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Steve Peterson :: Blog :: Skiptracing on the Internet
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Steve Peterson :: Blog :: Skiptracing on the Internet

November 16, 2007

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Cathy Scoda @ Steve Peterson

Skiptracing on the Internet

What’s the best way to locate your skips? Is it on the Internet? How much does it cost? There are a large number of Internet websites that specialize in locating people. Before selecting one of these companies, you need to remember two things: First, most of these sites do one thing really well and that is take your money. They make big promises to get you to sign up and then they fail to deliver the goods. Second, they include your company’s information in their database, and then they sell it. Not exactly what you would want to happen. Sometimes it may take a year or so of membership before you discover that the site is a rip-off. Most credit unions don’t mind paying a fee in exchange for good information. So, is the Internet a waste of time and money? There are some good websites like Accurint.com. Probably the most popular choice of financial institutions. Netdetective.com also has very high ratings from consumer reports. What about free sites? SWITCHBOARD.COM411.COMWHITEPAGES.COMDEFENSELINK.MIL (VERY GOOD FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL)GOOGLE UNIVERSITY  (STUDENTS & FACULTY AT MOST UNIVERSITIES) So, is the Internet the best way to locate people? Let me say it this way…NO…NO…NO! Nine out of ten skips that you can locate will be due to a well completed credit application. There should always be a minimum of TWO references on each application. The best references are always the parents of the debtor and the parents of the co-debtor. Family is always the key in locating skips. The problem is that most financial institutions don’t do a very good job with references. IF YOU DON’T GET AT LEAST TWO REFERENCES ON YOUR APPLICATIONS, DON’T BLAME THE COLLECTION DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY CAN’T LOCATE THE DEBTOR! In my humble opinion, the Internet simply can’t keep up with most debtors. Their personal information (jobs, phone #’s, addresses) changes faster than the websites can obtain it. That’s not to say that the web won’t locate some people…it will. I just don’t like its batting average. One final comment, the worst method of all is the credit bureau report. Old addresses, old phone numbers, old employers. Your best bet is still going to be the credit application. You can control the information and it’s FREE! 

 

Keywords: collect, collection, debt, debtor, financial, locate, reference, skip, skips, skiptrace

Posted by Cathy Scoda @ Steve Peterson

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