Posted by John Merchant on January 08, 2009 at 09:38:13:
A quick and pretty cheap thing you can do is register with www.pacer.gov and learn what bankruptcy filings she may have had, also felony convictions come along with the BK info…something like 8c per page as I recall it.
I’ll never again deal with anybody on anything but cash w/o a pacer check as it’s as penetrating as cold water and crstyal clear…and you’ll come to rely on as when it’s signalling a negative you’ll want to toss that one and move on immediately.
Locating a deadbeat tenant - Posted by Blake Starkey
Posted by Blake Starkey on January 07, 2009 at 12:45:50:
I’ve generally had great tenants. However, I’ve recently experienced something awful. In a nutshell, had to evict a tenant following three months of not paying rent. Literally had to get the cops to “get” her out of the house after the actual eviction. Once in the house, there was a lot of damage. Got a judgement for $3,000 against her. I have left and continue to leave SEVERAL messages for her to make arrangements to pay. She either does not pick up, or immediately hangs up on me when she does. I know this girl is still in town and working somewhere. I have a legal judgement, and would like to tap her wages, as this is an issue of principle. Last night at 4:00AM, I received another voicemail where she cussed me repeatedly, told me she’s got a great job here in town, but that I’d never find her, for me to stop (bugging) calling her, and that she knew she legally owed money, but didn’t care and would never pay and was glad she’d “screwed me” and wished she could do it again. Nice girl. Like I said, this has become an issue of principle. I’m low on money and would like to avoid going through my attorney or hiring a private detective to locate her. If I knew where she worked now, I could just go down to the courthouse and execute my judgement and have her wages tapped. If this person would have handled this w/ any dignity, I’d probably just chalk it up to a bad experience and move on. But instead, I’m getting phone calls taunting ME over the situation. I have a cell phone number and a social security number and that’s it. Does anyone have any advice on how to locate someone who is in town? Again, I’m low on funds and don’t want to deal w/ a PI or more court fees.
A collection agency is what you need, but better yet, find a local law firm that specializes in debt collections, or has a department the specializes in debt collections. They are usually more efficient and work on the same 50/50 commission basis.
Also, once you have given the account to the law firm, don’t be afraid to play private detective and track down this lady, or information about her. Any info you get give to the law firm immediately. They will appreciate your efforts greatly, and it will give them more incentive to pursue your account more agressively than others.
Blake, Other ways to find assets or employment is with the use of trap lines. There is a Company in CO that provides this service. A general search of the web will produce results. There is also a free 800 trap line service at www.ureach.com. The trick here is to send a postcard to the debtor claiming you have unclaimed property or money that belongs to them. Ask them to call that number, and extension between 9 and 4. Generally most people are at work. When they call, the number is “Trapped”, even if it is caller id blocked, etc. This is a great tool for locating employment.
Find a local person or business that specializes in collecting judgmemts. You’ll probably have to give them half of whatever they colllect, but you were thinking of not chasing her anyway, right? At least you can get the satisfaction that she might pay the entire thing. Good thing you have the SS number. Eventually she’ll slip up and use the SS# on a job or rental application, car purchase, etc, so you should eventually find her and zap her worthless a**. I just recently starting collecting on a judgment about eight years old, so it’s never too late. Remember, it’s often the dumbest crooks who brag about their deeds and not getting caught. Good luck.
Few of my tenants pay by check, but I make copies of the checks I receive from almost anyone. If you have a judgment you should be able to tap a bank account if there is one.
If you got a detailed application it is often easy to play detective & track down a tenant. They aren’t usually smart enough to really hide. Bet your gal is on MySpace, & her former neighbors are probably dying to blab all about her. Relatives give them up, too.
Re: Locating a deadbeat tenant - Posted by Rich-CA
Posted by Rich-CA on January 07, 2009 at 18:02:02:
I usually do not have time to chase down dead beat tenants. I have had five (all in AZ) that left owing me money. I also don’t want to spend much on chasing the deadbeats BUT I want to make sure they are chased. So I use a collections agency.
Since its clear you are never going to convince her to pay (and why did it take 3 months to decide to act, anyway?), sending the file to collections is what I would suggest. They take a fee of 50% of what is owed but if your lease adds collections and recovery fees to the debt, this does not affect what you get).
The day you submit the file, the debt goes on the person’s credit reports (all three). Since you have a judgment, they will use that to get a garnishment order to take her wages. They are very good at tracking people (one tenant fled from AZ to FL and ended back in MA where they started and the agency tracked all this from their office). If she’s still in town GREAT! Means the rules are local for collecting the debt.
Act fast. Make sure the red flag to other landlords is out there. Then have the phone company block calls to your number from her cell. Leave her a message that you are turning her case over to collections and that if she calls you after that, you will obtain a restraining order.
Anyway, that is my advice. Some people are scum and do not deserve to live indoors or outside of a war zone. Do not take it personally, but put that red flag out there so other landlords in decent areas will send her application packing.
I’ve had some luck using intelius.com for tracking cell phone numbers… i was skeptical but it actually gave me a correct physical address… it’s worth the 2 bucks or so for sure. I agree, at this point it’s a matter of principle. I had a tenant do me the same way, makes you wonder about humanity. I’ve been known to turn it over to a collections company, since they are experts and have the resources to track someone down. It is especially valuable to them that you have a court order. Good Luck.