We understand that many clients come to us in difficult personal circumstances. Everything on this page is designed to help you engage with us in a way that keeps control in your hands. If you have any concerns not covered here, please call us directly.
How payments appear on bank statements
This is one of the most common concerns for clients dealing with a personal matter such as suspected infidelity or a domestic financial dispute. We are aware that a bank or credit card statement may be visible to a partner, family member, or others, and we take steps to ensure our billing is as discreet as possible.
What will appear on your statement
Payments will appear under a discreet trading name that makes no reference to investigation, surveillance, or the Harwick Intelligence brand. The reference gives no indication of the nature of the service. When you engage with us, we will tell you verbally what the statement reference will be so you know what to expect — but we do not publish it here, as doing so would defeat the purpose.
The payment reference shown alongside the name will contain your unique client number only, not any description of your instruction.
Payment methods
We accept payment by bank transfer and by debit or credit card. If you have concerns about a specific payment method appearing on a shared account, please discuss this with us when you make contact — we will do our best to accommodate your circumstances.
Using a personal account you control independently is the most straightforward approach if you are concerned about a joint account being seen by a partner. If this is not possible, speak to us — we handle these conversations regularly and will not make you feel uncomfortable raising it.
Invoices and paperwork
We do not send invoices or correspondence by post unless you specifically ask us to. All documentation is delivered digitally through secure channels. If you need a paper copy for any reason, please discuss this with us first so we can agree a safe arrangement.
How to contact us safely
Before making contact, it is worth thinking briefly about how you are communicating and whether there is any risk that those communications could be seen by someone else.
Using a separate email address
If you use a shared computer, a family email account, or an email address your partner has access to, we strongly recommend setting up a separate, private email account before contacting us. Use a device your partner does not have access to when creating it.
Phone calls
Our enquiry line is answered as "Harwick" — not with a fuller description of what we do. If you are concerned about call logs being visible (for example on a shared phone account or a phone bill), consider calling from a work phone, a friend's phone, or purchasing a low-cost pay-as-you-go SIM for the purpose of your enquiry.
If you need us to call you back at a specific time when it is safe to speak, simply let us know when you make contact and we will arrange this.
Encrypted communications
For clients who wish to communicate through fully encrypted channels, we can provide details of our secure messaging and email options once initial contact has been made. These offer end-to-end encryption, meaning the content of your messages cannot be intercepted or read by any third party.
If this is important to you, mention it when you first call or email and we will set this up before any sensitive information is exchanged.
Protecting yourself on your device
Your browser and device can leave traces of your activity that others may be able to find. The steps below are straightforward and do not require any technical knowledge.
Recommended
- Use private or incognito browsing
- Use a device only you have access to
- Create a separate email address for this purpose
- Call us from a phone not on a shared plan
- Ask us about encrypted communications early
- Tell us if you need callbacks at specific times
Avoid
- Using a shared or family email account
- Browsing on a shared home computer
- Saving passwords on a shared browser
- Paying from a joint account without considering visibility
- Leaving documents or reports in a shared folder
- Discussing the enquiry via messaging apps your partner can access
Receiving and storing your report
Digital delivery
Reports are delivered via a secure, encrypted file transfer rather than by standard email attachment. You will receive a link to download the report, which is password-protected. We will provide the password to you separately — typically by telephone. Links expire after a set period.
Once downloaded, your report is your responsibility to store securely — for example, in a cloud storage account in your name alone, or on a device with a passcode your partner does not know.
Deleting downloads
If you download a report on a device a partner may use, be aware that downloaded files often appear in a Downloads folder that is easy to stumble upon. Move the file to a secure location or delete it from Downloads once you have saved it elsewhere. Also check your browser's download history.
If you need a printed copy
If you need a physical copy — for example, to share with a solicitor — please do not print it using a shared home printer. Many printers retain print logs. Use a printer at work, at a solicitor's office, or at a print shop, and take the printed copy directly with you.
Our discretion towards you
We do not discuss our clients or their instructions with anyone outside of the operational team working on your case. We will never confirm or deny to any third party — including a partner, family member, or employer — that you have contacted us or that an investigation is underway.
If someone contacts us claiming to be you, or claiming to be acting on your behalf, we will verify this with you directly before providing any information.
If you feel you may be at risk of harm from a partner or family member, please be aware that organisations such as the National Domestic Abuse Helpline can provide confidential support. This is separate from and in addition to any investigation. Your safety comes first.