Ray too? AZZHOLE
WOMAN.
Yo azz needa holla ASSHOLES some moe. sumbody needa bitch slaps yo azz anyway.
Quack Quack OH HELL NAW --
HISSSSSSS-HISSSSSSS-HISSSSS
RR
S. Pam Eater
> No. I mean, fuck BOB and Jan. Everyone else, happy Easter
>
> -=-
> This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.
>
What did they do?
privateye
As of JAN 20/99: On AUG 25/95 the State of Idaho Attorney General Alan G.
Lance announced the settlement of deceptive trade practices claims against
Sandpoint businessman, Jeremy Lancaster, doing business as CWN World News
and the International Private Investigators Union (IPIU). The agreement
comes after an investigation of lancaster's businesses by the Consumer
Protection Unit (CPU).
"With regard to CWN World News, Lancaster is alleged to have placed
employment advertisements in various newspapers nationwide seeking
limousine driver trainees. Relative to ICIU, Lancaster is alleged to have
placed newspaper ads nationwide promoting both employment and training
opportunities to become private investigators, as members of the
International Private Investigators Union.
"When consumers called the local numbers listed in the CWN World News ads,
they were instructed to dial a 900 telephone number in order to apply for a
position. Upon calling that number, consumers merely received a
solicitation to subscribe
to `Limousine and Chauffer Magazine'. "CPU investigators believe that
Lancaster's telemarketers told people interested
in becoming private investigators that the IPIU was headquartered in
Washington, D.C. and that the processing center, which purportedly
conducted criminal background checks on each candidate, was located in
British Columbia, Canada. In reality, the Washington, D.C. telephone
number provided to consumers was a `call forwarding' number answered by
telemarketers in Sandpoint. The British Columbia address used by Lancaster
led consumers to believe that the organization had an international
presence. Rather, the B.C. address was merely a mail drop across the
Idaho-Canadian border north of Sandpoint. State investigators were told by
ex-employees that Lancaster made the short drive to the mail drop
periodically to collect memberships and `union' dues sent from all over
the country.
"Attorney General Lance also alleged, in connection with the private
investigators operation, that Lancaster prepared promotional literature
advertising a rags-to-riches story of a man who became wealthy and
successful after joining the IPIU. The story was printed on the back of a
legitimate newspaper article about a successful private investigator in
Sandpoint. The flyer deceptively suggested that the rags-to-riches tale
was a testimonial provided by the subject of the newspaper article, when,
in fact, the individual highlighted in the article had no connection with
IPIU.
"Finally, Lance alleged that IPIU promotional materials and practices were
designed to lead consumers to believe that IPIU has some official
connection with law enforcement agencies and that it has some manner of
licensing authority when, in fact, it does not.
"While not admitting to any violations of law, Lancaster agreed, according
to terms of the Assurance of Voluntary Compliance filed in Bonner County,
to cease the allegedly deceptive and misleading activities listed above,
make refunds to consumers requesting them, and pay the State $5,000 for
its investigative costs, attorney fees and civil penalties. Of that amount
$4,000.00 has been waived so long as Lancaster complies with the terms of
the Assurance. After the settlement of the State's claims the Attorney
General was informed that Lancaster intends to cease conducting any
further business in Idaho.
"Consumers are entitled to, and the market place works best when, the
truth is communicated. That did not occur here, and I am pleased we were
able to put a stop to the practices at issue," Lance said.
Lance also stated that consumers who believe they have been defrauded by
CWN World News of the International Private Investigators Union may
contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit at 1-800-432-3545,
in-state
toll-free, to request a refund.
For further information, please contact Deputy Attorney General Brett T.
DeLange in the Consumer Protection Unit, Statehouse, Room 119, P.O. Box
83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0010, (208)334-2424 or, in-state toll-free,
1-800-432-3545.
Customer Experience
The Bureau has processed no customer complaints on this company in the
last three years.
Additional Information
Additional Doing-Business-As Names:
International Private Investigators Union
North American Agent Registration Bureau
I P I U
C W N World News Inc
North American Agent Registration
Bureau Of Business Ethics
I S I Internal Affairs
B B E Bureau Of Business Ethics
International Private Investigators Union
North American Agent Registration Bureau
I P I U
C W N World News Inc
North American Agent Registration
Bureau Of Business Ethics
I S I Internal Affairs
B B E Bureau Of Business Ethics
Additional Phone Numbers:
900-344-7373
604-299-8767
604-290-0632
208-265-5818
208-265-0738
Additional File Information
The address given for this company is a mail drop.
john...@pi-agency.us
> Anyone heard of IPIU?
>
> Input appreciated.
04-13-2015
Better Business Bureau shows IPIU is an accredited organization with an A+ rating for several years. When I looked up all other private investigator associations nationwide, none of them had a BBB accreditation. Their public website at www.ipiu.org/forums shows 47,000 members and an open testimonial sub forum where everyone uses their real name. There may be other great associations and training sites, but from what I have found there will always be complaints about everyone. It's human nature.