Terms of Service.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement made between you, whether personally or on behalf of an entity ("you") and ISS Investigations ("we," "us," or "our"), concerning your access to and use of the website, the Secure Client Portal, and engagement of professional investigative services.

You agree that by accessing the Service or engaging our services, you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by all of these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, you are expressly prohibited from using the Service and must discontinue use immediately.

ISS Investigations operates under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act 56 of 2001 (PSIRA) and maintains the right to conduct operations across all nine provinces of South Africa.

• All investigations are performed by PSIRA-registered practitioners in compliance with South African national law.
• We reserve the right to decline any mandate that we believe would involve illegal activity, ethical violations, or a conflict of interest in any South African jurisdiction.
• The Client warrants that the investigation is requested for a lawful purpose (e.g., litigation support, internal corporate fraud, matrimonial matters, or due diligence).
• All operatives maintain valid PSIRA registration and undergo annual compliance training.
• Investigations are conducted in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and relevant case law regarding evidence admissibility.

ISS Investigations provides services nationwide. For investigations requiring travel outside of our primary hubs, the following apply:

• Travel Expenses: Kilometre rates are charged according to current AA rates or as per our professional fee structure.
• Substantial Disbursements: Accommodation, airfare, and specialized equipment costs required for national deployment will be invoiced to the Client.
• Local Compliance: While we operate nationally, we adhere to all local municipal by-laws relevant to surveillance and evidence gathering in specific districts.
• Cross-Border Operations: For investigations requiring cross-border operations into neighbouring countries, additional compliance requirements and costs will apply.

To view case progress and download secure reports, you must use the credentials provided. You are responsible for:

Retainers: Upfront retainers are required to secure operative time and resources for national deployment. Retainer amounts vary based on investigation complexity and estimated duration.

Outcome Disclaimer: Fees are paid for professional expertise and investigative hours. We gather evidence as it exists in reality; we do not guarantee specific outcomes, "guilty" findings, or the location of individuals who have successfully evaded detection.

Refunds: Once an investigation has commenced, retainers are non-refundable to cover mobilized costs. Balances are returned within 14 business days of file closure.

Additional Costs: Court attendance, expert testimony, and additional evidence requests beyond the original scope will be billed at prevailing rates.

In accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), ISS Investigations acts as the "Operator" in the processing of personal data.

• Data is stored in secure South African data centres with end-to-end encryption.
• Information is processed only for the specified mandate.
• Evidence is retained only as required by PSIRA or the Prescription Act.
• Clients have the right to access, correct, or delete their personal information upon written request.
• Data breach notifications will be provided within 72 hours of discovery as required by POPIA.

All evidence collected during investigations is subject to strict chain-of-custody protocols to ensure admissibility in South African courts.

• Documentation: Every piece of evidence is logged with time, date, location, and collector details.
• Storage: Physical evidence is stored in secure, access-controlled facilities. Digital evidence is stored in encrypted, tamper-evident systems.
• Transfer: Evidence transfer is documented and requires authorization from both parties.
• Court Admissibility: All evidence collection methods comply with South African Criminal Procedure Act requirements.
• Destruction: Evidence is destroyed according to PSIRA retention schedules and client authorization.

Surveillance operations are conducted in strict compliance with South African law and ethical standards.

• Public Spaces: Surveillance in public spaces is conducted without violating reasonable expectations of privacy.
• Private Property: Surveillance on private property requires explicit authorization from the property owner.
• Electronic Surveillance: All electronic surveillance complies with the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act 70 of 2002 (RICA).
• TSCM Operations: Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures are conducted by certified technicians with appropriate authorization.
• Documentation: All surveillance activities are documented with detailed logs and timestamps.

Successful investigations require client cooperation and timely provision of information.

• Information Provision: Clients must provide accurate and complete information relevant to the investigation.
• Timely Communication: Clients must respond to investigator requests within reasonable timeframes.
• Authorization: Clients must provide necessary authorizations for access to premises, records, or third-party information.
• Truthful Disclosure: Clients must disclose all relevant facts, including information that may be unfavorable to their case.
• Payment: Clients must adhere to agreed payment schedules and provide additional funds for scope changes.

Either party may terminate the engagement under specific circumstances.

• Client Termination: Clients may terminate at any time, but remain liable for costs incurred up to the termination date.
• ISS Termination: ISS may terminate if the Client breaches these terms, provides false information, or requests illegal activities.
• Notice Period: Termination requires 7 days' written notice except in cases of material breach.
• Transition: Upon termination, all evidence and materials will be delivered to the Client within 14 days, subject to outstanding payments.

Disputes arising from these Terms or service provision will be resolved as follows:

• Negotiation: Parties agree to attempt good faith negotiation for 30 days before escalation.
• Mediation: If negotiation fails, parties agree to mediation through an accredited South African mediation service.
• Arbitration: Unresolved disputes may be referred to arbitration under the Arbitration Act 42 of 1965.
• Cost Allocation: Each party bears their own costs unless otherwise determined by the dispute resolution process.

Intellectual property rights and evidence ownership are clearly defined.

• Methodology: ISS retains ownership of investigative methodologies, procedures, and proprietary techniques.
• Evidence: Upon full payment, the Client owns the evidence collected specifically for their case.
• Reports: Final investigation reports become Client property upon payment, subject to confidentiality obligations.
• Templates: All forms, templates, and software used in the investigation remain ISS property.
• Reuse: ISS may anonymize and use case data for internal training and quality improvement.

Emergency and urgent investigations have specific terms and conditions.

• Definition: Emergency investigations include missing persons, immediate threats, or time-sensitive evidence preservation.
• Rush Fees: Emergency services may incur rush fees of 25-50% of standard rates.
• Availability: Emergency services are available 24/7 but subject to operative availability.
• Response Time: We commit to response within 4 hours for emergency calls in Gauteng, 24 hours for other provinces.
• Authorization: Emergency investigations may proceed with verbal authorization, confirmed in writing within 24 hours.

ISS may engage subcontractors and partner networks to fulfill service obligations.

• PSIRA Compliance: All subcontractors must maintain valid PSIRA registration.
• Confidentiality: Subcontractors are bound by identical confidentiality obligations.
• Quality Control: ISS maintains responsibility for all work performed by subcontractors.
• Notification: Clients will be informed of subcontractor engagement where operationally appropriate.
• Geographic Coverage: Partner networks enable service delivery in remote areas and neighbouring countries.

ISS maintains appropriate insurance coverage and requires client indemnification.

• Professional Indemnity: ISS maintains professional indemnity insurance for investigative services.
• Public Liability: Public liability insurance covers property damage or bodily injury during operations.
• Client Indemnity: Clients indemnify ISS against claims arising from client-provided information or instructions.
• Third-Party Claims: ISS is not liable for third-party claims unrelated to our services.
• Certificate of Insurance: Clients may request a certificate of insurance upon engagement.

These Terms and your use of the Service are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. While we operate nationally, any legal disputes shall be adjudicated within the jurisdiction of the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria.

• Applicable Law: South African law applies to all aspects of this agreement.
• Jurisdiction: Gauteng Division, High Court of South Africa has exclusive jurisdiction.
• International Clients: International clients consent to South African jurisdiction.
• Legal Representation: Parties may be represented by South African legal counsel.

ISS reserves the right to amend these Terms as necessary to reflect changes in law, regulations, or business requirements.

• Notice: Material changes will be communicated via email and portal notification 30 days prior to effectiveness.
• Continued Use: Continued use of services after amendments constitutes acceptance of new Terms.
• Legal Changes: Immediate changes may be made to comply with legal requirements without notice.
• Record Keeping: Previous versions of Terms will be archived and available upon request.

For queries regarding these Terms or to report a security concern, please contact: