Polygraph Exam Pricing - Bad Ethics or Good Business - Jack Ogilvie and Elmer Criswell
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I have not been in private practice for many years
and have lost touch somewhat with the business end
of polygraph. I do know from several friends and
fellow examiners from various associations I
belong to that the going rate for a polygraph test
varies dramatically.

I have heard several complaints about examiners
being undercut and "chart rollers" ruining business
due to testing for ridiculously low prices. I have
also heard complaints about examiners charging
exorbitant prices. After all, who do they think they
are to get so much money for a test?

I don't have the answers to these questions and
would very much like your input, but let's look at
this a little closer.

If an examiners want to charge, say $75, for a
test, and they do a good test following proper
standards for length of time, technique, question
formulation, comparison question setting and all
the other protocol required for a good test,
should they be chastised for their fee? Shouldn't
it be their decision about what they need to
charge for a test to make their living? An
examiner not using proper standards and not doing
a good test shouldn't be testing, let alone
charging for his or her services.

I am not sure if the issue is that some examiners
are seriously under-bidding other examiners, or
that they are running shortened and/or improper
tests? It is only my opinion, but I don't think
we have the right to tell anyone how much can be
charged for their services. We can, however,
report someone who is doing improper tests which
would include "chart rollers" (who, for our non-
PDD Examiner readers are individuals who cut
corners to give the quickest examination possible
so that they can do as many examinations as
possible in a day's period). That is an ethical
issue that can be addressed by the professional
organizations, licensing boards, and other
individuals wishing to curb the improper
practices. This may be accomplished through
professional censure, or more formally, with civil
litigation through use of ASTM (American Society
for Testing & Materials) published Standards of
PDD Practices and Ethical Standards with AAPP and
APA Standards of Practice and Ethics Standards as
supporting evidence.

If the general public, through mere ignorance,
chooses to use a PDD Examiner that does not belong
to a professional organization we, as
professionals, can't do much about that. Our only
hope of accomplishing this would be to attempt to
educate the public concerning the choosing of a
PDD Examiner, and that is happening more
frequently because of internet access and web sites
such as The Polygraph Place.

For those examiners who charge and get exorbitant
rates, that is part of what capitalism endorses -
"charge what the market will bear". Have you not
had someone call you and ask for a test on his or
her significant other because they think they are
being unfaithful? Did you ever, because you don't
like doing this type test, tell them it would cost
$500 or even $1,000? (sounds like a great
control/comparison question for use when
polygraphing a private PDD Examiner, Jack).
Imagine your surprise when they said, "OK".

"Yahoo," here is $500 to $1000 you never expected.
You turned it down right? Maybe some of you would
have, but private examiners would not likely do so.

If it is important enough to someone that they
will pay, $1,000, $1,500, even $2000 many will ask
themselves, "why not?" You have to deal with your
own conscience, and if you think you're worth
higher rates and can get them, then "good for
you," just keep in mind that you are doing a
good test, following all proper procedures and are
conducting a professional examination.

So what do you think? Is this an ethical issue, a
moral dilemma, or just plain wrong. Maybe the
price for a Polygraph is not an issue at all.
Perhaps it's just an issue about doing a good job
for services rendered. What do you think?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Elmer Criswell

This became an issue after I had drafted the ASTM
Ethical Guide for PDD Examiners and the committee
members "pounded out" and eventually produced a
published ethics standard. One of our committee
members (who joined but never participated - likely
for a "resume-builder") came to me at an APA
seminar (while I was on my way to the bathroom)
with a six inch case file and wanted me to "launch
an investigation" (as he put it) to stop unethical
PDD practices in his state. I tried to explain to
him that ASTM is not an enforcement body and I
that we only write standards and have them approved
by a consensus of those in the industry choosing to
involve themselves in the process.

He then stated, "You are the chairman of the Ethics
Committee are you not?," to which I answered that
I was. He then stated that it was my job to see
that an investigation was done into these "highly
unethical" practices. (I really had to go to the
bathroom) I explained that he could use ASTM
standards to file an injunction or otherwise seek
civil relief against the PDD Examiner involved in
unethical practices. To shorten an already too
long story, I finally got it across to him that he
could hire an investigator, do it himself since he
was a licensed investigator, and/or hire an
attorney to offer legal advice on the matter. He
immediately lost interest once he saw that ASTM was
not going to do it for him for free. He then asked
if we could write a letter threatening the
"offender" with legal action for the unethical
practices to which I, again, referred him to the
Yellow Pages under "Attorney."

I finally did ask what the unethical practices were
(a mistake since it took another half hour - I was
now practically doing a dance since I had to
really, really go to the bathroom). He stated that
the other PDD Examiner was charging less than he
did, he had extensive documentation to prove it (at
that point, I almost went to the bathroom right
there. I brought out the ethics standards (which I
was going to soon have to use for toilet paper if
this lasted much longer) and showed him that
"unexcessive" fees or charging less than the
competition was not unethical, it was simply
"competition." He then wanted to discuss the
writing of a standard to address this serious issue
of "under-cutting" other examiners. I suggested
that he write one, and finally went to the
bathroom.

To give my answer to Jack's question, I think that
most of us charge what we think we are worth and
what our services are worth. If some people are
charging less than me and are performing the job
correctly, I cannot complain because I have no
right to do so. If they are "cutting corners,"
then I have a legitimate complaint - with no one to
really complain to since we have no licensing in
Pennsylvania as with most states. We have an
examiner in our area who still uses the Keeler, 3
channel "toolbox," has not attended a seminar since
the late 1970's, uses 5 second question-spacing,
and uses personal, embarrassing sex questions as
"controls" in specific issue and screening
examinations. We cannot stop him since we can find
no one willing to follow through with a complaint.
Our polygraph association would be willing to file
for an injunction, but we have no people who have
been "victims" of his "service" who have any
willingness to do anything. I would imagine that
the circumstances are similar in other states as
well.

I charge more than anyone else in my area for
specific issue tests, and I base that upon expenses
for continuing education (AAPP, APA, ASTM, and
state association seminars every year) keeping my
advanced certifications current, association dues,
equipment updates for software and hardware, etc.
I fully understand why many private examiners have
difficulty attending week-long seminars since the
expense is high, and they have "down-time" from
making any money while at the seminar.

I don't have this problem since I am still being
paid by the college; however, most of the private
examiners in our area are current (doing private
testing and some using departmental polygraph
equipment for this) or retired law enforcement
officers and are receiving salaries and good
pensions and will not be hurt as much as the
totally private examiner - but most still do not
attend continuing education. I also get tired of
hearing some of the law enforcement examiners (many
of whom I have given basic training and who are
good friends of mine and who can afford to pay
seminar expenses) who say they can't attend
seminars because the department won't pay for it.
Nobody pays for private examiners to attend
seminars.

What it boils down to is if we don't want to make
avoidable mistakes, and we want to be competent at
what we do, we have to engage in some self-
sacrifice to do it. If we are unwilling to make
that sacrifice, then we should get out of polygraph
totally and leave it to those who are dedicated to
sustaining competency and professionalism.

Of course, when they don't avail themselves of
update programs, and somewhere along the line they
"do it wrong" because they "didn't know" - they
hurt the victim of their mistake. But mostly, they
hurt the polygraph field and further contribute to
the erosion of polygraph credibility.

In summary, for those who are concerned about
whether or not "low-balling" other private
examiners is unethical - then I say it is not. If
they can "low-ball" because they cut corners, then
"Yes" it is. If they can "low-ball" because they
do not remain professionally competent, then "Yes"
it is.

If they look at the AAPP, APA, and ASTM standards
that address continuing education, they may be very
well violating standards of practice, which, in
itself, becomes an ethical violation for violating
any ASTM standard.

Hopefully, we will get plenty of feedback from the
readers on this issue presented by Jack.

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