Secondary Navigation

researching-on-laptop

Best Skip Tracing Tips & Tools for Repo Companies

A big part of the repossession business involves using research and investigative skills to track down delinquent parties, as well as the property they’ve neglected to pay on (and neglected to give up). Finding the correct contact information is key to finding the vehicle you need to collect, but this can definitely take some digging and detective work.

Fortunately, there are some tried and true tricks of the trade, along with technological advances, that can help you uncover the info you need to get your job done. Here’s a look at the best skip tracing tips and tools out there. 

Types of Information to Look for Using Skip Tracing Tools 

Obviously, obtaining the person’s name and address is first priority, but even that can sometimes be difficult or not enough. Other information that can help you unravel the whereabouts of the property you are looking for includes:

  • Phone numbers
  • Emails
  • Address history
  • Place of employment
  • Contact info of relatives, business associates, and neighbors

Places to Find Information Using Skip Tracing Tools

If you have the bill of sale or an application for credit from the company who’s property needs repossessing, that’s a great place to start. This paperwork should have the person’s name, address, phone number, and possibly even employer. You can use this info to search for new contact information for the person if the info on the paperwork has changed. You can also contact the creditors the person used.

Besides company paperwork, there’s plenty of other informational resources out there, including:

  • Marriage licenses
  • Business licenses
  • Permits
  • Certifications
  • Utility bills
  • Drivers licenses and vehicle registrations
  • Birth record
  • Property ownership records
  • Credit bureaus
  • Consumer databases

Skip Tracing Tools to Find Someone Who’s Left Town

Phone Directories

This may seem old school, but checking the yellow and white pages can still be extremely helpful! In fact, phone directories are one of the most common skip tracing tools repo businesses use. You can access phone directories online and can use reverse directory searches to help associate a phone number with a name and address or vice versa.  

Internet Searches & Sites

To say the internet has helped skip tracing immensely would be an understatement. There are tons of online tools, besides directories, that allow you to search databases, public records, and more. As they say, “Google it” and no matter what kind of information you’re looking for, you’re bound to find something! You can even use demographic information to search for past or current data on individuals, as well as their family members, neighbors, and associates.  

Additionally, your searches will no doubt turn up websites that are specifically designed to help track people down. This includes not only people finder websites, but also genealogy ones that can trace family members who might be able to assist you. Here are just a handful of sites that can help with your skip tracing efforts:

Social Networks

Just about everyone out there is on at least one type of social media platform or another which means social networks are a great skip tracing tool, too. Searching social media profiles can often reveal posts that were made by the person you’re trying to find, and those posts could hold clues as to where to locate that person, or even how to contact them.

Skip Tracing Software

Since skip tracing is a constant, everyday thing for repo businesses, you might want to consider investing in skip tracing software to make things easy, and even more importantly, help you find people as fast as possible. Software programs like this allow you to run whatever information you have through public or private search engine databases to provide results quickly. It may have some upfront costs, but this type of software can prove to be priceless in the long run.

When Skip Tracing’s Done, it’s Time for Another Invaluable Tool

Once you’ve tracked down the person and property, it’s essential to be as efficient as possible when retrieving the vehicle. That’s where a Minute Man Wheel Lift tow truck comes into play. Offering better fuel economy than other options and a lower upfront investment, it’s the best tow truck to have on the road for longer jobs, and it’s the fastest and easiest way to collect what you’ve spent so much time trying to find. When you’re talking must-have tools of the trade, a wheel lift is at the top of the list. Call 877-593-6959 or contact us online to learn more.

The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material or information on the website as a basis for making business, legal or other decisions.

Comments are closed.

A website by Gaijin LLC.