These terms govern all remote investigative, intelligence, and research services provided by Imperial PI to US-based consumer and corporate clients.
"Imperial PI" refers to the private investigation and intelligence agency trading as Imperial PI, with correspondence address at Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park, Wareham Road, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6FA, United Kingdom. Email: usa@imperialpi.org. Imperial PI is a UK-based firm providing remote investigative, intelligence, and research services to clients located in the United States of America.
"The Client" means the individual or organisation named in the signed Client Agreement or Consumer Engagement Form who has commissioned remote investigation or intelligence services from Imperial PI for a US-based matter.
Where the Client is a private individual acting outside the course of a business, trade, or profession, they are a "Consumer Client." Where the Client is acting in a business, legal, or corporate capacity, they are a "Business Client." Additional protections apply to Consumer Clients as noted throughout these Terms.
A "US-Based Matter" means any instruction where the subject, entity, or subject matter of the investigation is located in, registered in, or primarily connected to the United States of America, regardless of the Client's own location.
"Remote Services" means all investigative, intelligence, research, and analytical work conducted entirely from the United Kingdom by Imperial PI personnel using digital methods, open-source intelligence (OSINT), publicly available records, and lawful data research. No field-based, on-the-ground, or in-person activity in the United States is included within or authorised under these Terms.
All investigative and intelligence services will be carried out strictly in accordance with the scope of work agreed in writing at the point of instruction via the Engagement Form. Any activity outside the agreed scope requires separate written authorisation before it is undertaken. Imperial PI will not proceed with any out-of-scope work without the Client's explicit written approval and agreement on any additional fees.
The Client warrants, represents, and declares that:
If any court order — including a restraining order, protective order, or injunction — exists that restricts contact with or investigation of the subject, full details must be provided to Imperial PI before any work commences. Providing false or incomplete information in this declaration may constitute a criminal offence under UK and/or US law and will result in immediate termination of the engagement without refund. Imperial PI accepts no liability for any breach of a court order arising from a false or incomplete client declaration.
Imperial PI reserves the right to ask for reasonable evidence of the Client's stated lawful purpose before or during an engagement. Refusal to provide reasonable clarification, or the emergence of information suggesting the Client's true purpose is inconsistent with their stated purpose, entitles Imperial PI to suspend or terminate the engagement immediately.
Should the investigation require activity beyond the agreed scope, Imperial PI will notify the Client in writing and obtain written approval before proceeding. Additional charges will apply at the agreed rate structure set out in the Engagement Form.
The Client acknowledges that certain uses of information obtained through Imperial PI's research — including but not limited to employment screening, consumer credit determination, and tenant screening — may be regulated under US federal law (including the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) and applicable state laws. Imperial PI's services are not structured or intended for use as consumer reports under the FCRA. The Client accepts sole responsibility for ensuring that their use of any delivered intelligence complies with all applicable US federal, state, and local laws.
All investigative and intelligence services provided to US clients under these Terms are conducted entirely remotely from the United Kingdom. Imperial PI does not conduct physical field operations in the United States, does not deploy operatives on US soil, does not conduct in-person activity of any kind within the United States, and does not partner with, instruct, or sub-contract US-licensed private investigators for any purpose. This is a deliberate, intentional, and material feature of Imperial PI's US service model.
Imperial PI does not conduct any form of in-person fieldwork in the United States. We do not deploy individuals to conduct physical research, attend locations, or carry out any ground-level activity. All services are digital, data-led, and conducted remotely from our UK base. No US Private Investigator licence is required for or claimed in connection with this scope of services.
Imperial PI's remote services for US clients are conducted exclusively using the following lawful methods:
Imperial PI will not, under any circumstances, conduct the following in connection with US client engagements:
Imperial PI operates as a UK-based research and intelligence firm providing remote services to US clients. The services provided under these Terms do not constitute the practice of private investigation requiring licensure under any US state PI licensing statute, as all work is conducted remotely from outside the United States using digital and open-source methods. The Client acknowledges this positioning and accepts sole responsibility for independently verifying the lawfulness of using Imperial PI's services for their specific purpose and in their specific state.
Imperial PI operates three fee structures for US client engagements. The applicable structure for each instruction is confirmed in the signed Engagement Form before work commences. All fees for US clients are quoted and invoiced in US Dollars (USD) unless otherwise agreed in writing.
| Structure | Rate (USD) | Typical Use & Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly Rate | $200 – $450/hr | Litigation support, intelligence strategy, advisory, ongoing research. Minimum 3-hour booking applies. |
| Fixed Fee — Essential | $249 – $750 | Background checks, skip tracing, person investigations, relationship investigations. Typically 24 hours – 7 working days. |
| Fixed Fee — Standard | $1,000 – $5,000 | Due diligence, fraud intelligence (pre-action), vendor/partner checks, online harassment investigations, reputation intelligence. Typically 5–14 working days. |
| Fixed Fee — Premium | $5,000 – $15,000+ | Corporate intelligence packages, M&A due diligence, IP theft investigations, crypto tracing, cold case research, complex multi-subject engagements. Scope-dependent. |
| Retainer | From $5,000/month | Ongoing corporate programmes, litigation research retainers, intelligence strategy advisory, reserved investigator capacity. |
All engagements require an upfront deposit before any investigative work begins:
Accepted payment methods: bank transfer (USD or GBP), international wire transfer, and major debit/credit cards. All USD invoices will specify the USD amount payable. Where payment is made in GBP, the GBP equivalent is calculated at the exchange rate prevailing on the invoice date. For extended retainer engagements, exchange rates may be fixed at contract signing upon written request.
Invoices are payable within 14 calendar days of issue. Overdue invoices attract late payment interest at 8% per annum above the Bank of England base rate, calculated on a daily basis from the due date. Imperial PI reserves the right to suspend work on any active engagement where an invoice remains unpaid beyond its due date, without liability for any resulting delay or loss to the Client.
There are no hidden fees. All material anticipated expenses are disclosed in the Engagement Form. The following out-of-pocket costs may be recharged to the Client at actual cost, with prior written approval:
Any single expense exceeding $200, or aggregate additional expenses exceeding $750, require prior written Client approval before they are incurred.
Any dispute regarding an invoice must be raised in writing to usa@imperialpi.org within 14 calendar days of the invoice date, specifying the item(s) in dispute and the grounds for dispute. Undisputed portions of any invoice remain payable within standard terms. Failure to raise a dispute within 14 calendar days constitutes acceptance of the invoice in full.
The Client agrees not to initiate a chargeback, payment reversal, or payment dispute with their bank, card provider, or payment platform in respect of services rendered under this Agreement. Where Imperial PI has delivered services in accordance with the agreed scope, any such attempt constitutes a material breach of contract. Imperial PI reserves the right to recover the full amount in dispute together with reasonable administrative and legal costs, and to report the matter to the relevant authorities where fraud is suspected.
Fees are payable for professional investigative time, expertise, and research — not for any specific result or finding. A conclusion of "no evidence found" or "subject unlocatable" is a professionally valid and valuable outcome that provides certainty. Imperial PI will discuss realistic expectations prior to commencement and will advise the Client honestly if initial findings warrant a redirection of scope or suspension of the engagement.
Imperial PI may, at its sole discretion, agree a staged payment plan for eligible engagements. Any payment plan must be confirmed in writing before work commences. A payment plan does not reduce the Client's total liability for the full agreed fee. Default on any scheduled payment entitles Imperial PI to suspend work and invoice the outstanding balance immediately.
Imperial PI is registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and operates as Data Controller (or Data Processor on behalf of the Client, as applicable) under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Imperial PI conducts all investigations in compliance with the Association of British Investigators (ABI) Code of Conduct for Investigative and Litigation Support Services, which is formally approved by the ICO.
Imperial PI acknowledges and respects the data privacy rights conferred upon US residents under applicable state privacy laws, including but not limited to:
To the extent that any US state privacy law confers rights upon the Client or subject as a data subject, Imperial PI will make reasonable and proportionate efforts to comply with requests made under those rights, subject to Imperial PI's legitimate interests and legal obligations as a UK-based data controller. Clients wishing to make a data subject request under any applicable US state law should contact usa@imperialpi.org.
Imperial PI's research services are not consumer reporting services as defined under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. (FCRA). Reports and intelligence produced by Imperial PI must not be used as the primary basis for decisions regarding employment, credit, insurance, housing, or any other purpose regulated by the FCRA. The Client accepts sole and full responsibility for ensuring that their use of Imperial PI's deliverables does not violate the FCRA or any other applicable US law.
Personal data relating to the Client is processed on the basis of Contract Performance (Article 6(1)(b) UK GDPR) and Legitimate Interests (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR). Personal data relating to subjects of investigation is processed on the basis of Legitimate Interests (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR), as confirmed by Imperial PI's Legitimate Interests Assessment conducted in accordance with ICO guidance and the ABI Code of Conduct.
Imperial PI will:
Clients have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, or port their personal data, and to object to its processing, subject to applicable exemptions under UK GDPR and applicable US state law. Requests should be directed to usa@imperialpi.org. Imperial PI will respond within 30 days of a valid request. Full details of how data is processed are set out in the Imperial PI USA Privacy Policy.
Imperial PI processes personal data relating to investigation subjects on a lawful basis established by the ABI Code of Conduct. The Client instructs Imperial PI as Data Controller for the purpose of conducting the investigation and must confirm in writing, at the point of instruction, the lawful basis upon which they are requesting the investigation. Imperial PI will not process subject data where it cannot identify a lawful basis for doing so.
Imperial PI undertakes to conduct all enquiries for US clients using lawful methods only, in compliance with UK law and, so far as is relevant to remote digital research, applicable US law. Imperial PI will not:
All intelligence is gathered, documented, and preserved to professional standards designed to support admissibility in civil and criminal proceedings. Imperial PI provides detailed chain-of-custody documentation on all instructions and can provide sworn declarations where required. All evidence is timestamped and source-attributed throughout the evidence-gathering process.
Imperial PI will endeavour to gather and present evidence in a manner likely to be admissible in US legal proceedings. However, admissibility is ultimately a matter for the relevant court, tribunal, or arbiter, and is subject to the rules of evidence of the applicable US jurisdiction. Imperial PI accepts no liability for evidence that is ruled inadmissible in any US legal proceeding. The Client is advised to engage qualified US legal counsel before relying on any Imperial PI deliverable in legal proceedings.
Imperial PI will disclose to the Client in writing, as soon as reasonably practicable, any actual or potential conflict of interest, including any prior or existing relationship with the subject, or any circumstance that could affect objectivity or independence. In the event of a material conflict that cannot be resolved, Imperial PI may withdraw from the engagement. Fees for work completed prior to any such withdrawal remain payable, and Imperial PI will provide reasonable assistance in transitioning the matter where requested.
Imperial PI reserves the right to refuse or cease instructions at any time if, in its professional judgement, proceeding would require unlawful conduct; would cause harm to a vulnerable individual; where the Client's true purpose appears inconsistent with or contradictory to their stated purpose; or where Imperial PI becomes aware of any fact that renders the engagement ethically or legally untenable. Where an engagement is refused or ceased for such reasons, fees for completed work remain payable.
Imperial PI may engage vetted UK-based sub-contractors or analytical partners where specialist skills are required. All such sub-contractors are UK-based, bound by the same confidentiality, legal compliance, and data protection obligations as Imperial PI, and work exclusively using remote, digital methods. Imperial PI remains fully responsible for the conduct and output of any such sub-contractors. The Client will be notified in writing if sub-contractors are to be used on their case. Imperial PI will not instruct US-based sub-contractors or US-licensed investigators under any circumstances in connection with these Terms.
The Client acknowledges that Imperial PI operates under UK law and the ABI Code of Conduct as its primary regulatory framework. Where any conflict arises between UK legal requirements and US legal requirements in relation to the methods, conduct, or delivery of remote research services, UK law shall take precedence insofar as it governs Imperial PI's conduct in the United Kingdom. The Client remains independently responsible for ensuring that their use of Imperial PI's outputs complies with all applicable US law.
Imperial PI holds Professional Indemnity Insurance and Public Liability Insurance. The current certificate of insurance is available on request from usa@imperialpi.org and publicly referenced at imperialpi.org.
Imperial PI's Professional Indemnity Insurance covers claims arising from negligent acts, errors, or omissions in the performance of professional investigative and intelligence services. It does not cover loss arising from: the Client's own misuse of delivered information or intelligence; events outside Imperial PI's reasonable control; instructions given by the Client that were inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading; or claims made more than 6 years after the relevant services were provided.
Imperial PI will notify the Client in writing within 5 business days if any insurance policy is cancelled, lapses, or its coverage is materially reduced during an active engagement.
Indicative delivery timescales by service type:
Specific delivery timelines are agreed at instruction and reviewed at each progress update. Imperial PI will notify the Client promptly of any material delay and the reason for it.
Imperial PI commits to:
On conclusion of the agreed scope of work, Imperial PI will deliver a comprehensive written Intelligence Report containing:
Reports are delivered via encrypted file transfer or secure password-protected cloud storage. Physical delivery on encrypted USB drive is available on request.
Where required by the Client's legal counsel for use in US legal proceedings, Imperial PI can provide a sworn declaration (affidavit or equivalent) attesting to the methods used, the authenticity of evidence gathered, and the chain of custody. This is provided as a separate chargeable service at the applicable hourly rate.
All Intelligence Reports, research documentation, evidence packages, and associated materials become the property of the Client upon receipt of full payment of all outstanding fees and disbursements. Prior to full payment, all deliverables remain the intellectual property of Imperial PI and may not be copied, distributed, or disclosed by the Client.
Where Imperial PI is requested to support US legal proceedings through expert declarations, attorney briefings, or deposition preparation, separate charges apply and are payable in advance of the relevant engagement date. These services are undertaken only upon separate written instruction.
Both parties agree to keep the existence and content of this Agreement, the nature and scope of the investigation, all findings, and all communications relating to the engagement strictly confidential, except where disclosure is required by law or court order, instructed by the Client for the purpose of legal proceedings, or required by a regulatory or law enforcement authority.
Imperial PI will not disclose the identity of any Client, the existence of any engagement, or any information relating to a Client's matter to any third party without the Client's prior written consent. This obligation continues indefinitely beyond the termination of any engagement.
The Client agrees not to disclose the identity of Imperial PI, its investigators, its methods, or the content of any intelligence report to any media outlet, on any public or social media platform, or to any third party without prior written consent from Imperial PI, except where necessary for the stated lawful purpose of the engagement.
Imperial PI can enter into a separate mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for particularly sensitive corporate matters upon request. Bespoke NDAs are available on request and at no additional charge for standard engagements.
Both parties acknowledge that either may be required to disclose information relating to an engagement in response to a lawful court order, subpoena, or regulatory demand. The disclosing party will, to the extent permitted by law, provide reasonable advance notice to the other party before complying with any such demand.
Imperial PI's total aggregate liability to the Client in respect of any claim or series of claims arising under or in connection with any engagement under these Terms shall not exceed the total fees paid by the Client under the relevant Engagement Form in the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.
Imperial PI shall not be liable for any loss of profit, loss of business, loss of revenue, loss of anticipated savings, loss of data, reputational damage, or any indirect, special, or consequential loss of any nature, whether arising in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss.
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by Imperial PI's negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded under applicable UK consumer law (including the Consumer Rights Act 2015) or any applicable US state consumer protection statute. Consumer Clients retain all statutory rights to which they are entitled.
Imperial PI's investigative work is dependent on the accuracy of information provided by the Client at the outset. Imperial PI accepts no liability for any loss, error, or deficiency in an Intelligence Report caused by inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information provided by the Client.
Imperial PI accepts no liability for any consequence arising from the Client's own use of delivered intelligence, including but not limited to any legal proceedings brought against the Client by a third party, any regulatory action, or any consequence arising from the Client's non-compliance with US federal, state, or local law.
The Client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Imperial PI and its directors, officers, and employees from and against any claims, costs, damages, liabilities, or proceedings brought by any third party as a result of: the Client's misuse of information or intelligence provided by Imperial PI; any false or misleading representation made by the Client; the Client's breach of any term of this Agreement; or the Client's violation of any US federal, state, or local law in connection with their use of Imperial PI's services.
Imperial PI shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under these Terms arising from events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, government action, natural disaster, cyberattack, major telecommunications failure, or pandemic. In such circumstances, Imperial PI will notify the Client as soon as practicable and use reasonable endeavours to resume services at the earliest opportunity.
The Client may cancel an engagement at any time by giving written notice to usa@imperialpi.org. Upon cancellation:
Imperial PI may terminate an engagement immediately on written notice if: the Client breaches any material term of this Agreement; Imperial PI forms a reasonable professional belief that proceeding would be unlawful or would cause harm to a vulnerable person; the Client fails to make a required payment within 7 days of its due date; or the Client provides materially inaccurate or misleading information at any stage. Fees for work completed to the date of termination remain payable in all cases.
Where the Client is a consumer and this Agreement is entered into at a distance (including by email or online), the Client has the right to cancel within 14 calendar days of the date of the signed Agreement without charge, under applicable consumer cancellation rights. This right does not apply where the Client has expressly requested that investigative work commence immediately, in which case the Client remains liable for the cost of work completed if they subsequently cancel within that 14-day period.
On termination of any engagement, Imperial PI will deliver to the Client all work product and intelligence compiled to the date of termination, subject to receipt of all outstanding payments. The confidentiality, data protection, limitation of liability, and governing law provisions of these Terms survive termination and remain in full force.
Imperial PI is committed to resolving any client concern promptly and professionally. Complaints should be raised in writing to usa@imperialpi.org or by post to: Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park, Wareham Road, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6FA, United Kingdom.
Imperial PI will:
Imperial PI is a member of the Association of British Investigators (ABI) and operates under the ABI Code of Conduct. Clients who remain dissatisfied following Imperial PI's internal complaints process may refer their complaint to:
Where a complaint cannot be resolved through Imperial PI's internal process, both parties agree to attempt resolution through a mutually agreed independent mediator before commencing formal legal proceedings. Imperial PI is willing to engage a neutral third-party mediator, with mediation costs shared equally between the parties, as a good-faith step prior to litigation.
Where mediation does not resolve a dispute, and where the Client is based in the United States, either party may elect to resolve the dispute through binding arbitration administered under the rules of a mutually agreed arbitral body. Arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English. The arbitral award shall be enforceable in accordance with applicable law in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
This arbitration provision does not waive any statutory rights that a US consumer may have under applicable federal or state consumer protection law. Nothing in this clause prevents a US consumer from filing a complaint with any applicable US government agency or regulator.
These Terms and all engagements under them are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Both parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales for the purpose of resolving any dispute that is not subject to arbitration under clause 12.4. The Client acknowledges that this governing law clause is a material term of the Agreement and reflects the fact that Imperial PI is a UK-based firm operating under UK law.
Nothing in these Terms constitutes legal advice to US clients. US clients are strongly advised to obtain independent legal advice from qualified US legal counsel before commissioning investigative services, before relying on any Intelligence Report in legal proceedings, and before taking any action based on the findings of any Imperial PI engagement.
These Terms, together with the signed Client Agreement or Consumer Engagement Form and any attached schedules or fee confirmations, constitute the entire agreement between Imperial PI and the Client in relation to the engagement. They supersede all prior discussions, negotiations, representations, and agreements (whether oral or written) between the parties. Each party acknowledges that in entering into this Agreement it has not relied on any representation not expressly set out herein.
If any provision of these Terms is found by any court or competent authority to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable in any respect, that provision shall be deemed severed from the Terms to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The parties shall use reasonable endeavours to agree a lawful replacement provision that achieves as nearly as possible the same commercial effect as the severed provision.
Electronic and digital signatures are treated as legally valid and binding to the same extent as handwritten signatures, in accordance with the Electronic Communications Act 2000 (UK) and applicable e-signature provisions under US federal and state law. Agreements may be executed by email confirmation, electronic signature platform (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign), or scanned counterpart; all such methods are treated as equivalent to original signatures for the purposes of forming a binding agreement.
No variation or amendment to these Terms or any Engagement Form shall be effective unless agreed in writing and confirmed by authorised representatives of both parties. Verbal amendments are not binding.
No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms shall constitute a waiver of that right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict any further exercise of that right or remedy. A waiver of any particular breach shall not constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.
The Client may not assign, transfer, or sub-contract any of its rights or obligations under these Terms without the prior written consent of Imperial PI. Imperial PI may assign its rights and obligations under these Terms to any successor business, parent company, or entity that acquires all or substantially all of Imperial PI's business assets, subject to providing written notice to the Client.
All formal notices under these Terms must be in writing and delivered by: email with read receipt to usa@imperialpi.org (Imperial PI) or to the Client's email address as specified in the Engagement Form; or by recorded postal delivery to: Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park, Wareham Road, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6FA, United Kingdom. Notices are deemed received on the next business day following electronic delivery, or on the fifth business day following postal delivery.
Nothing in these Terms is intended to, or shall, confer any right or remedy on any third party under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (UK) or any equivalent US provision.
These Terms are written in the English language. Where any translation is produced for convenience, the English language version shall prevail in the event of any inconsistency.
We are happy to explain any clause before you sign. There is no obligation and no pressure — just honest, direct answers from the person who will be handling your case.
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