Another year is nearly behind us. For many of our counter-parts (associates) in British Columbia, it will be welcomed as Investigation files for the General and Insurance Investigation firms has been slow at best.
Of course there are the exceptions. Golden West Investigative Group Ltd has been one of those exceptions due to our going to back to our roots.- PROCESS SERVING
When the slow down / cut backs began about two years ago when it comes to obtaining surveillance and investigation files from our Provincial Automobile Insurance carrier (ICBC), the management and staff at Golden West began looking at other area of work that could / would help carry us through these lean times. It did not take long to realize that investigation and surveillance files from law firms and process serving was a very viable area to concentrate our efforts.
It used to be that these two areas were the gravy and the Insurance Corp was the meat and potatoes. Over the last two years, this has changed. When or if the files start to flow from ICBC and other insurnace carriers, they may be moved to the gravy end of the plate.
This does not mean that we will give them any less attention but as our network of investigators and process server associates continues to grow, one really has to look at where the BREAD ON THE TABLE has stayed constant.
I guess what I am getting at here is: If you wish to stay in this business as long as we have, you must be prepared to diversify and change lanes from time to time.
We would like to wish all readers of our Less than busy blog, a very merry holiday season and hope to see many comments in the near future.
Seasons Greetings
D.M.(Riun) Lawrence
President
Golden West Investigative Group Ltd
http://www.bcinvestigator.com
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Thursday, July 1, 2010
How to fix your blackberry problem
In British Columbia, we have a HANDS-FREE set of rules that came into law a few months ago. For the majority of us (full license drivers), it meant we must use a hands-free (a.k.a. blue tooth) device to answer or place calls on our cellular phones while driving. Reading or replying to TEXT messages is still a NO-NO but this blog is not about that portion of the new law- it is about bluetooth and a problem that can affect your blackberry
This last week, I got into my vehicle and turned on the Visor mount bluetooth before starting out. I heard the connection beep and thought all was fine. Away I go to start work for the day still thinking all is fine.
Calls are comming in which I answered via my visor mount bluetooth- All still appears to be fine.
I tried to make a voice-dial call via my visor mount bluetooth- All is NOT fine. The call did not go out. The nice -sexy voice did not ask for my command. Something is wrong!!
I pulled over and looked at my cellphone. It is a blackberry- ( the reason for this blog ) and it says "Initilizing....please wait"....so I waited..and waited..and waited but nothing happened.
"Oh", I thought.. maybe the bluetooth needs to be charged (even though I had not received the sexy-voice reminding me that the battery was low). So I charged the bluetooth that night and started over the next day.
Hmmm.. maybe I should try a test call before I head out.
Guess what?? Same problem.
Ok.. let's try my earpiece bluetooth which is a great stand-by unit. Same problem.
Now I have gone into FULL investigator mode and need to find the answer as there is no way I want to be caught making calls while driving and adding $185.00 fines to my budget. It is bad enough we have toll bridges but that is another story (see our previous blogs).
Today- in full- 100% investigator mode with a "geek mode" add on, I took on the problem as I was not about to go to the local cell provider store and be made to feel silly if the problem is simple.
I checked all my settings. Yes- voice dial is active.
I check to be sure that bluetooth was in sync (paired) and it was finding the correct one.
I deleted the bluetooth settings and paired it again. Still no luck!! What else could it be?
Two hours later, a light came in in my head. Could it be that the battery in my two year old blackberry was too weak.
Simple test for that- plug in the power and see if it will work that way.
Answer- NOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Hmm.. what else. It is not a bluetooth device problem. It is not a power or setting problem. What is left.?
Click!!. Since it is not hardware (covered all that above), then it it must be either software or the phone has just bit the dust. For the sake of the pocket book- PRAY for software- PLEASE!!!
I then went to http://www.blackberry.com/update (I suggest you write the URL down if you are using a blackberry) I hit the CHECK FOR UPDATES button and let it do it's thing and............. YES!!!! there are updates and they are SOFTWARE updates.
Follow the instructions; read the prompts and be ready to plug in your blackberry when it says to. Well, the long and short of the next 45 minutes is.. the latest software update not only fixed my voice dial problem but also updated a lot of other programs at the same time.
You will notice, however, (at least I did) that the first voice dial call took a bit longer as it had to find the Address book but that took all of maybe 10 seconds. After that- status-normal.
I hope this helps a lot of blackberry users that have had the same problem. I noticed on some forums that many people had this problem but nobody seemed to have an answer.
D.M.(Riun) Lawrence
President
Golden West Investigative Group Ltd
http://www.bcinvestigator.com
Investigative and Personal Security Products Div.
http://www.globalpisupply.com/
This last week, I got into my vehicle and turned on the Visor mount bluetooth before starting out. I heard the connection beep and thought all was fine. Away I go to start work for the day still thinking all is fine.
Calls are comming in which I answered via my visor mount bluetooth- All still appears to be fine.
I tried to make a voice-dial call via my visor mount bluetooth- All is NOT fine. The call did not go out. The nice -sexy voice did not ask for my command. Something is wrong!!
I pulled over and looked at my cellphone. It is a blackberry- ( the reason for this blog ) and it says "Initilizing....please wait"....so I waited..and waited..and waited but nothing happened.
"Oh", I thought.. maybe the bluetooth needs to be charged (even though I had not received the sexy-voice reminding me that the battery was low). So I charged the bluetooth that night and started over the next day.
Hmmm.. maybe I should try a test call before I head out.
Guess what?? Same problem.
Ok.. let's try my earpiece bluetooth which is a great stand-by unit. Same problem.
Now I have gone into FULL investigator mode and need to find the answer as there is no way I want to be caught making calls while driving and adding $185.00 fines to my budget. It is bad enough we have toll bridges but that is another story (see our previous blogs).
Today- in full- 100% investigator mode with a "geek mode" add on, I took on the problem as I was not about to go to the local cell provider store and be made to feel silly if the problem is simple.
I checked all my settings. Yes- voice dial is active.
I check to be sure that bluetooth was in sync (paired) and it was finding the correct one.
I deleted the bluetooth settings and paired it again. Still no luck!! What else could it be?
Two hours later, a light came in in my head. Could it be that the battery in my two year old blackberry was too weak.
Simple test for that- plug in the power and see if it will work that way.
Answer- NOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Hmm.. what else. It is not a bluetooth device problem. It is not a power or setting problem. What is left.?
Click!!. Since it is not hardware (covered all that above), then it it must be either software or the phone has just bit the dust. For the sake of the pocket book- PRAY for software- PLEASE!!!
I then went to http://www.blackberry.com/update (I suggest you write the URL down if you are using a blackberry) I hit the CHECK FOR UPDATES button and let it do it's thing and............. YES!!!! there are updates and they are SOFTWARE updates.
Follow the instructions; read the prompts and be ready to plug in your blackberry when it says to. Well, the long and short of the next 45 minutes is.. the latest software update not only fixed my voice dial problem but also updated a lot of other programs at the same time.
You will notice, however, (at least I did) that the first voice dial call took a bit longer as it had to find the Address book but that took all of maybe 10 seconds. After that- status-normal.
I hope this helps a lot of blackberry users that have had the same problem. I noticed on some forums that many people had this problem but nobody seemed to have an answer.
D.M.(Riun) Lawrence
President
Golden West Investigative Group Ltd
http://www.bcinvestigator.com
Investigative and Personal Security Products Div.
http://www.globalpisupply.com/
Monday, June 28, 2010
British Columbia PI firms hit hard
Being a licensed Private Investigator in British Columbia since 1980, I have seen the good times, the slow times, the bad times and now the "when will things turn around" times.
Yes, PI's in BC, for the most part have been feeling the slow down of the economy and some more than others.
In British Columbia, many PI firms conduct assignments for our Provincial Automobile Insurance company-ICBC. Many of those firms also have applied to conduct investigations and surveillance on behalf of Work-Safe BC (WCB). Firms that rely primarily on those two sources of assignments are definitely seeing the "when will things turn around" times. Slow?? Heck no!! Almost non-existent is a closer term.
ICBC has a moritorium on and has in one shape or another for about a year. It has been in the last few months that they have totally closed the door to PI's and IA's. When will this be lifted? Nobody seems to be really sure and they (ICBC) are not giving us a potential time frame either. Some people think it will be a few more months but others are looking at some time next year. Either way, the PI's that rely on ICBC as their main stay for work are feeling this in a BIG way.
Work-Safe BC only approves a limited number of firms at any one time to be on their vendor list. It is a long / lenghty process where everything must be completed in triplicate just to apply. They only take applications during set time frames each year and even if your firm is accepted, there is no guarantee you will get a file.
Golden West Investigative Group Ltd, has been one of the lucky ones. Yes, our primary source for assignments has been ICBC but we were fortunate enough to see the writting on the wall a bit ahead of many of our colleagues. As things began to slow down on the insurance side of our work, we targeted other avenues to take up the slack and it worked.
What did we do? We marketed in a BIG way to law firms. Not just for investigation and surveillance files but with an emphasis on Process Serving.
Process Serving not only pays the bills but also keeps us in front of the lawyers without constantly conducted sales calls looking for the regular assignments. Also, a lot of our Process Serving clients are law firms that, when the work starts coming out again from ICBC, will be the same lawyers that will be acting on behalf of ICBC at trial. Hence, we get a double opportunity to be assigned a new file when they start happening again.
Our secondary focus for law firms has been the Family Law lawyers. Yes, they have a constant flow of Process Serving but they also, from time to time, have divorce surveillance work. Granted, in BC (and across Canada), divorce surveillance has dropped off with the changes in the Canada Divorce Act but there are still those few that want to know exactly what is going on and with whom.
The second avenue that has really picked up for us is our Investigation Equipment and Personal Security products web site. Even though investigations may be slow in BC, the sale of low to high end counter-measures equipment, covert cameras and dvr's, GPS vehicle tracking equipment and much more has not stopped on a global scale.
So you see..if you think about it.. and really want to work without getting into Criminal Defence work, there are plenty of opportunities for a PI in BC to keep busy. The secret is to look outside the first avenues of work and see what other opportunities are there.. and there are many.
There are other areas that we have also expanded on, including Custody Access and Access Supervision but to be truthfull, we really don't have a lot of time right now for those.
To Contact us:
E-mail: investigator@bcinvestigator.com
Web site: http://www.bcinvestigator.com
For our Investigation and Personal Security Products
Web Site: http://www.globalpisupply.com
E-mail: sales.department@globalpisupply.com
or call us at (604) 318-8545
Yes, PI's in BC, for the most part have been feeling the slow down of the economy and some more than others.
In British Columbia, many PI firms conduct assignments for our Provincial Automobile Insurance company-ICBC. Many of those firms also have applied to conduct investigations and surveillance on behalf of Work-Safe BC (WCB). Firms that rely primarily on those two sources of assignments are definitely seeing the "when will things turn around" times. Slow?? Heck no!! Almost non-existent is a closer term.
ICBC has a moritorium on and has in one shape or another for about a year. It has been in the last few months that they have totally closed the door to PI's and IA's. When will this be lifted? Nobody seems to be really sure and they (ICBC) are not giving us a potential time frame either. Some people think it will be a few more months but others are looking at some time next year. Either way, the PI's that rely on ICBC as their main stay for work are feeling this in a BIG way.
Work-Safe BC only approves a limited number of firms at any one time to be on their vendor list. It is a long / lenghty process where everything must be completed in triplicate just to apply. They only take applications during set time frames each year and even if your firm is accepted, there is no guarantee you will get a file.
Golden West Investigative Group Ltd, has been one of the lucky ones. Yes, our primary source for assignments has been ICBC but we were fortunate enough to see the writting on the wall a bit ahead of many of our colleagues. As things began to slow down on the insurance side of our work, we targeted other avenues to take up the slack and it worked.
What did we do? We marketed in a BIG way to law firms. Not just for investigation and surveillance files but with an emphasis on Process Serving.
Process Serving not only pays the bills but also keeps us in front of the lawyers without constantly conducted sales calls looking for the regular assignments. Also, a lot of our Process Serving clients are law firms that, when the work starts coming out again from ICBC, will be the same lawyers that will be acting on behalf of ICBC at trial. Hence, we get a double opportunity to be assigned a new file when they start happening again.
Our secondary focus for law firms has been the Family Law lawyers. Yes, they have a constant flow of Process Serving but they also, from time to time, have divorce surveillance work. Granted, in BC (and across Canada), divorce surveillance has dropped off with the changes in the Canada Divorce Act but there are still those few that want to know exactly what is going on and with whom.
The second avenue that has really picked up for us is our Investigation Equipment and Personal Security products web site. Even though investigations may be slow in BC, the sale of low to high end counter-measures equipment, covert cameras and dvr's, GPS vehicle tracking equipment and much more has not stopped on a global scale.
So you see..if you think about it.. and really want to work without getting into Criminal Defence work, there are plenty of opportunities for a PI in BC to keep busy. The secret is to look outside the first avenues of work and see what other opportunities are there.. and there are many.
There are other areas that we have also expanded on, including Custody Access and Access Supervision but to be truthfull, we really don't have a lot of time right now for those.
To Contact us:
E-mail: investigator@bcinvestigator.com
Web site: http://www.bcinvestigator.com
For our Investigation and Personal Security Products
Web Site: http://www.globalpisupply.com
E-mail: sales.department@globalpisupply.com
or call us at (604) 318-8545
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Coming Soon- Oscor Blue
The NEW OSCOR Blue TSCM Spectrum Analyzer sweeps 24GHz in 1 second quickly detecting transmitting electronic surveillance devices.
REI's unique integrated auto switching antenna system requires no extra antennas or cables.
At 8lbs/3.6kg, OSCOR Blue is wonderfully portable and convenient to operate.
The 8.4in/21.3 cm high resolution touch screen display puts "drag" and "move" controls at your finger tips.
This unit is scheculed to be released withing the next two months.
It will be available in 8Ghz and 24Ghz formats.
The estimated prcie is proposed to be : 8Ghx- $26,000 USD and the 24Ghz will be in the $34,000 range- but that is still be determined by the manufacturer and our final cost.
You can read more details on the OSCOR BLUE TSCM Spectrum Analyzer at
http://www.globalpisupply.com/products/oscor-blue.htm
REI's unique integrated auto switching antenna system requires no extra antennas or cables.
At 8lbs/3.6kg, OSCOR Blue is wonderfully portable and convenient to operate.
The 8.4in/21.3 cm high resolution touch screen display puts "drag" and "move" controls at your finger tips.
This unit is scheculed to be released withing the next two months.
It will be available in 8Ghz and 24Ghz formats.
The estimated prcie is proposed to be : 8Ghx- $26,000 USD and the 24Ghz will be in the $34,000 range- but that is still be determined by the manufacturer and our final cost.
You can read more details on the OSCOR BLUE TSCM Spectrum Analyzer at
http://www.globalpisupply.com/products/oscor-blue.htm
Improvements on OSCOR-5000
There have been many major improvements over the original Oscor- 5000.
When protecting sensitive information is critical to your success, the OSCORprovides the most automatic, reliable and cost effective capability on the market.
OSCOR is a complete eavesdropping detection package that is portable and programmable.OSCOR is a microprocessor controlled counter-surveillance system with a custom designedbuilt-in spectrum analyzer that can operate automatically storing all encountered signalsin memory for later review.
Designed to detect all major types of audio and video RF transmitters, including carriercurrent and infrared. OSCOR is the only product that protects your environment 24 hoursa day.
To view full details on this high end counter-measures device, go to
http://www.globalpisupply.com/products/osc5000.htm
When protecting sensitive information is critical to your success, the OSCORprovides the most automatic, reliable and cost effective capability on the market.
OSCOR is a complete eavesdropping detection package that is portable and programmable.OSCOR is a microprocessor controlled counter-surveillance system with a custom designedbuilt-in spectrum analyzer that can operate automatically storing all encountered signalsin memory for later review.
Designed to detect all major types of audio and video RF transmitters, including carriercurrent and infrared. OSCOR is the only product that protects your environment 24 hoursa day.
To view full details on this high end counter-measures device, go to
http://www.globalpisupply.com/products/osc5000.htm
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Toll Highways and Bridges
The lower mainland of BRITISH COLUMBIA thought we had seen the last of Toll Bridges when they took off the toll on the Lion's Gate Bridge many many years ago.
The highways were free- as they should be- until the new Highway 5 from the lower mainland to the interior was put in.Yes-- it was a great time saver and thusly, the $10.00 each way for passenger vehicles and $20.00 for larger was accepted- well- sort of.
Anyways, the toll booth on highway #5 finally came down as they said the highwaywas now paid for- Great!! No more tolls!!
WRONG!! The new Port Mann bridge (part of the great highway 1 parking lot) that connects the north and south sides of the fraser river will be a toll. ie: You have to pay to get into Vancouver or other areas on the north side ofthe fraser if using highway 1.
Here is my question to you:
If you were in this scenario- or maybe you already are in your area- what do you pay for tolls- daily, monthly etc.
How do you pay for your tolls?- transponder in your vehicle?
How do they collect if you do not have a transponder? Camera shot of your license plate?
If you are subject to the later (camera shot), have you ever considerd using a camera deflector or such device?
We are asking this as we are contemplating stocking such devices but first felt we should check the market. Let us know.. add your comments to our blog
Global PI Supply
Gps Tracking Systems
Covert Cameras
Audio and Telephone Security Devices
Electronic CounterMeasures (bug detectors)
Body worn cameras (dvr systems)
Audio Recorders..and more
http://www.globalpisupply.com
The highways were free- as they should be- until the new Highway 5 from the lower mainland to the interior was put in.Yes-- it was a great time saver and thusly, the $10.00 each way for passenger vehicles and $20.00 for larger was accepted- well- sort of.
Anyways, the toll booth on highway #5 finally came down as they said the highwaywas now paid for- Great!! No more tolls!!
WRONG!! The new Port Mann bridge (part of the great highway 1 parking lot) that connects the north and south sides of the fraser river will be a toll. ie: You have to pay to get into Vancouver or other areas on the north side ofthe fraser if using highway 1.
Here is my question to you:
If you were in this scenario- or maybe you already are in your area- what do you pay for tolls- daily, monthly etc.
How do you pay for your tolls?- transponder in your vehicle?
How do they collect if you do not have a transponder? Camera shot of your license plate?
If you are subject to the later (camera shot), have you ever considerd using a camera deflector or such device?
We are asking this as we are contemplating stocking such devices but first felt we should check the market. Let us know.. add your comments to our blog
Global PI Supply
Gps Tracking Systems
Covert Cameras
Audio and Telephone Security Devices
Electronic CounterMeasures (bug detectors)
Body worn cameras (dvr systems)
Audio Recorders..and more
http://www.globalpisupply.com
Monday, June 1, 2009
Bike riders in BC-
It is about time that the green transportaion vehicles (bicycles) were looked at by the same laws that govern the rest us on the road.
Well, I don't know about your area, but, here in BC (especially in the lower mainland- vancouver area), those of us that drive motorized transport (cars, trucks etc) can soon feel a bit better that there is a level playing field between all modes of transportaion on our streets.
During the month of June, 2009- our law enforcement agencies will be handing out warnings to the pedal types but as of July, non-compliance will cost them just like it does to the motorized types.
A recent local TV expose' was conducted and it was a good eye opener pertaining to the infractions that occur by bike riders.
-No approved head gear (it is law in BC)
- running stop signs so they do not loose momentum on their travels (image what it would
be like we cars all did that)
- riding through cross walks, cutting across lanes on a travelled road-
- to name but a few!!
Hopefully, this new CRACK down will lessen the number of bike riders that get hurt, cause motor vehicle accidents, hit pedestrians or worse- Get killed!!
I think (and just my thoughts from what I have observed) the group that will be hardest hit by this change will be the Bike Couriers in the downtown core of Vancouver. It should be interesting to see how they adjust.
Your thoughts?
D.M.(Riun) Lawrence
President
Golden West Investigative Group Ltd
Phone: (604) 318-8545
Website: http://www.bcinvestigator.com
E-mail: investigator@bcinvestigator.com
Well, I don't know about your area, but, here in BC (especially in the lower mainland- vancouver area), those of us that drive motorized transport (cars, trucks etc) can soon feel a bit better that there is a level playing field between all modes of transportaion on our streets.
During the month of June, 2009- our law enforcement agencies will be handing out warnings to the pedal types but as of July, non-compliance will cost them just like it does to the motorized types.
A recent local TV expose' was conducted and it was a good eye opener pertaining to the infractions that occur by bike riders.
-No approved head gear (it is law in BC)
- running stop signs so they do not loose momentum on their travels (image what it would
be like we cars all did that)
- riding through cross walks, cutting across lanes on a travelled road-
- to name but a few!!
Hopefully, this new CRACK down will lessen the number of bike riders that get hurt, cause motor vehicle accidents, hit pedestrians or worse- Get killed!!
I think (and just my thoughts from what I have observed) the group that will be hardest hit by this change will be the Bike Couriers in the downtown core of Vancouver. It should be interesting to see how they adjust.
Your thoughts?
D.M.(Riun) Lawrence
President
Golden West Investigative Group Ltd
Phone: (604) 318-8545
Website: http://www.bcinvestigator.com
E-mail: investigator@bcinvestigator.com
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