- Free Consultation: (202) 448-5136 Tap Here To Call Us
What Is Skip Tracing?
Skip tracing (or “skiptracing”) is the imprecise and frequently inartful process of locating a person’s whereabouts by whatever means available to the skip tracer. Skip tracing tactics are most often employed by debt collectors, although the methods are also used by law enforcement, private investigators, bounty hunters, and journalists. Skiptracing is also sometimes referred to as fugitive debtor recovery.
The “skip” in skip tracing has two meanings. First, skip tracing is often employed to locate those persons who have “skipped town,” or moved to a new residence in a way that has escaped the attention of parties interested in that person’s location. Second, the “skip” in skip tracing refers to the “skipping” between often scarce or minimal pieces of information and persons available to the skip tracer.
Skip tracers typically have access to huge commercial databases, credit reports, criminal checks, and public tax records. In addition, skip tracers will ultimately resort to power of subpoena to access otherwise unavailable information, such as utility records, government job application information, utility bills, and social security and disability records. How aggressively a skiptracer will pursue a debtor typically depends on the amount of the debt owed.
To locate a subject, skip tracers will call and/or correspond with current and former employers, family members, landlords, neighbors, and personal and professional associates of all kinds. Skip tracers often conceal their true identities and motives in order to gain more information. This form of deception, known as “pretexting,” is legal in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Skiptracing is the last hope for a debt collector to collect on their debt, and it is used as last resort once all other debt collection methods have failed.
If you are being harassed by your creditors and their agents, or you suspect that you are being targeted by a skip tracing company, then I may be able to help you. As a bankruptcy lawyer in D.C., I can help you by putting an immediate stop to all collection efforts, including the shady practices of skip tracers.
They Called. They're Glad They Did.
Brian Lee from Lee Legal was an amazing attorney to work with. He took his time, reviewed my documents and we discussed my situation thoroughly. He explained the process and my options as well as gave his recommendation. Not only did he assist, but he ensured that I knew this...
I was very nervous and scared about going through this process. But Brian was very knowledgeable and helped me through it. I was notified about any and all updates to my case and he was very responsive when I had questions regarding any concerns I had. Although a bit nerve...
Brian provided me with a very detailed analysis about my potential case after our first consultation. He promptly responded to all my complex questions, especially navigating student loans and some tax discussions. He is very professional and experienced at what he does, I would...
I've had the pleasure of working alongside Brian V. Lee for several years, and I can say without hesitation that he is one of the most knowledgeable bankruptcy attorneys in the DMV area. Brian's command of Chapter 7, 11, and 13 practice is exceptional, and his clients in the DC...
Brian has the amazing talent of taking complicated legal matters and distilling them down to seamless, frictionless resolutions. He is a phenomenal problem solver and a trusted advisor.
Brian is both warm and professional. He helped me navigate a financial issue that I had not been looking forward to working on and he made the entire experience non-stressful, receiving a lot of anxiety I had around the matter. He is straight forward and a fantastic problem...
I had the opportunity to work with Brian at a time when I was challenged by a professional setback and forced with the challenge of making some very difficult legal decisions. Additionally, I worked with him again as I was dealing with some financial issues pertaining to my...
Still several years from Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness and saddled with significant student loan payments in proportion to my income, I came to Lee Legal to explore the bankruptcy path. Through his counsel, Brian took the fear out of the process and helped me to...
