Tracing of credit card debtors

[Andy008]

I have looked just now at a website of a company offering, like some of its rivals, tracing of debtors, i.e. people who have done a bunk from credit cards lenders etc.

The company specifically states that it "has access to computer-based data retrieval" which is far more effective than sites like 192.com.

Does anyone know what this company is referring to here? And also what the implications of the data protection act are in this case?

Thanks.

[themas]

Tracing Agencies are quite often used by creditors to try to find debtors they cannot contact in any other way. I guess what you have seen is something similar.

What techniques they use I don't know, but if you are thinking of using one make absolutely sure that you enter into a contract which makes it totally clear that you cannot have any liability under Data Protection or any other legislation as a result of action they take. This must include something saying they indemnify you fully against any claims. If they're not willing to do that, walk away.

[Buenchico]

Here's one reason why the company might legitimately be able to claim that they can access more data than you can find online with 192.com.

192.com's online data is based upon the edited electoral roll. Anyone who marks the relevant box on their electoral registration form will be excluded from the edited roll. However, somebody who has only marked the box for the first time this year will still be listed on last year's edited roll. (So, as long as they haven't moved, they can be traced by using the old database). 192.com allows you to access older edited rolls but the Information Commissioner has ruled that they must not show the details of anyone who has opted out of being included in the current roll.

However, the firm behind 192.com also sells their database (as 'UK Info-Disk') on CD. Anyone who has got the CD they published last year will still be able to see the data which the Information Commissioner has prohibited from being displayed online. So, as long as they've got last year's CD, the tracing agency, which you refer to, can legitimately claim that they've got more data than is available online.

Chris

PS: The data protection implications of using those older CDs are very much of a grey area. For example, Camden libraries won't even stock the current CDs, because of data protection concerns. However, Suffolk libraries staff were happy to spend 40 minutes looking for the relevant software disk, so that I could view an older version of the electoral roll.

[furrydice2]

192.com went through a bit of a lull in terms of the data it was able to use but since its new launch I have been told that they no have access to more information. A good trace company likehttp://www.findermonkey.co.uk/ or www.searching4.co.uk/ seem to have access to more information. I guess that 192.com is all computer generated where are a trace company has staff to do the work for you.

[Steve_RP]

As a previous poster said, good tracing companies like http://www.searching4.co.uk are usually Professional Investigators and not only will they use many methods, both electronic and otherwise to find people, but they also do compliance checks to make sure that the reason for the trace and the person that they are giving the information to are vetted to make sure its legal to pass on the information. Sites like 192.com dont do this because all of their information is publically available anyway.