Top tips for tracing debtors

Tracing

If someone who owes you or your business has absconded – in other words, has disappeared without paying – it can be hard to track them. Privacy laws like the Data Protection Act 1998 and GDPR limit your ability to access and store their personal information without their express consent, the approval of a court or at least a solid legal grounding. Fortunately, there are several simple, safe and legal ways of tracing people.

Public databases that are safe to search

A surprising amount of data is publicly available, and therefore available to be searched. A great example is the electoral register, which includes everyone who is registered to vote and has not opted out of the ‘open’ register. Similarly, names, addresses and phone numbers are often still available in the Yellow Pages and its online equivalents.  

Easy-to-access business information

If the debtor is a company director their details will also be registered at Companies House, whose database can be searched online. Their records can also include financial data such as insolvencies and mortgage charge data, which can help you ascertain their financial situation. You’ll also be able to find other company directors who may be liable for business debt too.

Legal ways to check an address

If you have an address for your debtor but they’re not responding to correspondence, the easiest way to check if they’re there is to send a letter via recorded delivery. Residents can use ‘return to sender’ for normal mail, but recorded delivery requires a signature. So you can tell when it’s been received and signed for. This is especially useful if you require proof that you’ve requested repayment or that court documents have been received.

Organisations that can help

If you’re still struggling to find your debtor, you can secure the services of a solicitor who will be able to advise on whether you have the right to access personal information. Alternatively, you could turn to tracing agents for help. A tracing agent will have access to state of the art software. Dukes Trace And Collect service, for example, is powered by Gone Always, which searches numerous databases to match your debtor’s details to addresses, phone numbers, emails and connected persons such as family and business associates.  

If you need help finding an absconded debtor, contact Dukes Bailiffs today.