I am an ex-employee of IPIU and I am here to tell you that they are NOT "International. They are located in Bigfork, Montana and all of the "international" phone numbers are forwarded to the Montana office. As is all of the mail. While I worked with them, I repeatedly had to handle complaints and late shipments, as well as had access to some of the financial records, in which it was patently obvious that they had taken money for "membership' and badges etc, and that they had not in fact ben mailed out, even though some of them had been over a year old!!!
This company is also know as Law Offices of Attorney Services and the "director" A certain Jeremy Lancaster was investigated and fined in Idaho for deceptive business practices. Additionally, the Legal affairs person, Sarah Livingston, is actually Jeremy Lancaster, using a fake name. Also, if you were to go to their website, www.ipiu.org/forums you will find that almost every name that is in a Management position is actually him, using different names.
There aren't any offices in London, nor are there any in Canada. This company provides minimal training, and the only jobs you will get from them are either mystery shopper jobs, (which you can get all by yourself), or jobs in which you go to bars and the like to see if they are illlegally showing PPV shows, such as boxing or some other event. These will be a few times a year.
This website, http://www.detectivetraining.com/investigator_training.html#ans12 has a lot to say about this company, and it is all true!
International private investigators union
International Private Investigators Union, also known as IPIU, is the most blatant of all unethical scams in the industry. They run a classic "Bait and Switch" scam by running classified internet ads nationwide under help wanted Attorney Services. The unsuspecting job seeker is then directed to join IPIU for $59-$89 and made to believe that it is a legitimate union or private investigator association and members will be receiving private investigator related jobs which they never do. They also require members to fill out FBI fingerprint cards and have them pay for an FBI warrant check which is never done and, in fact, illegal to do.
IPIU's misdirects the viewer on its website into believing that they are located in Canada by using a Canadian PO Box and phone number but which call forwards to it real offices in Montana.By misdirecting its complaints to the Better Business Bureau in Canada, IPIU avoids any scrutiny by U.S. Law enforcement authorities. IPIU will not divulge the owner's name or their physical address which is not characteristic of an ethically run, law enforcement related business.
IPIU's offices are located at 470 Electric Ave., Bigfork, Mt. 59911. The owner is Jeremy Lancaster, 55 years, and runs the business with his wife, Jean. They have three offices at that location with the signs Attorney Services and Bureau for Business Ethics on the outside. Former employees have said that they left their jobs because of ethical reasons. Public records indicate the following legal action against Jeremy Lancaster: $4,367 state tax lien in 1996, $5,748.00 federal tax lien in 2000 and a $129,151.00 federal tax lien in 2000.
DTI believes that IPIU should refund all monies to its members because of its deceptive marketing tactics. If you have been victimized by IPIU, you are encouraged to contact the Montana Attorney General's office and file a consumer complaint. They can be reached at: Montana Attorney General's Office, Consumer Affairs Unit, Box 200501, Helena, MT 59620 or call (406) 444-4312.
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