March/April 2009

Top 6 Skip Tracing Solutions 2009

infoGROUP: Database Contains More Than 20 Million U.S. Consumers

PowerFinder/Select Phone offered by infoGROUP is an economical solution for skip tracing. With a multi-user, networked licensing solution, data may be accessed from any workstation as long as concurrent use does not exceed the number of purchased seats. The database is updated every 120 days. The data available for batch processing searches is updated every 30 days. InfoGROUP's customers include AOL, Google and Yahoo.

Vendor-stated Benefits and Features

• Multiple search options within a database that contains 210 million U.S. consumers and 14 million U.S. businesses. Name, address and telephone searches as well as user-defined filters are available within the original search parameters.

• Program is easy to install. Single-user customers can be up and running in less than five minutes. Most network users are installed and working within a day.

• Unlimited searches are available for one year with a PowerFinder subscription license.

• Downloadable results can be imported to update existing files. Batch processing is a beneficial option for large-volume searches

• Updated disks are shipped at no charge, and technical support is included in the subscription or licensing.

What Users Say
"Our law firm has utilized the SelectPhone/Powerfinder product for over 15 years and could not be more satisfied.  The product's superior speed, accuracy and functionality have greatly improved our ability to locate and contact individuals that would have otherwise been deemed as skips. Select Phone/Powerfinder is a "must have" tool in any skip tracing arsenal and is well worth the investment," said Lisa Waldrop, asset investigations manager of Frederick J Hanna & Associates PC.

Summary
A leading provider of business and consumer information products, infoGROUP delivers current and accurate data.

infoGROUP  
www.infoUSA.com 
800-321-0869

Interactive Data: Online Lookups Have Multiple Wild Card Functions

Because wrong answers are costly, Interactive Data aims to provide relevant data that is accurate the first time to reduce "false-positive" hits and get good skip results quick. With cost-effective results based on quality over quantity, the company implements new tools and data sets based on response to suggestions from clients.

Vendor-stated Benefits and Features

• Search options include: Social Security, Real Estate, Death Index and Bankruptcy. "Customer-focused" searches zero in on comprehensive, cost-effective results. Address returns are CASS-certified. Competitive, per-hit pricing and optional "unmask" pricing are offered. 
• Cell Suppression to suppress cell phone numbers from caller lists helps clients comply with new regulations.
• Online lookups with multiple wild card functions are available as well as batch processing for larger volume searches.

What Users Say

"The Interactive Data suite of products provides an excellent return on our investment. ID demonstrates the skills to help our business succeed — the desire to be part of a winning team, and the dedication to make it happen. Specifically, Protocol continues to value the level of communication and personal availability of the ID team," said Jeff, Sckiss, CFO of Protocol Recovery Service, Inc.

" ... In testing Interactive Data's results against competitors, we always find their accuracy rates to be the highest and their prices among the most competitive. In addition, we have found the ease and flexibility of working with the team at Interactive Data to be painless. On many occasions the team quickly modified their logic to return a desired result ... ," said Customer who may not be identified due to corporate policy.

Summary
Interactive Data changes to meet the needs of the evolving market, reacting quickly to the challenging economic environment and increasingly transient population.

Interactive Data  
www.id-info.com
678-584-5252

LexisNexis: Alternative Phone Numbers Not Found in EDA Databases

LexisNexis Risk & Information Analytics offers products to exceed standard skip tracing, which include strategy building and scoring, bankruptcy searches, batch and online processing.

Vendor-stated Benefits and Features

• Patented "linking and matching" technology to best compile and analyze data from public record databases as well as information not found in traditional credit bureau data.
• New Debtor360 provides key debtor indicators that identify critical account characteristics, allowing collection organizations to focus on more collectible accounts.  Debtor360 is available as a stand-alone solution or as an integrated component of LexisNexis Collections Management Solutions.
• Phones Plus contains 50 million cell and alternative phone numbers not found in other EDA (Electronic Directory Assistance) databases.
• People at Work links people and businesses so that business owners, officers, directors and even possible employees are returned—with a confidence level to indicate how sure LexisNexis is of the link.
• Accurint for Collections product suite allows asset searches as well as consumer and commercial skip tracing tools.

What Users Say

"We are a growth-oriented company. The market demands that we continue to find ways to improve our collections efforts and increase efficiencies.  In a head-to-head comparison, we found that Accurint delivered a substantially higher right-party contact rate and enabled us to collect 40% more money than the competitive solution," said Alex Kowton, Managing Partner of Midpoint Resolution Group.

Summary
With a commitment to offering solutions that increase recoveries while reducing expenses, customers will find LexisNexis willing and able to assist with implementing technology solutions and strategy development.

LexisNexis Risk
& Information Analytics  
www.lexisnexis.com
888-332-8244

MasterFiles: Probe360 Essential Information in a Single Search

Since it was founded in 1989, MasterFiles has expanded its database services to offer a variety of skip tracing searches using a mix of public record resources and a proprietary search process. MasterFiles offers customers access to more than 60 million cell numbers and an estimated 100 million non-published or unlisted phone numbers.

Vendor-stated Benefits and Features

• Unique national new homeowners and movers file(s).
• New Probe360 Contact Report is designed for skip tracers, by skip tracers and is assembled in real-time using sophisticated backend logics to provide the freshest data. It includes essential information in a single search — DOB, DOD, spouse, neighbors, phone and relatives.
• Reach411 is a real-time national electronic directory assistance search — not a search from compiled white pages.
• Real Property database includes property characteristics.
• Customizable batch phone, address, bankruptcy appends.
• No monthly minimum and easy start-up once compliance documentation is processed — sometimes same-day setup.

What Users Say

" ... I process a lot of return mail due to bad addresses. I have used several different skip tracing-type companies in the last 8 years, but MasterFiles has been the front runner. Their database being live is incredible, and my ability to search Business addresses has been the best. Not only that, their customer service is the greatest ... ," said Janice Stewart, employee in the finance division of an international hardware and technology company.

"I am a professional hunter of men and as such must utilize the best weapons available. MasterFiles is the "Weatherby" of today's tracing databases ... ," Ron Brown, President of CSI Group.

Summary
MasterFiles is a cost-effective solution. Proprietary search products offer customers the most current phone and address data available.

MasterFiles  
sales@masterfiles.com
972-490-3282

RealeEDA Information Services

RealEDA Information Services provides electronic directory assistance services. Its skip tracing specialty is Electronic Directory Assistance and a suite of related products. Although RealEDA Information Services describes itself as a "boutique provider" of information, the company has a plentiful menu of services, including a new product that offers cell phone number searches.

Vendor-stated Benefits and Features

• Directory assistance databases are updated daily with 3 levels of "telco" data, and five search types are offered  — all for one charge.
• Real Match technology incorporates a proprietary combination of processes to return the best-matched hit rate. With adaptive processing, RealEDA offers automatic roll up through different search types and a "confidence" score on the results. 
• Around-the-clock online services and batch processing with email, Web submission and FTP file transfer are available. Data is returned with a detailed job summary report.
• New online batch processing accesses more than 100 million cell phone numbers with anticipated monthly updates of more than 1,000,000.

 What Users Say

"We've been using RealEDA landline listings for years and have always been pleased with the accuracy of their data ... ," said Lauri T. from a large collection office in Minnesota.

"RealEDA has been an efficient way for us to identify individuals who have recently moved. We especially like the savings we've been able to realize over our more traditional ways of collecting this information … and I should also mention that it's priced fairly and accurately," said Steve B. who works with a Massachusetts firm.

Summary
CEO Gary Christopher says: "We are a niche player in a very confusing industry and have always focused on directory assistance information."

RealeEDA Information Services  
www.realeda.com 
908-876-5549

 U.S. Tracers: Users Can Place Outbound Calls, Change Caller ID

A single-source vendor, U.S. Tracers offers data-focused services such as IM411 and process-centric services Caller Location and Outbound Dial.  This integrated solution is an option for customers who want the ease and efficiency of a complete skip tracing solution via one vendor.

Vendor-stated Benefits and Features

• IM411 is a powerful SSN, wireless, landline, name and address database with interactive searching as well as batch processing options.
• Employment+ uses data that is unique (not simply rebranded) and focuses on the most difficult skips. Employment+ may return physical employment and home addresses, landline and cell phone numbers and even insight into income levels, pay frequency and liquid assets.
• Outbound Dial allows users to place outbound calls and change Caller IDs.
• Caller Location is an inbound call-tracing and call-routing solution.
• Comprehensive statistical reporting of batches, including specific vertical markets for comparative evaluation.
• Flexible pricing structures and a no-hit, no-fee pricing model for some services.

What Users Say

"IM411 has proven itself over and over as a useful resource that continually provides the much needed 'extra' information that assists us in bringing our cases to resolution," said D. Austin of a debt buyer.

"IM411 verifies our addresses, provides us with additional leads and contact numbers and offers POE and other key information to help our company locate our hard-to-find skips," said S. Forth of a recovery firm in southern California. 

Summary
Founded by a skip tracer who understands the process, the IM411 batch process emulates a live skip tracer by running a series of searches and evaluating the results through a scoring algorithm.

U.S. Tracers  
www.ustracers.com
800-360-5601