Skip tracing is a method used to locate individuals who have moved or disappeared, often to avoid responsibilities like paying debts.. The process involves verifying someone’s information, searching public records, and contacting individuals who may have knowledge of the person’s whereabouts. While it’s possible to attempt skip tracing on your own, hiring a professional skip tracer can save time and increase the chances of success, though it can be costly.
How Does Skip Tracing Work?
Skip tracing focuses on locating individuals who have intentionally or unintentionally made themselves difficult to find. These people are often avoiding obligations such as debt payments. While it shares some similarities with investigative work, skip tracing typically doesn’t involve criminal investigations or arrests. Instead, it’s commonly used in the debt collection process to help creditors track down those who owe them money.
Who Uses Skip Tracing?
Skip tracing isn’t limited to debt collection. It is a common practice among several professions, including:
- Debt Collection Agencies: These agencies use skip tracing to locate debtors and collect unpaid amounts on behalf of businesses or individuals.
- Private Investigators: Investigators use skip tracing to find individuals as part of their cases.
- Attorneys: Legal professionals may use skip tracing to locate individuals for court proceedings.
- Journalists: Reporters and journalists sometimes use skip tracing techniques to track down sources or subjects for their stories.
- Detectives: Law enforcement detectives may use skip tracing as part of their investigations.
Tip: Skip tracing is especially helpful for debt collection agencies because they have the expertise and resources to find individuals more efficiently than most business owners or freelancers.
When Is Skip Tracing Necessary?
You might need to skip tracing if a debtor stops responding to your communications or if their contact information is no longer valid. However, not every situation requires skip tracing. With today’s online tools, you may be able to locate someone yourself using search engines or social media. If these initial efforts don’t yield results, a professional skip tracer may be the better option.
The Skip Tracing Process
If skip tracing becomes necessary, it typically follows these steps:
1. Verify the Debtor’s Information
The first step in skip tracing is verifying the accuracy of the information you already have about the person. This includes their name, phone number, address, and any other relevant details. In some cases, incorrect or outdated contact information is the only reason communication has been lost.
If the skip tracer quickly identifies updated contact details, you might be able to reach out to the debtor directly and resolve the issue.
2. Search Public Records
Skip tracers then collect information from public records and databases. This step can be time-consuming and often requires familiarity with various sources. Some of the records and tools used include:
- Address history
- Travel records
- Court documents
- Credit card and loan applications
- Criminal and background checks
- Driver’s license records
- Job applications
- Phone records
- Social media accounts
- Tax filings
- Utility bills
- Vehicle registrations
By piecing together information from these sources, skip tracers can often locate the debtor or gain clues about their current whereabouts.
3. Contact Friends, Family, and Acquaintances
If public records don’t provide enough information, skip tracers may reach out to the debtor’s family members, friends, or colleagues. These individuals might have valuable insights into the debtor’s location, although their willingness to cooperate can vary.
Other contacts, such as landlords, neighbors, or previous employers, might also have helpful information.
Key Takeaway: Skip tracing involves verifying information, searching public records, and contacting people connected to the debtor to locate them.
Why Hire a Professional Skip Tracer?
Although you can attempt skip tracing on your own, hiring a professional has several advantages. Professionals have access to specialized skip tracing software and databases that might be too expensive or inaccessible for individuals. Additionally, their experience and expertise can improve the likelihood of locating a debtor quickly and efficiently.
Tip: Professional skip tracers use advanced tools that are often out of reach for individual business owners or freelancers, making their services valuable for complex cases.
Should You Hire a Skip Tracer for Debt Collection?
If you’re a business owner or freelancer dealing with a nonpaying client, skip tracing might feel like an overwhelming task. This is where debt collection agencies can help. Many agencies include skip tracing as part of their services, allowing you to focus on your work while they locate the debtor and attempt to recover the owed amount.
However, it’s important to consider the costs. Debt collection agencies typically charge a fee ranging from 25% to 50% of the recovered debt. While this can be a significant expense, it may be worth it if the alternative is losing the entire owed amount.
Final Thoughts: Skip Tracing Can Help Recover Debts
If a debtor has disappeared and your attempts to collect the owed amount have failed, skip tracing can provide a path forward. Whether you choose to handle the process yourself or hire a professional, skip tracing increases your chances of finding the individual and recovering your money. If your resources or time are limited, hiring a collection agency with skip tracing expertise might be the best decision to secure overdue payments.