Code of Ethics

EXCALIBUR  DETECTIVE AGENCY, LLC AFFIRMS AND PLEDGES as a member of  the  International Private Investigators Union (IPIU) to the Board of Ethics Committee, the Character and Fitness Committee, the  Unauthorized Practice of Investigations Committee, and the  Professional Conduct Board our acceptance and agreement to the Morals Clause. EXCALIBUR further  accepts and agrees:

1. TO perform all assignments and case examinations in a moral, ethical, and legal manner;

2. TO work entirely within the framework of all applicable laws;

3. TO NOT knowingly support, affiliate with, offer authorship, or agree with any site, group or firm, or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or opposed to those accepted by the International Private Investigators Union (IPIU);

4. TO NOT knowingly make a false statement of material fact;

5. TO NOT engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;

6. TO NOT unlawfully obstruct another party’s access to evidence or unlawfully alter, destroy, or conceal a document or other material having potential evidentiary value, and to not counsel or assist another person to do any such act;

7. TO NOT offer evidence that we know to be false or misleading, and if we have offered material evidence and come to know of its  falsity, we shall take reasonable remedial measures at once;

8. TO NOT falsify evidence or assist a witness to testify falsely, or offer an inducement to a witness that is prohibited by applicable law;

9. TO immediately inform the appropriate authority when knowledge exists of another private investigator that has committed a violation of the standards of professional conduct, as set forth  herewith, that  raises a substantial question as to that person’s  honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a private investigator or case examiner  in other respects;

10.  TO NOT commit an act that reflects adversely on our honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as an investigator in other respects;

11. TO NOT state or imply an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official;

12.  TO verify all paperwork, documents, statements, evidence, statutory laws, legal opinions, verbal and written instructions, advice, and facts with the proper authority that may potentially  lead to a  civil action, wrongful arrest, detention, or criminal  action whether it involves an individual or organization;

13.  IN REGARDS TO OUR FEES, WE PLEDGE that our fees shall be reasonable. The factors to be considered in determining the reasonableness of our fee include the following:

1. The  time and labor required, the novelty  and difficulty of the  questions involved, and the skills requisite to perform the  service properly;
2. The  likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the particular assignment will preclude  other assignments by myself;
3. The fee customarily charged in the locality for similar services;
4. The amount involved and the result obtained;
5. The time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances;
6. The nature and length of the professional relationship with the client;
7. The experience, reputation, and ability of myself or others performing the services; and 
8. Whether the fee is fixed or contingent.
9. When  we have not regularly represented  the client, the basis or rate  of the fee shall be communicated to the  client, in writing, before  commencing the assignment.

14. IN REPRESENTING A CLIENT, WE SHALL report all facts developed in a case promptly and timely;

15.  WE SHALL NOT use means which have no substantial purpose other than to embarrass, delay, or burden another person or organization. Filing, maintaining, or being identified on any public  government site,  blog or any web site which depicts inappropriate  or illegal behavior  will be considered a violation of our Oath and Code of Ethics;

16. WE SHALL NOT use methods of obtaining evidence that violate the legal rights of such a person or organization;

17. WE SHALL NOT present or participate in presenting criminal charges solely to obtain advantage in a civil matter; or

18. WE SHALL NOT threaten to present criminal charges in order to obtain advantage in a civil matter;

19. WE SHALL NOT fail to disclose a material fact when disclosure is necessary to avoid assisting a criminal act by our client;

20.  WE SHALL NOT enter into a business transaction with a client or   knowingly acquire an ownership, security or other pecuniary  interest adverse to a client unless:

1. The  terms on which we acquire the  interest is fair and reasonable to  the client and is disclosed in writing to the client in a manner  which can be reasonably understood by  the client;
2. The client is given a reasonable opportunity to seek independent counsel in the transaction; and
3. The client consents in writing thereto;

21. WE SHALL NOT use facts relating to representation of a client to the disadvantage of the client unless the client consents;

22.  WE SHALL NOT prepare an instrument, or take part in an instrument, giving myself or a person related to me any  substantial gift from a client, including a testamentary gift,  except where the client  is related to the  receiver;

23. WE SHALL NOT provide financial assistance to a client in connection with pending or contemplated litigation, except that:

1. We  may advance court costs and expenses  of litigation, the repayment  of which may be contingent on the outcome  of the matter; and
2. In representing an indigent client may pay court costs and expenses of litigation on behalf of the client.

24. WE SHALL NOT accept compensation for representing a client from one other than the client unless the client consents;

25. WE SHALL NOT represent a client if the representation of that client will be directly adverse to another client, unless:

1. We reasonably believe it will not adversely affect the relationship with the other client; and
2. Each client consents;

26.  WE PLEDGE AND AGREE TO CONDUCT myself in a professional,   methodical, and patient manner – as defined and interpreted, if  need be,  by the Private Investigators Forums and/or it’s sponsor  the  International Private Investigators Union (IPIU);

27. WE FURTHER PLEDGE AND AGREE TO ACT in a fashion:

1. To bring positive credit to the clients we represent;
2. To  aid, promote positive credit, and to  sustain the Private  Investigators Forum and it’s authorized sponsors,  including the  International Private Investigators Union (IPIU), in it’s  mission;
3. To  aid IPIU in it’s mission to dispel  falsehoods and to promote a  positive image of it’s affairs and the  private investigator’s  industry and its agents and employees.

28.  WE FURTHER AGREE: In the event we charge-back a credit card   purchase for an item or service we previously approved, then we  agree to having  our credit card charged again for the previously  approved amount, plus a  charge-back service fee of $19 to cover  additional bank processing fees  assessed to the merchant as a  result of  our action, in order to reinstate our account  privileges.

29.  WE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE that any benefits, services,   products, retainers, payments, or earnings we may receive as a  result of   our current membership and affiliation since  becoming a member of the  International Private Investigators Union  (IPIU), including its affiliates and co-affiliates, including the  provisions outlined in the  Forum Rules and Forum Membership  Agreement, or any written courtesy refund benefits that may be available  to me as a current paid  member-in-good-standing of IPIU for  products or services, is predicated  on  our waiver of seeking  an equivalent resolution from any other source or  organization  outside of IPIU and The Private Investigators Forums.

30.  WE FURTHER ACCEPT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, as outlined in the   additional hyper-linked areas of ipiu.org and  privateinvestigators.cc,  including “Part 1 – Master Acceptance of  this Terms of Use Agreement,”  “Part 2 – Privacy Statement,” “Part 3  – Morals Clause”, “Part 4 –  Definitions Agreement”, “Part 5 –  Shipping and Returns”, “Part 6 – Terms  of Use for Purchasing”,  “Part 7 – Dispute Resolution by Binding  Arbitration”, “Part 8 –  Purchasing Agreement – Terms of Use &  Privacy”), “Section 1”,  “Section 2″, Section 3”, “Section 4”, each of  which is  incorporated herein by reference, prior to accessing or using  the  rest of this website. By accessing or using ipiu.org and  privateinvestigators.cc, or any derivative of the ipiu.org Website,   (collectively, the “Website,” “ipiu.org and  privateinvestigators.cc,” or  “We”), You (“Member” or “User” or End  User”) acknowledge that you have  read, understand, and agree to  be bound by all the Terms and Conditions  set forth in this  Agreement, including ALL LINKED PARTS, even if you do  not make a  purchase and or use or rely on the Services available through ipiu.org  and privateinvestigators.cc