Ask five people what the best skip trace tools and techniques are to find John Doe and you are likely to get five different answers. Why? It is relative. Searching for a missing child you’d likely have different time and money limitations than searching for a debtor to recover money or assets. Below are seven simple rules to help you get more out of your skip tracing.
Rule 1: Use the Right Tool at the Right Time
Skip tracing tools come in many forms, and not every tool is right for every job. If your company is trying to find hundreds of people each month, you might want to start with batch processing. This means you send a large list of accounts to a service provider, and they check them all at once. Some providers can even keep your list and alert you when new information becomes available.
If you’re dealing with fewer accounts or special cases, you might do better using manual searches. These take more time, but they can uncover details that batch tools miss. Some companies also choose to hand over difficult cases to outside experts who specialize in skip tracing.
The key is to match your tools to your needs. The right tool will save you time and money. The wrong one might waste both.
Rule 2: Know When to Stop Searching
Finding someone who has skipped out can be exciting. It feels good to track down a tough case. But it’s important to remember that your time is valuable. Spending hours on one difficult case might mean you’re ignoring easier ones. These easier cases could bring in money faster.
This is called opportunity cost—it’s what you give up when you choose one option over another. Always ask yourself: is this skip worth the time, or should I move on to another case that’s more likely to pay off?
Rule 3: Focus on Skip Tracing
Skip tracing takes focus. If your team has many different tasks, skip tracing can fall to the side. That’s why it helps to have one person or a small team in charge of this work. They can develop better skills and work faster over time.
If you’re working alone or have to split your time between collecting and skip tracing, try to set aside a regular block of time for skip tracing only. An hour or two each day can make a big difference if you use that time wisely.
Rule 4: Measure What You’re Doing
If you want better results, you need to track how well your skip tracing is working. Start by measuring things like how much money you collect, how much you spend to find the right person, and how many calls or emails it takes to get a response. These numbers will help you decide which accounts are worth the time and money.
Tracking also helps you notice patterns. Maybe some skip tracing tools work better for certain types of accounts. Maybe your success rate goes down over time as accounts get older. The more you know, the smarter your choices will be.
Sometimes you might find that you’re paying for skip tracing tools or data that no one is using. Tracking helps you spot that and fix it.
Rule 5: Work With Your Vendor
If you use a skip tracing service or tool, don’t forget that the vendor can be a great source of help. Most vendors offer free training, either online or in person. They want you to get good results because if you do well, you’ll keep using their services.
You can also ask your vendor to give you monthly reports showing how your team is using the tool. This helps you see which team members are getting the best results and what searches they’re doing. You can then use that information to train others and improve your team’s skills.
Vendors often work with many clients, so they may also have helpful tips and best practices they’ve seen work elsewhere. Don’t be afraid to ask.
Rule 6: Think Twice About Free Tools
Free websites and tools can be useful in some situations, but they also come with risks. They might give you old or wrong information. They might take longer to use. And they might not protect the information you enter, which can be a problem for data security.
Paid tools usually give you more accurate and complete data. They also save time, which is important when you’re trying to reach more people in less time.
If you do use free sites, make sure you’re checking how much time you spend and whether the information is reliable. Always check that the site is safe and not storing or selling the data you give them.
Rule 7: Don’t Rely on Just One Source
The best skip tracers use more than one tool or service. Why? Because not every source has the same data. One tool might have a phone number, while another might have an updated address. By using a mix of tools, you get a fuller picture and a better chance of finding who you’re looking for.
Using multiple sources also helps you compare results. If three tools say the same thing, you can be more confident the information is right.
Final Thoughts: Skip Tracing Made Simple
There’s no one way to find someone like John Doe. Your tools and techniques will depend on your goals, your resources, and your specific accounts. But by following these seven simple rules, you can make better decisions, save time, and find more people.
Skip tracing doesn’t have to be confusing or expensive. With the right plan and the right habits, you can turn it into one of your most powerful tools for collecting money, solving cases, or reaching people who matter to your business.
