Additional Information for J.J. and Associates LLC

In August 2024, BBB contacted the business regarding Retrieval of unclaimed funds for compensation, which requires Florida State licensure. To date the business responded but did not provide further information regarding licensure. 

BBB Code of Advertising indicates:
1. Basic Principles of the Code
1.1 The primary responsibility for truthful and non-deceptive advertising rests with the advertiser. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any objective claims or offers made before publication or broadcast. Upon request, they should present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or BBB.
1.2 Advertisements which are untrue, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent, falsely disparaging of competitors, or insincere offers to sell, shall not be used.
1.3 An advertisement as a whole may be misleading by implication, although every sentence separately considered may be literally true.
1.4 Misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements, but by omitting or obscuring a material fact.

Florida State statutes indicate:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0717/Sections/0717.124.html

"717.124 Unclaimed property claims.— (1) Any person, excluding another state, claiming an interest in any property paid or delivered to the department under this chapter may file with the department a claim on a form prescribed by the department and verified by the claimant or the claimant’s representative. The claimant’s representative must be an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, a licensed Florida-certified public accountant, or a private investigator licensed under chapter 493. "

Per FDACS here are the statutues applying to Private Investigator license:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?Mode=View%20Statutes&Submenu=1&Tab=statutes, or just Chapter 493 at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0493/0493.html.

493.6101 Definitions
(15) “Private investigative agency” means any person who, for consideration, advertises as providing or is engaged in the business of furnishing private investigations.
(16) “Private investigator” means any individual who, for consideration, advertises as providing or performs private investigation. This does not include an informant who, on a one-time or limited basis, as a result of a unique expertise, ability, vocation, or special access and who, under the direction and control of a Class “C” licensee or a Class “MA” licensee, provides information or services that would otherwise be included in the definition of private investigation.
(17) “Private investigation” means the investigation by a person or persons for the purpose of obtaining information with reference to any of the following matters:
(a) Crime or wrongs done or threatened against the United States or any state or territory of the United States, when operating under express written authority of the governmental official responsible for authorizing such investigation.
(b) The identity, habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, transactions, reputation, or character of any society, person, or group of persons.
(c) The credibility of witnesses or other persons.
(d) The whereabouts of missing persons, owners of unclaimed property or escheated property, or heirs to estates.
(e) The location or recovery of lost or stolen property.
(f) The causes and origin of, or responsibility for, fires, libels, slanders, losses, accidents, damage, or injuries to real or personal property.
(g) The business of securing evidence to be used before investigating committees or boards of award or arbitration or in the trial of civil or criminal cases and the preparation therefor.