| I was having a conversation with a friend of | | | | challenge. (Runner Account)STEP THREE- TIER |
| mine. One of the best collection managers | | | | THE ACCOUNTKeep in mind this rule of thumb. |
| around, Todd from FDS in Wilmington NC. We | | | | Usually, the more they owe the harder they |
| were discussing what a collection manager | | | | hide. Setup your search procedures on the |
| needs to know about skip tracing that will | | | | value of the account. When going to a higher |
| benefit collectors. His response" skip | | | | tier encompass all search procedures from |
| tracing is important because you can't | | | | previous tiers.Low BalanceStatistics show |
| collect if you can't find them. However, | | | | that a large majority of the residence of the |
| collectors need to concentrate their time on | | | | United States move every four months. Find a |
| collections not skip tracing".Now that's a | | | | trusted outsource company and once every four |
| dilemma. So I started thinking, "How to | | | | months batch these accounts out to them. |
| streamline your skip trace process so that | | | | Doing so more often will not be cost |
| your collections process is not | | | | effective. Try to get discount prices. |
| interrupted?"After some serious head | | | | Develop a strong relationship with your |
| scratching and a couple of Dr. Peppers, the | | | | outsource company, if they produce lower than |
| answer came. Below is a step by step process | | | | national average (20%) use a different |
| to quickly and efficiently work a skip trace | | | | company.Quick FindLet's answer two questions |
| account.First, determine a set time to skip | | | | quickly. Is the person deceased? Is the |
| trace. I recommend non peak collection hours. | | | | person incarcerated? Determine if they are |
| Now, get out of collector mode. Mental | | | | deceased by going to enter the name or the |
| attitudes of collectors and skip tracers are | | | | social security number. If they are reported |
| different. To skip trace is to play a game of | | | | as deceased information will show when and |
| chess, where the pieces are real people.STEP | | | | where. If no information appears there is no |
| ONE- FILTER THE ACCOUNTCan you work the | | | | record. To determine if the person is |
| account in the first place? Determine that it | | | | incarcerated in a federal prison, go to . |
| is not in a legal status, under bankruptcy or | | | | For information about state prisons contact |
| assigned with any internal code that should | | | | that state's department of corrections.If no |
| not be worked. Filtering the account will | | | | information was found, go to You can search |
| save time and money. The most important | | | | by name, address and phone number. Try Enter |
| filtering element is the value of the | | | | the state, county, address or name and you |
| account. Search efforts should be in direct | | | | will get the owner of the property, tax |
| relation to the value of the account. In | | | | value, map of the neighbor and all kinds of |
| other words, the more they owe the more you | | | | good stuff!Full SearchHere is where you pull |
| should search.STEP TWO- PROFILE THE | | | | out all of the stops. I use a worksheet that |
| ACCOUNTKnowing what you are looking for makes | | | | I have developed over the years that has over |
| it easier to find it. The same holds true | | | | 40 different helpful searches on it. Here are |
| when you are working your accounts. Determine | | | | some of those searches: the credit report |
| the type of account being worked so that | | | | (ONLY if you have legal access), neighborhood |
| unnecessary steps are not taken that waste | | | | stores, hunting/fishing license, workers |
| time and money.First, check your notes on the | | | | compensation records, possible civic groups, |
| account and in the file. Confirm the | | | | leagues, trade associations, criminal record, |
| addresses and phone numbers were not | | | | civil record, electric company, satellite |
| transposed or digits omitted accidentally. | | | | company to name a few.Still not located? |
| (Typo account) If the person has moved and | | | | Consider placing the accounts to reputable |
| has honestly forgot to tell you. Chances are | | | | companies (yes they are out there). Let them |
| simple searches will produce results. Contact | | | | earn your business. Split accounts between |
| neighbors, employment or references from the | | | | them. Only use one that will sign a |
| notes/file and call ALL numbers, even if you | | | | Confidentiality Agreement and a Hold |
| think they are disconnected- you never know. | | | | Harmless, it never hurts to protect |
| (Unintentional account) If the contact can't | | | | yourself.And as always, happy hunting! |
| offer any information then you may have a | | | | |