Skip Tracing & Locate Techniques Flashcards

Under the FCRA, which of the following is a permissible purpose for accessing a consumer's credit report during skip tracing?

Answer: Collecting a legitimate debt owed by the consumer

The FCRA permits creditors and debt collectors to access credit reports for purposes of collecting a legitimate debt.

When a skip tracer calls a debtor's former employer to verify employment history, which law primarily governs this contact?

Answer: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)

The FDCPA regulates third-party contacts during debt collection, including calls to former employers to locate a debtor.

A skip tracer discovers a debtor's new address through a utility company inquiry. The debtor has a 'cease communication' letter on file. What is the correct action?

Answer: Update the address in the file but do not contact the debtor at the new address

A cease communication request applies to contact with the debtor, but collectors may still update internal records and continue internal collection activity.

Which public record source is MOST commonly used to locate a debtor who may have recently purchased real estate?

Answer: County recorder or assessor property records

County recorder or assessor records document real property ownership and are publicly accessible for skip tracing purposes.

What is 'address verification' in the context of skip tracing?

Answer: Confirming that a located address is current and that the debtor resides there

Address verification means confirming through multiple sources that the debtor currently resides at the identified location before initiating collection contact.

Under the FDCPA, how many times may a debt collector attempt to contact a third party to locate a debtor?

Answer: Generally once, unless the third party asks the collector to call back or new information warrants a second contact

The FDCPA restricts collectors to contacting any third party only once for location information unless the third party invites further contact or initially lacked the information.

A skip tracer uses a debtor's social media profile to identify a new city of residence. What is the next recommended step?

Answer: Cross-reference the social media data with at least one additional source before acting on it

Social media data should be corroborated with a second source (utility, credit header, public records) to ensure accuracy before collection action.