A private detective's first consultation, kept discreet
Neutral service names, a private email, nothing sensitive in the note: how private detectives can let clients book a first consultation without leaving traces.
6 min read
Offer the first consultation as a bookable service with a neutral name, and tell clients in the description to book with an email and phone only they read, and to keep the note short: the details are for the meeting, not the booking form. Say what to bring, how long the meeting lasts, and that you'll explain what you can and can't do within the law. Clients can take the first step quietly, at a time that suits them, and arrive with the information you need to judge the case.
Why discretion starts at booking
People who contact a private detective may be worried about a partner, an employee, a business partner or a relative, and the person concerned may share their home, their email or their calendar. A confirmation email or a calendar entry seen by the wrong person can end an investigation before it starts, or cause harm. Design the booking so that nothing in it gives the subject away.
Making the booking discreet
- A neutral service name: such as "Consultation" or "Initial meeting", rather than the type of investigation.
- A private email and phone: ask clients to use contacts only they have access to.
- A short note: the note is copied into the calendar file attached to the confirmation email, so it should say little or nothing.
- A shared calendar check: remind clients that if their calendar syncs with someone else's, they may prefer not to add the appointment.
- Your address: say where to come, or offer a video or phone consultation instead.
What the client should bring
Ask clients to bring what they already know, in writing if possible: names, addresses, vehicles, dates and times of events, photos, messages they are legally entitled to show you, and what they want to find out. A clear timeline saves time in the meeting and helps you judge quickly whether the case is something you can take on and how.
How the first meeting runs
Listen first, then ask the questions that matter for the investigation: the objective, what the client will do with the result, the timeframe. Explain what methods are open to you and which ones aren't allowed, in general terms and in line with the rules where you work, and say if a request goes beyond them. End with next steps: whether you'll send a proposal, how long it may take, and how you'll communicate safely during the investigation.
When you can't take the case
Some requests fall outside what a detective can lawfully do, or outside your field. Say so clearly during the consultation, explain why in plain terms, and, where it helps, suggest the kind of professional the client could turn to instead, such as a lawyer or a mediator. A clear refusal at the first meeting is better for both sides than an investigation that can't deliver what the client expects.
Setting up the service
On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page. You open slots for each service at the length it takes, one place per slot. Clients pick a service, then a free slot.
| Service | Example slot | Example price |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation at the office | 1 h | €90 |
| Consultation by video | 45 min | €70 |
| Short phone assessment | 20 min | Free |
Durations and prices are examples: set your own. Evening or lunchtime slots can help clients who can't easily explain an absence. Repeat them each week on the chosen weekdays until a date.
What to write in the service description
The public booking form asks for first name, last name, email and phone, plus an optional note you read in your new-booking email. In the description, tell clients they don't need to write anything in the note, how to find your office discreetly, and what to bring. The note can't be edited once the booking exists, so it's better left short from the start.
Changes and follow-up
Clients can't move bookings online: they contact you, and you reschedule or cancel from your bookings list, then let them know through the contact they chose, since Book doesn't email clients about changes. If you take the case, book follow-up meetings yourself from your calendar: first and last name are required, email and phone optional, so you can leave out a contact the client doesn't want used.
Book doesn't take payments or store case files; it handles appointments. With calendar sync (Google, iPhone, Mac), consultations sit in your own calendar. It costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract.