What is skip tracing?

Skip-tracing is a process used to locate a person who is missing or has ‘skipped’ out on a legal or financial obligation. Originally used by debt collectors and investigators, the technique has since expanded to various fields, including law enforcement and private investigation.

The primary goal of skip-tracing is to track down individuals who have become difficult to find. This might be due to a variety of reasons, such as moving without leaving a forwarding address, changing contact information, or intentionally hiding.

Skip-tracing involves a variety of methods and tools:

1. Public Records: Skip-tracers often use public records such as voter registrations, court records, and professional licensing boards to find clues about an individual’s whereabouts.
2. Credit Reports: Accessing credit reports can provide current and past addresses, employment information, and other financial data.
3. Background Checks: Background checks can reveal personal details, including addresses, employment history, and criminal records.
4. Surveillance: In some cases, physical surveillance might be used to track a person’s movements.
5. Social Media and Internet Searches: Social media platforms and online search engines can be valuable resources for finding information about someone’s location or activities.
6. Interviews: Speaking with relatives, friends, neighbours, and acquaintances of the person can sometimes yield useful information.
7. Database Searches: Skip-tracers often use specialized databases that compile information from various sources to find individuals.

In the United States, several solutions and services cater to skip-tracing needs:

1. Professional Skip-Tracing Services: Many companies specialize in skip-tracing and offer their services to businesses and individuals. These companies have access to extensive databases and resources.
2. Software Solutions: There are software programs designed specifically for skip-tracing, which can aggregate data from various sources to aid in the search.
3. Private Investigators: Many private investigators offer skip-tracing as part of their services. They are often skilled in using various techniques to locate individuals.
4. Online Tools and Resources: There are numerous online platforms and tools that provide access to public records and other information useful in skip-tracing.

It’s important to note that skip-tracing must be conducted within the bounds of the law. Privacy laws and regulations, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in the U.S., set limits on how information can be obtained and used.

In the UK, skip-tracing is also a process used to locate a person who has become difficult to find, typically because they have moved without leaving a forwarding address or are intentionally avoiding contact due to various reasons such as legal or financial obligations. The techniques and principles are similar to those used in the US, but they are adapted to comply with UK laws and regulations.

Solutions available in the UK for skip-tracing include:

1. Professional Skip-Tracing Services: There are UK-based companies that specialize in skip-tracing, offering services to businesses and individuals. These companies are experienced in navigating UK laws and databases.
2. Software Solutions: Skip-tracing software tools are available that can aggregate data from different sources, tailored to UK databases and information systems.
3. Private Investigators: Many private investigators in the UK offer skip-tracing as part of their services, using various methods to locate individuals while complying with UK law.
4. Online Tools and Resources: There are online platforms and resources that provide access to UK-specific public records and other useful information for skip-tracing.

In the UK, skip-tracing must be conducted within the legal framework, especially considering privacy and data protection laws. The UK’s Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) impose strict rules on how personal data can be collected, used, and shared. Therefore, skip-tracers and those employing their services must ensure that their methods are compliant with these regulations.