| Skip tracing is a unique profession and requires a | | | | amount of time spent on locating skips today. |
| lot of different attributes including patience,self | | | | There is a tremendous and vast amount of |
| motivation, and inquiring mind that has the ability | | | | information on just about anyone these days on |
| to think outside the norm. | | | | the "net" which of course allows the skip tracer |
| Most good collection people have an innate ability | | | | to locate more skips in a lot less time. |
| to sniff out leads that most of us would just | | | | There are many and varied databases of |
| overlook. It is almost like having a "sixth sense". | | | | information available to the professional skip |
| A good skip tracer should also be disciplined, | | | | tracer that are just a mouse click away. |
| organized and tenacious with a "gift of gab" | | | | The old adage that "you can run but you can't |
| combined with the ability to "think through any | | | | hide" has never been more accurate than in |
| situation " | | | | today's modern world of technology. |
| Furthermore any skip tracer worth their salt will | | | | Yes it is true, with "caller ID", "reverse phone |
| have an abundance of enthusiasm, energy and | | | | address look up" combined with our trusty PC or |
| unquestionable integrity! | | | | Mac and the Internet it is extremely difficult for |
| I have personally located skips and assets all over | | | | someone who has "skipped out" for whatever |
| the world for over 40 years resulting in the | | | | reason to stay hid for any extended period of |
| recovery of millions of dollars in assets for my | | | | time. |
| clients. | | | | Who uses skip tracers? |
| You can bet that these clients were glad to pay | | | | Skip tracers are used by business and consumers |
| for my services. | | | | alike for a variety of reasons. |
| Tools of the modern day skip tracer | | | | Lenders and creditors use skip tracers on a |
| It was not too many years ago that skip tracing | | | | consistent and regular basis to assist their |
| could prove to be a laborious, tedious and boring | | | | collection department keep track of delinquent |
| prolonged task. In days gone by a skip tracer | | | | customers and protect their assets and keep the |
| would have access to the phone books, the RL | | | | bad debt charge off's in line. |
| Polk Directories and several other publications that | | | | What do the following professions have in |
| would give you some tidbits of information | | | | common? |
| including nearby phone numbers and in some | | | | Criminal Lawyers |
| cases current or past places of employment. | | | | Private Investigators |
| If you were fortunate enough to have access to | | | | Collection Agencies |
| "credit reports" you would in most cases have a | | | | Missing Persons Bureaus. |
| leg up. The reason being that mostcredit reports | | | | Alumni Associations |
| could give you the critical information you needed | | | | Probate attorneys and Estate Executors. |
| such as the most recent employer or current | | | | Courts and Judges |
| address and creditors and in some instances the | | | | Genealogy Services |
| skip's phone number. | | | | Judgment Collectors |
| Basically you would do your inside skip tracing | | | | The answer is that in the course of normal |
| homework and then in a large percentage of the | | | | day-to-day business practices they all use skip |
| time you would have to "hit the streets" and do | | | | tracers! |
| "door to door" searching in hopes that someone | | | | One of the most commons uses for skip tracers |
| would "spill the beans" on the skip you were | | | | is used by judgment recovery collectors to assist |
| looking for. | | | | them in locating assets of judgment debtors. |
| I used all of these techniques and more in my 40 | | | | The reason being that once someone has |
| years plus of locating people and assets for my | | | | received a judgment handed down by the courts |
| clients. Even though I happened to be one of | | | | the work is just beginning on recovering the |
| those skip tracers that had a "nose for the skip" | | | | money due the them. |
| the use of the credit reports proved to be an | | | | You see the courts only render the judgments, |
| invaluable and time saving tool in my never ending | | | | they have nothing to do with collecting it for the |
| quest to locate skips of all varieties, shapes and | | | | plaintiff other than handling the paper work as it is |
| sizes. | | | | filed. |
| The biggest change in locating skips and assets | | | | The collection of the debt from the defendant is |
| today is of course the Internet. The wonderful | | | | entirely up to the plaintiff in the case. |
| world of technology has changed a lot of the | | | | This is where the skip tracer comes in handy. |
| ways we do skip tracing these days and has | | | | They have the ability and the resources to locate |
| leveled the playing field somewhat. | | | | the assets of the defendant in the case and |
| Of course you still have to assimilate the | | | | because of this they can turn a piece of paper |
| information you need to locate the skip and make | | | | (The Judgment Decree) into cash for their client! |
| the calls but the Internet has greatly reduced the | | | | |