Terms and Conditions

These Terms & Conditions apply whenever you engage The QCI Group (“we”, “us”, “our”) for investigative or related professional services. By instructing us by phone, email, electronic message, signed authority or payment, you agree to these Terms.

1. Our Services

The QCI Group provides lawful investigative and specialist intelligence services throughout Australia where legally permitted. Services may include surveillance, workplace investigations, factual enquiries, locate matters, bug sweeping / TSCM, background enquiries, process serving and related assignments. All work remains subject to legality, licensing requirements, operational availability, staff safety and practical circumstances.

2. Acceptance of Engagement

A binding agreement is created once you request us to proceed, provide instructions, make payment, approve a quote, sign an online authority form or continue to instruct us after receiving these Terms. Our file notes, communications, invoices and payment records may be relied upon as evidence of your engagement.

3. No Guaranteed Outcome

Investigative work is affected by factors outside our control, including subject behaviour, timing, access limitations, third-party conduct, changing circumstances, weather and legal restrictions.

For that reason, we do not guarantee that evidence will be obtained, a person will be located, misconduct established, devices detected or any desired personal, commercial or legal outcome achieved. Fees are charged for professional expertise, reserved capacity, operational deployment and lawful effort rather than guaranteed results.

4. Fees & Payment

Fees may be charged as fixed fees, hourly rates, retainers, staged fees or reimbursable expenses depending on the matter.

Private matters are generally payable in advance unless otherwise agreed. Approved commercial or professional clients may be offered account facilities at our discretion. Invoices must be paid by the due date. Overdue accounts may attract interest, recovery costs, suspension of services and legal action where necessary.

5. Cancellation, Refunds & Rescheduling

Once investigators, staff, vehicles, specialist equipment or operational time have been allocated, costs are incurred immediately. Where sufficient notice is provided, unused funds may be considered for refund after deduction of administration costs, merchant fees and expenses already incurred.

Where cancellation occurs shortly before commencement, or after personnel and resources have been committed, reasonable booking and reserved operational charges may be retained.

Once work has commenced, including planning, enquiries, database research, field attendance, surveillance deployment or other billable activity, fees incurred are non-refundable.

We may reschedule operations where reasonably necessary for safety, legality, operational advantage, weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.  Nothing in these Terms excludes rights which cannot lawfully be excluded under Australian law.

6. Client Responsibilities

You confirm that information supplied is accurate to the best of your knowledge and that you are lawfully entitled to request the services.

Our services must not be used for harassment, intimidation, stalking, unlawful surveillance or any unlawful purpose. We may refuse or terminate any matter where concerns arise.

7. Confidentiality & Privacy

We handle client information confidentially subject to legal obligations, insurer requirements, regulatory requests, debt recovery rights and operational necessity.

Clients must also keep confidential our reports, pricing, methods and communications unless disclosure is legally required.

8. Reports & Intellectual Property

All reports, footage, photographs, logs, statements, notes and work product created by us remain our intellectual property unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Upon full payment, clients receive a limited licence to use final deliverables for their own lawful internal purposes.

9. Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we exclude liability for indirect, consequential, reputational or economic loss.  Where liability cannot lawfully be excluded, it is limited to re-supply of services or the fees paid for the relevant services.

10. Suspension & Termination

We may suspend or terminate services where payment default occurs, false information is supplied, cooperation is withheld, safety risks arise, abusive conduct occurs or unlawful purpose is suspected.  Accrued fees remain payable.

11. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Australia and applicable State or Territory jurisdictions.