2 min read•PDC information

Begin with the question, not the whole phone

A phone may contain material relevant to a disputed transaction, an allegation or a sequence of events. The useful starting point is a specific question: which conversation matters, what period is relevant and how could the result affect your next decision?

PDC’s existing service includes enquiries involving phones, tablets, smartwatches and other digital devices. The suitability of a particular device and the available examination methods must be assessed before work is agreed.

Confirm authority and protect privacy

Possessing a device or paying its bill does not automatically establish authority to examine all its contents. Explain who owns and uses it, why the examination is requested and what permission or other lawful authority applies. Personal and work information may be mixed together.

Do not try to guess passwords, bypass account protection or secretly access someone else’s messages. A private investigation does not confer police powers. The enquiry must consider the rights of the device user and other people whose information appears on it.

Prepare without changing the evidence

Avoid experimenting with recovery apps, deleting content or resetting the device. Ask for advice tailored to its condition before changing its settings, power state or network connection. Record what you have already done and when.

  • The make and model, if known, and whether it is damaged.
  • Who currently has the device and how it came into their possession.
  • The relevant dates, applications and type of information sought.
  • Any known backups or related devices, without accessing accounts beyond your authority.
  • A court or business deadline and your solicitor’s details, if involved.

Understand what may be possible

Depending on the device and access available, an examination may identify relevant messages, call records, photographs, application data or other records. Support varies between manufacturers, software versions and device conditions. Some information may be encrypted, overwritten, stored elsewhere or unavailable.

Deleted material is not always recoverable. A screenshot can be useful context, but it may omit information needed to assess a record properly. An initial assessment should explain feasibility and limitations before a wider examination is commissioned.

Agree the examination and reporting

The written scope should identify the question, authorised material, reporting format and arrangements for returning the device. If findings may be used in proceedings, involve your solicitor early so the required expertise and evidential standards can be considered.

A useful report explains what was examined, how relevant findings were obtained and what remains uncertain. It should not turn an incomplete digital record into a claim about events it cannot establish.

Questions you may have

Can every deleted message be recovered?

No. Recovery depends on the device, software, security, available access and what has happened to the data. A responsible assessment should explain uncertainty before making a promise.

Can you examine my partner’s phone because I bought it?

Payment or physical possession is not enough to assume authority over the device and its information. The proposed examination needs a lawful basis and appropriate authority; unauthorised access is not offered.

Should I switch the phone off or change settings?

Ask for device-specific preservation advice first. Changing its state may affect what can be examined. Avoid experimenting and record any actions already taken.

Sources & further reading

Check the original sources for their latest information and service terms.