Page 114 - CARS Standard Program

Information and Where to get it:
Basic Tools of the Trade
The following tools are basic to the skip-tracer. Those marked with an asterisk are discussed further in this section.
qq City Directories
qq Computer – Websites*
qq Criss-Cross Phone Directories
qq Directories of Public Utilities
qq Directory of Post Offices
qq Military Locator List*
qq Rolodex Listings of Contacts
qq Social Security Numbers List*
qq Supply of City Maps and an Atlas qq Telephone
It is often said that the most important commodity in the world today is INFORMATION. With sufficient information, one could accomplish almost anything. If you can imagine it, with sufficient information you can accomplish it. And so it is with locating skips. You must have, or develop, information. But where do we get this information? Consider the following sources for help in locating skips:
Sources of Information; Contacts:
A. Credit application and other creditors
B. Relatives, neighbors, friends and former co-workers
C. Landlords, apartment managers, desk clerks, janitors, etc.
D. Finance companies, rent-to-own companies. These are invaluable contacts; make every effort to share information.
E. Labor or trade unions can be good sources if you are able to establish a rapport with any of the office staff.
F. Utility companies are among the most valuable sources. If the utility is publicly owned, federal law requires release of this information. Some public utilities require you to have a verbal “access” code in an effort to establish some degree of “need to know.” However, this does not exclude your right to access public information.
G. If the debtor has an unusual last name, call other persons listed in the telephone directory with the same last name. They may be related to your skip.
H. Motor vehicle records. These records will give you, in addition to other information, the debtor’s date of birth. This information can then be checked regularly for possible new information, such as tag renewal, which may reveal a residence address.