Target Countrywide Investigations & Surveillance specialise in providing support for litigation and insurance claims. Since 1990, we have used our skills and experience to develop efficient, cost-saving services, designed around the needs of the claims markets. Our service is available throughout the UK and Europe. Our aim is not to impress with gloss, but to make you aware of the plain facts. Our philosophy is to offer value for money - we maximise results by using high-technology, and by gathering as much evidence as possible. We use only wholly legitimate techniques, to protect our clients from methods which could legally invalidate evidence. We report concisely, factually, and without bias. Our mission is to use our strength, our integrity and our quality to become the first choice for investigation and surveillance. Target Countrywide is ISO 9001 and data protection registered.
the organisation Our headquarters, located in Warrington, Cheshire, accommodate our control centre, administration and reporting team. From here we co-ordinate and handle enquiries from across the UK and Europe. Our people are our strength, not least our team of dedicated field operatives. We know that the success of our investigations lies in their ability. We pride ourselves on providing quality in-house training and development programs to ensure our methods, philosophy and standards are maintained. Our administration team use an integrated database system to record and monitor the progress of all of your cases - so they can provide up-to-date status reports, by e-mail, phone, fax or post, to suit your convenience, or via our secure web site where you can gain immediate, real-time progress reports on all your cases.
the organisation The progress of all our cases is closely monitored by the management and administration team which means we are able to provide immediate status reporting on request. Target Countrywide Organisational Structure Account Activity Client Senior Partner Operational Senior Partner Operational Performance Reviews Claims Manager Training Manager Partner Finance Partner Administration New Instructions Complaints Surveillance Reports Claims Team Surveillance Team Administration Team Surveillance Team Invoicing Surveillance Team
our services Target Countrywide has gradually expanded the base of services offered over the years so that we can provide a complete surveillance and investigations solution to: Insurance Companies The Legal Profession Public Sector Organisations Private Corporations Target Countrywide offer the following services: Preliminary Enquiries Full Surveillance Witness Statements & Locus Reports Tracing & Debt Recovery General Enquiries Desktop Research Profiles Theft & Fraud Investigation
our services The Law We know how critical any failure to comply with the law can be in the settlement of a claim! Consequently, we make it a prime responsibility to keep abreast of legislative changes and to ensure that all relevant staff receive refresher training on a regular basis. Currently including the relevance of Theft & Fraud Investigation The Data Protection Act The Human Rights Act The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act The Woolf Reforms. Theft & Fraud Investigation
surveillance services Surveillance is, and always has been Target Countrywide s primary and specialist service. Our objective in undertaking surveillance is to obtain disclosable evidence for our clients - always working within the parameters of the law. Preliminary Enquiries enable us to ascertain the identity of the subject and their current location and circumstances. From our observations we will recommend whether the matter should proceed to full video surveillance. Full Surveillance Discretion is the key - our operatives utilise the latest technology, including overt, covert and remote controlled cameras. Our fleet of vehicles includes cars, vans and motor cycles - all fully insured for surveillance work. Communication within the surveillance team is mainly through our own radio frequency.
witness statements & locus reports The Civil Procedure rules have created the need to front load the investigation and preparation of claims - regardless for whom you act. Our pre-action package recognises the need to establish an early resolution to the question of liability. It is designed to provide a quick, thorough, and above all cost effective solution. We will proof your policyholder or client, addressing the question of indemnity, proof all witnesses, assess their credibility as such and prepare disclosable statements. In addition we will attend the locus in quo and prepare a locus report to include a sketch plan and photographs. You are then in a position to take a fully informed view at the earliest possible opportunity. Time demands that your instructions are acknowledged immediately and we will aim to report within three weeks, if it is possible to do so. If not, we will provide a provisional report and tell you when the enquiry will be concluded. With flexible pricing on an individual basis, or fixed fee, we believe this reflects a nation-wide solution to a nation-wide problem.
tracing & debt recovery Subjects, witnesses or debtors, we employ a combination of techniques including compliant data mining as well as traditional methods to achieve YOUR aim. As far as debt recovery is concerned, we will ascertain the debtor s attitude towards the debt, seek proposals, and at the same time, assess their ability to pay. In motor cases, our focus is to obtain the identity of the insurer and seek confirmation of their interest. We are also willing to act as process servers for any proceedings. If it s discreet enquiries that you want, we can report on lifestyle, assets, in fact almost anything - without arousing suspicion.
enquiries Target Countrywide has an extensive knowledge and understanding of all aspects of motor related claims, including RTA, DRI and MIB. We are happy to undertake any enquiry that you throw at us. If at the conclusion of any enquiry you would like a report to help you determine your status as insurer, we are happy to oblige. We can also help to produce the evidence necessary to pursue declaration proceedings - if you want us to. At Target we pride ourselves in doing the job well. Following that theme here are just a few other enquiries we can undertake on your behalf subject to the necessary mandates: Interrogate personnel files and obtain statements from employers. Historical pre-accident benefit enquiries. Consider the Disability Discrimination Act to determine the realistic prospect of return to work. See the company Medical Officer where necessary. Our concise Desktop Research Profiles include: Company, director searches & CCJs Property valuations & Land Registry searches Social networking & media site searches
theft & fraud investigation With expectations rising and the demand for service standards increasing, it is understandably easy to ignore the possibility of fraud against the desire to settle claims quickly. Fraud has not disappeared, in fact it is on the increase! Theft, in most cases is simply an allegation, nothing more. Our Theft Report, a relevant questionnaire, is completed following a visit to your policyholder and signed by them. It includes a previous keeper enquiry relating to purchase price, condition etc. and in addition, we liase with the police to establish that they are satisfied with the crime report. Fraud has become a business - living off the back of the Insurance Industry. Whilst easy to allege, the burden of proof is harder to satisfy - and thorough investigation remains the only solution. We can help to detect, prevent and present fraud and exaggerated claims on your behalf. We have no interest in self promotion or publicity - we prefer to recognise the sensitivity of the matter and what this means to you. We will go only as far as you want us to - no further!
who uses us? Insurance Companies, Solicitors, Commercial Companies Government Agencies, Local Councils References can be supplied as required. We are more than happy to arrange a presentation - either at your offices or ours - to fully explain our services and show examples of our filming techniques to your Claims staff. Please telephone us on +44 (0) 1925 242205 to arrange a visit or if you would simply like further information. Alternatively, you can contact us via e-mail at target@target-countrywide.co.uk.
our charges Target Countrywide current charges are as follows. All rates are subject to VAT and are negotiable for high volumes. Preliminary Enquiries Reporting on subject s activities & disability 600 Full Surveillance Inclusive price regardless of location within the UK and Ireland 1950 and 2150 Witness Statements & Locus Reports CPR compliant witness statement 275 Locus report including photographs 275 Full investigation to include Locus & Statement 325 Tracing & Debt Recovery Tracing 110 to 150 Enquiries General enquiries POA Full Desktop Research Profile 175 Theft & Fraud Investigation Theft enquiry 225 Fraud enquiries POA
making history Since our formation in 1990, Target Countrywide has been involved in a number of high profile cases that have been of interest to the media. It has been our philosophy to retain a low-profile in order to respect and protect our clients and so we have always declined to give interviews or make TV appearances. We were the first surveillance company in the UK whose evidence contributed to achieving a criminal conviction for insurance fraud... 136. Accidents - bogus insurance claim A claim was submitted to a Lloyds Syndicate after T was involved in a road accident with their policyholder. T advised that he was unable to work and submitted a loss of earnings claim in excess of 70,000 and continuing. The insurers, through their solicitors, instructed Target Investigation to mount a surveillance operation, whereby T was filmed three times in a two year period, which showed him plying for trade in his taxi-cab, playing golf and repairing a vehicle. The video evidence was later disclosed and the sum of 4,250 paid into court, which was accepted. The insurers reported T to the police for attempting to defraud them and the case was heard before Manchester Crown Court on August 5, 1996 when T admitted attempting to obtain property by deception and was given a six months jail sentence, suspended for two years. R. v. TAYLOR (KEITH), August 5, 1996, Manchester Crown Court. [Ex rel. Lloyds Syndicate].
tried & tested Our systems and legitimate surveillance methods have been developed throughout our history. They have been rigorously tested in the High Court on a number of high value claims that have settled favourably. As a company we have been involved in assisting our insurance clients to reduce claim payments by millions of pounds on an annual basis. Our commitment to our clients is to continue refining and improving our techniques and processes to ensure the professional, efficient and effective handling of cases from validation to settlement.