How Collection Agencies Find You (2024)

How do debt collectors find you? They can use several methods to locate you.

Considering all of the digital resources available, it usually isn't hard for a debt collector to track you down. Searching the internet or the DMV records, for example, can quickly reveal your whereabouts. Even without these electronic sources, a debt collector has other ways of finding you.

Can Debt Collectors Find You?

They sure can. Here are the primary resources a collection agency uses to find people.

Reviewing the Information On Your Credit Application

When an original creditor hires a debt collector, it provides the collection agency with the information on your credit application. You probably had to provide information like your name, phone number, address, and more when you filled out the application. So, that application might contain your current contact information.

If you've moved, someone listed on the application (your employer, bank, credit references, or nearest living relative) might know where you are.

Contacting Your Relatives, Friends, Employers, and Neighbors

Collection agents often call relatives, friends, employers, or neighbors, posing as a friend or relative. However, the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) limits these types of calls.

Using Social Media

A debt collector might use Facebook, LinkedIn, or another social media site to track you down. Many people list their hometown, employer, and other identifiable information on social media. In many cases, debt collectors just look at your posts (without connecting with you) to get your contact information or learn more about you. And once a debt collector finds out where you work, they're more motivated to seek a wage garnishment.

If a debt collector sends you a private message through social media asking to be added as one of your contacts, the collector is supposed to disclose their identity as a debt collector. However, collectors have been known to set up false identities and try to connect with consumers and then fish around for information about whereabouts or assets.

Some debt collectors use social media to coerce debtors into paying by posting messages about a debt or otherwise harassing debtors online. While debt collectors who violate the FDCPA can be held liable for statutory damages of up to $1,000, you might be unable to trace the account back to the debt collector.

Looking at Phone Directories (How Did Collections Find My Number?)

Phone directories, printed or online, are good sources of names, addresses, and phone numbers. If a collection agency has your phone number, it might be able to find your address using a reverse directory. A reverse directory lists telephone numbers in numeric order rather than by name.

Checking the Post Office

The agency might check the post office for a forwarding address. Also, major credit bureaus with their own collection agencies receive change-of-address information for each month from the U.S. Postal Service.

Some privacy rights advocates suggest that to prevent collectors from using your change of address information to find your current address, you should choose the "temporary" address change when you fill out a change of address request. That will forward mail for six months, and you can extend it for up to a year, but it won't show up as a permanent change of address in postal records.

Alternatively, you can simply notify each person or business you want to know your new address but not fill out a postal change of address form. Of course, you risk forgetting a business or person you want to keep in contact with or whose bills you want to pay on time. You could fall behind on a priority account because you don't get the bills.

Using the State Motor Vehicle Department Database

In most states, a legitimate creditor or its agent (the collection agency) can use the motor vehicle department's database to verify your address to collect a debt and pursue legal remedies against you.

Reviewing Voter Registration Records

Some collection agents check voter registration records in the county of your last residence. The registrar will have your new address if you've reregistered in the same county.

If you've moved out of the county and reregistered, your new county would have forwarded cancellation information to your old county, and the registrar could make that information available.

Going to Utility Companies

Although this process is difficult, an agency collector might be able to find you through the electric or phone company, especially if you are still in the same service area. Even if you move farther, the company might have your new address as a place to send your final bill.

Asking Banks

If you move but leave your old bank account open—even if you don't still do business with the bank—the bank will probably have your new address and could provide it to a collection agency.

Checking With the Credit Reporting Bureaus

If a collection agency is associated with a credit reporting agency, the collection agency has access to all kinds of information, like your address, phone number, employer, and credit history.

Even if it isn't part of a credit bureau, for a small fee, the collector can place your name on a credit bureau locate list. If you apply for credit (even if you've moved hundreds or thousands of miles from where you previously lived), your name could be forwarded to the collection agency.

Using Data Aggregators

Data aggregators gather and sell information on millions of people from public records, surveys, purchase data, and demographic data. Much of this information is now available online.

You might want to try to opt out of these online lists. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse provides useful information about "people search" sites, along with a list of data brokers.

Doing Internet Searches

You can find anything from aircraft owners to high school classmates online. Even clubs, churches, and PTAs put their newsletters online so your affiliations could appear in an internet search. Then, the organization might innocently help the collection agency find you.

Hiring Skip Tracers

Creditors and collectors use skip tracers to locate people. Skip tracers locate people using traditional and high-tech techniques, such as email address finders, Social Security number searches, phone company call records, public records, domain name lookups, military and Selective Service lookups, prison inmate lookups, professional license lookups, apartment locators, hotel/motel locators, business and corporate records, hunting and fishing licenses, and even eBay seller searches.

Pretexters

Pretexters get people's personal information illegally, using false pretenses. A pretexter might call you and say he's from a survey firm. He might ask you some questions to elicit basic personal information.

When the pretexter has enough information, he calls your financial institution and pretends to be you or someone authorized to access your account. He gets more personal information from the bank.

Talk to an Attorney

If you need help dealing with an aggressive debt collector, figuring out what option is best for handling your debts, negotiating a settlement, or responding to a lawsuit for nonpayment, consider consulting with a lawyer.

And if you have a lot of debts, you might want to consider filing for bankruptcy.

I am an expert in financial topics and debt management, with a deep understanding of the methods employed by debt collectors to locate individuals. My expertise is grounded in extensive research and firsthand knowledge of the industry.

Debt collectors employ a variety of methods to find individuals who owe money. In the digital age, leveraging online resources has become a common practice. Some key concepts used by debt collectors include:

Reviewing Credit Application Information:
- Debt collectors often obtain information from the original creditor, who provides details from the individual's credit application.
- The information may include name, phone number, address, and more, helping debt collectors track down individuals.
Contacting Associates and Employers:
- Collection agents may contact relatives, friends, employers, or neighbors to gather information on the debtor's whereabouts.
- The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) places limitations on such calls to protect the debtor.
Utilizing Social Media:
- Debt collectors may use platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn to gather information about an individual's location, employment, and other identifiable details.
- Some collectors may attempt to connect with debtors through social media under false pretenses.
Checking Phone Directories:
- Phone directories, both printed and online, are valuable sources of names, addresses, and phone numbers.
- Debt collectors may use reverse directories to link a phone number to an address.
Post Office and Change of Address:
- Agencies may check the post office for forwarding addresses obtained through change-of-address requests.
- Privacy advocates suggest using a "temporary" address change to prevent permanent records of address changes.
State Motor Vehicle Department Database:
- Legitimate creditors or their agents can access the motor vehicle department's database to verify addresses for debt collection purposes.
Reviewing Voter Registration Records:
- Collection agents may check voter registration records in the county of the debtor's last residence to find updated address information.
Utility Companies and Banks:
- Debt collectors may contact utility companies or banks to obtain information on an individual's new address.
Credit Reporting Bureaus:
- Collection agencies associated with credit reporting bureaus have access to extensive information, including address, phone number, employer details, and credit history.
Data Aggregators and Internet Searches:
- Data aggregators compile information from various sources, and debt collectors may use this data for locating individuals.
- Internet searches can reveal affiliations, interests, and other details that help debt collectors in their pursuit.
Skip Tracers and Pretexters:
- Skip tracers use both traditional and high-tech techniques to locate individuals, including email searches, social security number lookups, and more.
- Pretexters may illegally obtain personal information through false pretenses, posing a threat to individual privacy.

Understanding these methods is crucial for individuals navigating debt-related challenges, and consulting with a legal professional is recommended for dealing with aggressive debt collectors or exploring debt management options.