DANGERS OF HIRING UNETHICAL POLYGRAPH EXAMINERS

If you have considered hiring a polygraph examiner, there are issues you should investigate prior to making an informed decision. This blog will attempt to help you differentiate between honest and hard working examiners, and greedy, inept charlatans.

Polygraph Examiners are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with moral and ethical standards of policy. Unfortunately, greed will cause those who were at one time honest examiners, to change into sloppy, careless, and greedy people. Rules and policies are created so that there are consistent areas of practices for all to follow, and so that you, the consumer, will have something to reference when making informed judgments on a potential examiner.

The most frequent complaint I hear, is that some examiners will quote a price below professional standards, and why do my fees differ so much. You get what you pay for! For example: Recently, I was contacted by a potential client who was in need of a last minute exam, and wanted to be tested the same day. Unfortunately I was booked, and offered an appointment first thing the next day. When I called the gentleman to confirm his appointment, he told me my services would no longer be needed since he had another examiner test his issue. The gentleman then told me he was happy with the examiner, since the examiner traveled to his home and had found him to be truthful…all in a 45-minute exam!

I was appalled. As a follower of ASTM rules, polygraphs shall not be less than 90 minutes in length, and as a safety concern, should never, ever take place in a client’s home. I quickly learned the examiner had charged a considerable amount less than the professional standard. Of course, I was a little disappointed to hear I had lost a client, however I was more appalled the client had been cheated out of an ethical exam. Of course, the gentleman may have been pleased it went his way, but I questioned how his spouse would have reacted if she’d known the exam she'd relied upon to help find out if her spouse was adulterous was not in compliance with minimum requirements of testing to ensure the most accurate test possible.

Cheating you out of the best polygraph possible is just plain wrong! Choose an examiner who does not cheat the system, and one who gives you what you paid for…their time and expertise in providing an exam that would withstand scrutiny if ever questioned.
Do your homework. Verify that examiner is who they say they are, and confirm their association with one or more of the following: American Polygraph Association, California Association of Polygraph Examiners, American Association of Police Polygraphists, and the National Polygraph Association. There are NO OTHER RECOGNIZED POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATIONS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

If you feel you have been duped by an examiner, or feel you may have been deceived during the process, call me for a free evaluation. Check out my website for more information www.tbtpolygraph.com

Remember, examiners should be giving you a level of service equivelant to what you expect to pay as a client. Verify credentials and ask questions. Failure to provide information you have requested is an indicator you are not speaking with a qualified examiner. Do not allow any "examiner" to side track your conversation or inquiries...good luck and look forward to speaking to you soon.