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Do I need a private investigator licence in Washington state?

March 11, 2020 07:21PM
Hi everyone. I just became a mystery shopper. A friend told me that in Washington state you need a private investigator licence to mystery shop here. I have done a few phone shops, and was just told this today. Do I need a private investigator licence?
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March 11, 2020 07:30PM
I live in Seattle: No, you do not need a PI license here.... According to an MSC owner with whom I spoke some time ago, there are some integrity shops for which it really *should* be required for the way that the client uses the reports.....

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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March 11, 2020 08:06PM
Thank you so much for the information MF Johnston. I was just freeking out because I have done 5 phone shops, and one where I am monitoring emails, and follow up phone calls. I thought I was going to get in trouble for not having this licence, and be fined or something because my friend told me its illegal to do here in Wa. without one. I feel so much better now. You have a great day!
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March 11, 2020 08:30PM
There used to be a forum member (not an attorney) who tried to alarm all MSers in your state that they faced felony charges if they did ANY MS without a PI license. There was never anything to support that idea and a lot of posts, citing WA state statutes to refute it, as I recall.

ETA That was some years back.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2020 08:32PM by walesmaven.
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March 11, 2020 08:35PM
It really depends on what kind of “shopping” you’re doing in some cases.
For example, we (meaning the boss and I) got a cease and desist order for some jobs that we were going to do in Arizona. Our PI license is not valid in Arizona, and it has no reciprocity with the states in which we hold them. I was told that you don’t need anything to do customer service shops in Arizona but in order to do any sort of integrity jobs that could potentially get somebody fired, you need a valid PI license issued by the state of Arizona.

99% of the shops we talk about here are fine anywhere except NV.
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March 11, 2020 09:45PM
I've shopped all over Washington state for several years now, and have never been required to obtain a WA PI license. In fact, Nevada only requires a NV PILB work card, not a PI license to conduct mystery shops within Nevada.
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March 12, 2020 05:03AM
@Eric in Tampa wrote:

I've shopped all over Washington state for several years now, and have never been required to obtain a WA PI license. In fact, Nevada only requires a NV PILB work card, not a PI license to conduct mystery shops within Nevada.

Regular shops in NV require a PILB work card.

Certain types of shops in NV require a real PI license. You have to pass a test, etc. That's what we needed in AZ. We have it for CA, FL, NY and not sure where else, but not AZ as they have no reciprocity for those states.
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