Postal Inspector Audits

We've heard of audits by the IRS and the DMV, but the "Postal Inspector"? The following scenario is from a PI in California;

Usually most attorneys I work for have their own process servers (I wont serve them unless they money is right.) But when I do serve them, I'll only do so when its part of a case I'm already working, and when its being billed at my hourly rates.

Two weeks ago I submitted a postal form request at an undisclosed post office, in hopes to discern the witnesses forwarding address. As they usually do, they made a photo copy of my PI license and my postal form. They then advised they would mail the results back to me (they were very busy.)

I just received a phone call from a U.S. Postal Inspector. He advised me they did a "random audit," and he investigating my request to see if I was following protocol. He advised me that he suspected I was not being truthful. He advised he could not confirm that an actual court case was actually pending, as my form stated.

He then asked me to repeat the case number, court and names of all the parties involved. When I did so, he realized he read the case number wrong. Evidently my penmanship was not very legible, plus I abbreviated the lengthy parties names involved.

Thankfully I was being honest and truthful on my form. I should hope if any of you get audited, that you will pass with flying colors. Its not cheap to defend yourself, if the prosecutor is the US Attorneys office.

Be careful,

Patrick L. Baird
Private Investigator