Northeast Forensic Paranormal Research

There has been much discussion over the issue of whether or not to charge a fee for service when investigation a haunting. It is reasonable to charge fees since there can be a significant cost for such investigations. Many groups and at least one television show “Ghost Hunters” feel that charging a fee equates to paranormal investigations being fraudulent or at least, not creditable. The fallacy of this argument can be seen in the medical professions. If you believe the TAPS group, just because you pay for services when you go to a doctor or hospital that money the hospitals then spend on medical research for cures to diseases make the research fraudulent or not credible.

On several episodes of the Ghost Hunters show the issue is talked about by the founders of the group. What is misleading about their statements is that they can afford not to charge a fee. The TAPS group has many sponsors that pay for their rights to air the show and advertise during the show. The TAPS group also has many companies who provide the group with gadgets and equipment to be used on the show free of charge. Third, TAPS is heavily marketing merchandise with their logo.

There are many investigating groups who do not have sponsors or companies eager to provide free equipment. Other organizations and groups do paranormal investigating as a “Part-Time” endeavor or as a hobby. These groups who investigate part-time rely on their full-time employment to fund investigations.

The last group of paranormal investigators and researchers make investigating the paranormal their full-time endeavor. Full-Time investigators and researchers spend a great deal of time and effort to seriously peruse the truth of the paranormal realm. This Full-Time endeavor requires a great deal of recourses as with any other field of work or research. It is fully reasonable for these people to charge a fee to defer the cost of an investigation.

In closing, you can take the philosophy of the TAPS group and apply it to plumbers, yet TAPS founders still charge a fee for their plumbing services. Just as with any other profession or field of research the people who dedicate their lives to investigating the “paranormal” need to recover their expenses like anyone else.