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Quality Control | Vehicles | Equipment | Insurance & Licensing | Professional Associations | References | Billing | Owners Quality Control
Service - Our policy is to return cases within 15 days of being assigned
wherever possible. Rush cases are accepted and it is a rare exception
when we are not able to meet a deadline. We also provide daily updates
on surveillances, as well as keep our clients apprised of the progress
on their cases.
Quality - Ongoing checks and crosschecks by supervisors and office
administrators are performed. In addition, investigators review their own reports,
and the videotape is also reviewed and copies are made to make certain
that all are consistent with the requirements of Research Consultants
Group, Inc. In addition, we conduct periodic checks of our surveillance
operatives to make certain that they are at their assigned positions.
They are required to check in at least twice per day to provide updates,
which are then conveyed to our clients.
Cost Containment - We offer flat rates for activities checks and
surveillances, as well as request that limits be placed on all
assignments, and we will not exceed these limits without an
authorization from the client.
Vehicles
We have a full range of surveillance vehicles to include minivans, work
vans, and four-wheel drive vehicles. These are all company vehicles,
as we do not require our investigators to use their personal vehicles.
We try to pick out a vehicle that will blend into the surveillance
site and cause the least amount of suspicion. Our vehicles are
equipped with the Lanor periscope, which allows us a stable platform
with little chance of detection and a 360-degree circumference.
Equipment
We utilize state-of-the-art equipment to include 8mm video cameras
and a wide range of pinhole cameras mounted in fanny packs, gym bags,
purses and wristwatches to capture activities on videotape. All of our
equipment is provided to each investigator by the company. We do not
ask that our employees supply anything themselves. All of our offices,
as well as resident investigators, are connected with a computer network
for inter-office communication. We recently updated our computer system
and have the capability to email assignments and reports. We can
receive assignments via e-mail as well.
Insurance & Licensing
Research Consultants Group, Inc. is a fully licensed, bonded and
insured investigative agency with a $4 million indemnification policy.
We are licensed in all states that we conduct business in where
a license is required.
Professional Associations
We are active in the American Society for Industrial Security,
California Association of Licensed Investigators, Council of
International Investigators, Georgia Association of Private
Investigators, National Council of Investigation & Security
Services, South Carolina Association of Legal Investigators,
and World Association of Detectives, and we are online with
many of these associations. This provides a continuing resource
for updating equipment, techniques, and changes in laws, etc.
Attendance at various seminars put on by these associations is
encouraged, and those in attendance put on periodic seminars
for other employees so this information is filtered down.
We are also active in many state and national insurance associations,
such as national workers' compensation and disability conferences
and state defense seminars sponsored by insurance institutes
where we not only have booths but also attend seminars where
we are kept up-to-date on various insurance trends.
References
We have conducted over 50,000 investigations and have represented over
2,000 insurance and self-insured companies and third-party administrators
and have done our best to maintain up-to-date equipment, keep apprised
of current legislation, and always be aware of what is acceptable by
the field of insurance investigations. We have done our very best to
make certain that we conduct ourselves in a professional manner.
Billing
We have the ability to tailor our investigations to the individual
client's needs, and we also understand the concerns of the insurance
industry with regard to expenses. Our fee structure is flexible,
and we encourage clients place a dollar limit on an investigation.
We also offer flat rates for activities checks and surveillances.
Owners William J. Lapworth, President
Mr. Lapworth began his career in investigations in Chicago in 1967 after
serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. He handled fraud investigations for
Illinois Bell Telephone and for other investigative agencies throughout
the Midwest until 1976, when he formed Research Consultants Group, Inc.
with Clarence Hupfer. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree,
majoring in Criminal Justice, from the University of Indianapolis and
has continued his professional education by attending seminars in
investigations and security throughout the world, including Israel,
Ireland, England, Australia, Belgium, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Italy.
He is past-president of the World Association of
Detectives, which is the largest international association of
investigators in the world. In September of 1999, he was the recipient of
this organization's prestigious "Norman J. Sloan Award" in recognition of
his long and meritorious service and contributions to the investigative
and security profession. In September 2005 he was the recipient of
the "Investigator of the Year", also given by the World
Association of Detectives.
He is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security, California
Association of Licensed Investigators, Georgia Association of Private
Investigators, National Council of Investigative and Security Services,
South Carolina Association of Legal Investigators, and World Association of
Detectives.
Clarence G. Hupfer, Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Hupfer is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Research
Consultants Group, Inc. He has been with the company since its
inception in 1976 and still takes an active daily role in the operation
of the business. He has more than 40 years in the investigative
business and is a member of the World Association of Detectives,
Council of International Investigators,
and the Indiana Self-Insured's Association. Mr. Hupfer is a
professional fraud investigator and has given numerous speeches and
seminars regarding fraud investigation, deceptive practices,
and surveillance techniques.
He and his partner, William Lapworth, have taken the company from its
inception in 1976 to its present level, consisting of a client base
in excess of 2000 clients, which includes law firms, large self-insured
companies and various insurance companies. They also work closely
on a daily basis with approximately 40 to 50 SIU directors throughout
the country, most of whom are ex-law enforcement officers.
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