Episode 82: Skip Tracing – what the heck is that?
Summary
The two biggest questions I see on social media about landlording are: how do I get this person out of my house, and how do I get my money? In today's episode, I discuss a tool that might be helpful in finding a tenant who has "skipped town" leaving you with a bill. Skip Tracing is an interesting tool that allows landlords to find folks who don't want to be found. Join me in today's episode where I tell you all about it!
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Welcome to My Life as a Landlord, where we educate curious US and Canadian landlords, answer rental questions, and clear up confusions about all things housing. If you're looking for some landlord education, interesting guests, and awkward conversations, you've come to the right show. I'm your host, Doctor Jennifer Salisbury. This is my life as a landlord. Welcome to it.
Hello there! Thanks for joining me. I am Doctor Jen, and I'm so pleased you're educating yourself by listening to today's show. If you've been listening for a while, you may notice that the topics are off the beaten path. Things like what do you do if a tenant passes away in your unit, how a landlord says no, and other awkward topics like after-the-fact permits. And I keep hearing about this tool called skip tracing. What is that? I had no idea what it was, so I looked into it and found out there is a tool to find folks who are trying to hide, like tenants who have left with a big bill to pay.
I tried and tried to get a guest to interview today, but let's face it, folks in the skip tracing, private investigation industry, whatever you want to call it, are not necessarily interested in guesting on a podcast. So you're stuck with me. I must also give you the disclaimer on this one that this is not legal advice. This is simply informational for your intellect and education. I highly recommend that you do your own research for your local area and your situation. In today's episode, I'll talk about what skip tracing is, how it works, what it costs, and oh yeah, is this even legal in both the US and in Canada?
What is Skip Tracing?
Skip tracing is a legal action that involves locating someone to serve with legal documents. It can also be defined as the art of collecting information on a hard-to-find individual in order to locate them. The term skip tracing comes from "skip" as in "to skip town," referring to the person who needs to be found, and "tracing" refers to the act of tracing them down.
How Does Skip Tracing Work?
Skip tracing involves qualified process servers. These are professionals who use various methods to locate someone, including looking for public documents, interviewing people close to the subject, and potentially engaging in surveillance. They can also look at the subject's online presence and use specific skip tracing software that is not available to the general public.
Here's what a skip tracer can find:
Driver's license
Vehicle registration and title
Credit reports
Credit card applications
Loan applications
Job applications
Phone number databases
Utility bills
Flight records
Department store customer loyalty cards
Consumer fraud
Public tax information
Public record databases
Criminal background checks
Courthouse records
No known heirs
Estate people who are key witnesses in a lawsuit
Person who owes debt
Defendant's absence
How Long Does Skip Tracing Take?
The duration depends on how much the process server has to dig to find the information on the subject. Some services can be as quick as 48 hours, while others could take up to ten days or longer, especially when interviews or surveillance come into play.
How Much Does Skip Tracing Cost?
In both the US and Canada, the cost ranges between $20 and $350, depending on the complexity of the task. One site in Canada offered skip tracing for a $189 flat fee. The cost-effectiveness depends on what I like to call the grief-to-dollars ratio. For example, if your judgment is for $500, it may not be worth hiring a skip tracer for $200. But if your judgment is for $10,000, it might be worth it.
Is Skip Tracing Legal?
Skip tracing is legal in both the US and Canada, but with conditions. In Canada, if you're looking for a non-relative, you may need to get a judgment or order from the provincial court and then hire a collection agency. In the US, it is legal as long as you're not breaking the law to retrieve the information. Always be honest in your intentions and check your local laws and business regulations.
Conclusion
The whole concept of skip tracing seems very spy-versus-spy to me, but it's very interesting. If this is something that might be beneficial to you, make sure you look into it more. Do a Google search for "skip tracing" along with your general location, like "skip tracing Manitoba" or "skip tracing Texas." If you have an attorney that you're working with on your landlord issues, talk with them as well.
Thank you for listening to me today. If you enjoyed today's show, the biggest compliment you can give me is by leaving a review so that people who need my podcast can find me. Remember, you don't have to be afraid as a landlord; you just have to educate yourself.
Join me next week for Episode 83, where I'll be talking to Lena Carlson, an internationally trained pottery maker, incredible grant writer, and a Canadian landlord of a duplex. I'll see you there.
Wherever you are in your journey, make sure you follow the podcast on the platform you're listening on. Thank you again for joining me, Doctor Jennifer Salisbury, in this episode of My Life as a Landlord. I'll see you next time.