Posted by Jim (wa) on August 14, 2009 at 11:53:29:
I put quite a bit of time into trying to find the best way to locate people.
I concur with the best being the USPS. I’ve used Merlin and have only found them to be marginally better than the free Zabba search site, and much less user freindly.
I tried a PI. They were about the same as Merlin.
Can anyone offer a different perspective?
Thanks,
Jim
Skip Tracing Company Recommendations? - Posted by Neil
Posted by Neil on August 11, 2009 at 09:41:48:
I am trying to find an inexpensive skip tracing company to help me find owners of vacant properties. So far, I have heard of the following recommendations.
Does anyone use somebody that isn’t listed that they like?
Re: Skip Tracing Company Recommendations? - Posted by Bill H
Posted by Bill H on August 11, 2009 at 21:38:05:
Used to use the USPS…yep…the Post Office, very effectively.
Most people, for some reason, will have/give/leave a forwarding address.
All you need to do is simply put in your return address in the upper left corner, under your name and address the words:
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
DO NOT FORWARD
Amazingly it will come back with an address more often than not.
Certain Post Office rules apply. Some will come back with NFA…No Forwarding Address…FOE…Forwarding Order Expired (been over 13 months) and some others that I have probably forgotten.
But, for only $.44 you cannot beat it.
Good Luck,
Bill H
Re: Skip Tracing Company Recommendations? - Posted by Rick, the Probate Guy
Posted by Rick, the Probate Guy on August 11, 2009 at 18:27:01:
From Tricky Rick’s Box of Tricks:
Subscribe to Private Investigator Magazine - PI.com. Yes, it’s a bit campy and appeals, in part, to the wannabe Rockfords, Columbos and Magnums, however there are usually some worthwhile ads of note.
BTW, there are some really stealthy ways of finding people, so don’t believe for one minute that this is anywhere close to being a finite list of sources.
I’m betting that you are going to have LOTS of fun and make some dough here.
Re: Skip Tracing Company Recommendations? - Posted by Neil
Posted by Neil on August 12, 2009 at 13:17:02:
Thanks for your tip but that’s already my favorite way of finding owners. It’s actually $.44 plus $.50 for the new address. I also use bankruptcy records (PACER), Tax records, records office, facebook :), knocking on neighbor’s doors, and a multitude of other ways.
However, I do NOT have a skip trace company picked out 
They’re just my last resort.
Re: Skip Tracing Company Recommendations? - Posted by neil
Posted by neil on August 12, 2009 at 13:17:55:
Merlindata seems to be the winner I keep hearing over and over. Since nobody can give me a better name, I’ll probably end up going with them. Thanks!