An Edmond, OK, resident who owned a rental property had three trust-account security deposits that mysteriously disappeared. The rental manager refused to even touch them. There were no supporting documents in either direction. So the property owner scheduled an appointment with a polygraph examiner from OKC Property Managers Trust to address financial discrepancies.
Such a case generates the same question: what will you experience from the moment you click and schedule an appointment to the moment you leave?
Before the Exam
Making the Call
The first step is a conversation, usually on the phone. They would explain what time they disappeared and who was in contact with the account. The examiner would listen in order to understand the situation. They would ask for additional details to clear it up. They would also provide you with an approximate cost and schedule.
It is only an opportunity to describe your problem and determine whether testing is appropriate.
Scheduling an Examination
In almost all Oklahoma City and Tulsa situations, your examiner may be able to set up an appointment with you within a week. Or sooner if you really don’t want to wait.
Appointments can be two to three hours in total, so clear off a morning or afternoon at least. A few important logistical details for your appointment:
- Be clear on any specific instructions for parking. If you don’t know where the office is, do your research now.
- Let your examiner know if you have documents you need to bring. For example, if we were missing proof of the lost deposit, you’d want to see if that was helpful.
- Talk through how you’ll get results and what time frame you should expect them.
- Discuss payment upfront – some examiners require it then; others wait until later in the process.
Mentally Preparing
No need to practice anything or plan what to say. Your questions will be developed with your examiner before the test, and nothing needs to be memorized beforehand.
However, appearing rested and in as little a hurry as possible will be more useful than rehearsing would. People who arrive 5 minutes before their schedules are often more flustered before anything ever begins.
What Examiners Actually Ask During Intake
You might be surprised by how much ground they actually cover in the intake call. Being prepared means you can keep the call moving along faster.
Most examiners want to know when the disputed transaction occurred, along with anyone else in a position to be related or to have access. They will also want to understand what you hope will be resolved or clarified by the test.
For the rental property owner, that translates into stating which exact deposits are at issue. It also means stating when each was supposed to be posted.
List anyone with access to the relevant account during that time. Be as specific as possible during the intake call. Your examiner will then be able to be far more specific with his or her questions down the road.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Commit
Making the call to schedule the test deserves consideration. Some key questions to bring up in that first conversation:
- Where did you study, and how long have you practiced in this field?
- Have you treated clients like me before?
- What if my test result comes back “inconclusive”?
- How do you secure my privacy after you give me the result?
The confidence and directness of the answer to each of these should be a green light. Hesitancy or fumbling for an answer should signal caution.
The Night Before
There isn’t an elaborate prep list, but there are a few small things that really do contribute to a better morning. Knowing what time and address your exam is going to be at before the last minute saves the morning rush. If you take any medications regularly, stick with your schedule. Don’t skip anything just because you’re nervous. Let your examiners know if they need to.
During the Exam
The Interview Comes First
When you get there, your exam doesn’t begin with sensors. Your exam begins with a verbal walk-through. During this discussion, your examiner takes a close examination of your case. They walk you through each of the questions they’ll ask prior to any of it really counting toward your score.
For our property manager example, this involves taking each deposit in question and working it piece by piece. On what day did each occurrence take place? Who else would have had access to the bank account during the specified timeframe? Based on these pieces of information, your examiner crafts clear and unmistakable questions.
This portion of your exam normally takes between 30 and 45 minutes to complete. It is a stage during which you will benefit from a slower and more detailed approach rather than proceeding in a rush.
Getting Connected to the Equipment
After the interview, a couple of small sensors are fitted. A band goes around the chest and measures breathing. A cuff on one arm measures heart rate, and small pads on two fingers measure sweat gland function. All this takes a minute or two and does not hurt at all.
The Test Itself
Another 30-45 minutes will be spent conducting the questions. You will be asked a series of questions in yes-or-no format. They are repeated multiple times in different rounds to ensure that your answers are consistent. There is neither cross-examination nor new, surprising questions. You will already have gone through everything that will be asked.
In our property manager’s case, the questions would be around who took the deposits and where you know the money to be. The scope would be small and direct.
What You’re Not Being Tested On
Many people assume that a test will open up and go around, trying to investigate your general life history. This will not happen if the test has been conducted properly. All questions should be focused on the reason the test was booked.
How Examiners Handle Nerves in the Room
Almost everyone feels some nerves when walking into a polygraph test. This includes people who have absolutely nothing to hide. Skilled examiners expect this and build it into how they read your results. This prevents ordinary anxiety from getting mistaken for something more.
If nerves feel overwhelming in the moment, saying so out loud helps. Most examiners have sat across from plenty of anxious people. They know how to help someone settle before the questions that count actually begin.
After the Exam
Getting Your Initial Results
After the question session concludes, the examiner evaluates all the physiological responses. They can usually give you the probable conclusion the same day. Their conclusion is not a guess.
For the property manager, receiving same-day results gives the property owner almost an immediate update on what’s happening. It also shows how the issue of missing deposits impacts their employee and the possibility that it reflects something else.
Receiving Your Written Report
Within a couple of days, your full written report will be submitted. This report has all questions, scoring methods, and conclusions. It’s then yours. It’s your decision whether it stays with you, is sent to another party, or is used in any of several capacities.
- If you are associated with a lawyer, you can submit the report to them for their use.
- If it’s of a personal nature, the report can be for you only for clarification of results.
- If it’s something that impacted employment or a business, it’s still your call on who you share it with.
What If Results Come Back Inconclusive?
This isn’t necessarily a bad outcome. The usual reason is that there was enough stress in the situation or enough outside interfering factors (medical issues, complicated circumstances, etc.). This can leave so many clean readings unavailable.
A skilled examiner will discuss possible reasons for an inconclusive outcome with you. If the situation is high-stakes, like in a workplace theft case, then taking a second test is almost always the next step. Deciding What Comes Next
The test itself can’t settle the matter. What you get out of it is objective, documented information to guide your decision-making. A non-deceptive reading would lead to further investigation elsewhere as the owner searches for the real culprit.
How Long Do Your Results Stay Useful
It goes without saying that recent issues will require recent tests. There’s very little utility in bringing results related to an event that took place years ago into a current scenario. Even if you do not resolve all issues initially after receiving the test results, situations can often change. This requires a fresh set of tests with updated facts.
Keeping Your Results Confidential
Privacy rights are just as important after the test as during it. An ethical examiner will not give the report to any third party (such as an employer, attorney, etc., or any family member) without your written permission.
For the rental owner, those results by the property manager don’t belong to anyone other than the owner and the examiner. They stay private until the owner decides otherwise, or it’s necessary for an attorney, etc.
How This Timeline Shifts for a Lie Detector Test in Oklahoma City or a Lie Detector Test in Tulsa Provider
Regardless of your circumstances or which city you are using to test, the basic “before,” “during,” and “after” structure will remain the same. A Lie Detector Test Tulsa family hires for a custody battle will still take shape in the same manner as our rental property example.
One aspect that is subject to a little variability is the “before” phase of the testing.
Some more complex situations, such as a case of family abuse, might necessitate a longer telephone discussion between the client and the examiner before setting the appointment time.
When Before, During, and After Look Different for a Polygraph Examiner Tulsa Case
This three-part structure generally remains intact in most cases. However, there are some situations that present unique difficulties that are good to anticipate in advance.
For our rental property example, picture each person having an account, not just one. The “before” part would include two different conversations to gain understanding. The “during” part would involve two appointments, each covering every aspect, rather than one appointment covering everything twice. Testing multiple individuals on one day is not uncommon. Each appointment involves a full review.
For matters that already include an attorney in the proceedings, the “before” phase can sometimes include a direct conversation between the examiner and the attorney. Their questions will then conform to the overall legal approach of the case.
When Special Circumstances Come Up
Some appointments don’t follow the typical structure. It’s good to have an idea of how to address anything unusual.
Language barriers. If you’re not comfortable speaking in English, you might wish to complete the interview in a different language. They can make adjustments as necessary for each interview. This also helps prevent confusing and unclear questions during the pre-interview period.
Physical limitations. Specific health conditions, difficulties with mobility, or health issues may require you to sit in a certain position. Be upfront about any physical constraints when you make your appointment call. This gives the examiner an opportunity to prepare for your visit.
Time-sensitive situations. In our example, the property owner couldn’t afford to wait weeks for an appointment. They also couldn’t have the funds sit idly while they waited. If a matter is on a tight deadline and a delay in processing can have significant consequences (such as the outcome of a business transaction), many Tulsa and Oklahoma City examiners reserve some appointment slots to provide services more quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my day should I set aside?
Block out 2 to 3 hours. Simple cases may finish in 2 hours.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
Suppose your examiner has specifically asked you to bring documents for your case. Most personal circumstances don’t require you to bring anything at all.
Will I feel anything uncomfortable during the test?
No. The sensors are basic, and the touch is no different than a blood pressure monitor.
Processing Results, Whatever They Show
When someone finally does get their results back, it may contain more emotional weight for them than they anticipated walking in. This can happen even if that result confirms a suspicion that someone already had. Do keep in mind that a report will give you clear data, not a comprehensive review of everything you’ll be doing going forward.
For the rental property owner, results that were “deceptive” wouldn’t automatically suggest a termination of a business relationship. This would only happen if there were a follow-up to a real, educated conversation on the matter. We didn’t already have information leading us to the facts we needed to have. And if the results came back non-deceptive…well, those deposits are still missing. So you’d want to have a reason to explore alternative explanations.
Make certain that you’ve got enough space to process whichever option the results present to you. Do this before you make and finalize whatever the next step may be. Poor decisions are rarely born out of a cool, calm, and clear perspective. That’s no different, even once you finally receive confirmation.
Bringing It All Together
Before: A phone call and some minor scheduling, and that’s about it. Nothing to prepare for. During: A relaxed interview, easy-to-operate equipment, a set of interview questions you will have already reviewed, and nothing to memorize. After: Results the same day, a written report in a matter of days, and a concrete decision based on real information.
If you find yourself in a situation similar to the dispute over the rental property, assistance is at hand. Assistance is at hand for pretty much any other lingering disagreement between two people unable to reach consensus on the facts. A reputable Polygraph Examiner in OKC can guide you through the process. What’s best, they can leave you with the real information you need to move on!
