Fast. Accurate. Compliant.
Skip Tracing Services
When communication gaps slow progress or an initial service attempt is unsuccessful, accurate contact information becomes essential. Proceed provides professional skip tracing services with current addresses, phone numbers, and email contacts sourced from more than 40 vetted databases. Our verification process ensures up-to-date, actionable information — helping your matters move forward efficiently.
Proceed turns incomplete or outdated information into reliable next steps by using broad database coverage and thorough verification to deliver accurate, actionable contact details.
What Is Skip Tracing?
Skip tracing is the process of locating a person’s current whereabouts through comprehensive data gathering and verification. The term “skip” refers to someone who has left their last known location without providing updated contact information, whether they have moved, changed phone numbers, or are intentionally avoiding contact.
Key Features
- Verified phone numbers, physical and mailing addresses, and email contacts
- 95% accuracy rate for validated contact information*
- Over 40 database sources, including public records, credit headers, and social media
- Instant results for single searches; batch processing for up to 10,000 records
- FCRA-compliant searches with permissible purpose verification
- Comprehensive reports including relatives and alternative contacts
Professional skip tracing extends far beyond basic online searches. We leverage credit header data, utility records, property databases, social media, and other vetted sources unavailable through public search engines. Through automated cross-referencing and human verification, our process produces highly accurate, actionable contact information with far greater consistency than consumer-based or manual searches.
*Accuracy rates based on internal validation; results may vary depending on available data.
How Skip Tracing Works
1. Information Input
Provide the person’s full name and last known city/state. Any additional details, such as last known address, date of birth, phone, email, or known relatives, improve match accuracy and speed.
2. Multi-Database Search
Our system searches 40+ data sources at once, including public records, credit header data, utility connections, social profiles, professional licenses, and proprietary databases. Advanced matching filters reduce false positives.
3. Cross-Reference & Verification
We confirm data by comparing multiple independent sources. Phone numbers are checked for activity, addresses validated against USPS and property records, and emails tested for deliverability.
4. Results Delivery
Single searches return instantly; batch files typically finish within 20–30 minutes. Each report includes verified phone numbers, current addresses, emails, associated profiles, relatives/associates, property data, and up to ten years of location history—summarized clearly and concisely.
5. Batch Processing (Optional)
Upload a CSV to process hundreds or thousands of records automatically. Results include confidence scores, record-level status, and downloadable reports—ideal for real estate, collections, and legal teams working at scale.
Skip Tracing vs. Background Checks vs. People Search
Whats’s the Difference?
Who Uses Our Skip Tracing Services
Attorneys and Process Servers
seeking alternative addresses after an unsuccessful serve
Collections Teams
needing updated right-party contact information
Investigators and Compliance Teams
performing due diligence or location intelligence
Real Estate Professionals
locating current property owners or occupants
Skip Tracing FAQ
How accurate is skip tracing?
Professional skip tracing services achieve 90-95% data accuracy, meaning the contact information provided is current and correct. However, “connect rate” (reaching the person) averages 75-85% because some people have current information but are intentionally avoiding contact, or numbers were recently disconnected. Accuracy depends on how recently someone moved, their digital footprint, and the number of data sources available.
How long does skip tracing take?
Single searches return instantly, with results typically delivered in under 60 seconds. Batch processing is fast and scalable—about five minutes for 100 records, twenty to thirty minutes for 1,000 records, and two to three hours for 10,000 records. On rare occasions when a record requires additional manual research (fewer than five percent of cases), results may take 24 to 48 hours.
Is skip tracing legal?
Yes. Skip tracing is legal when conducted with permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and using legally-obtained data from public records, credit headers, and authorized databases. Permissible purposes include debt collection, legal process service, employment screening (with consent), insurance underwriting, and legitimate business transactions. Prohibited uses include stalking, harassment, identity theft, or any illegal purpose.
What information do I need to start skip tracing?
Minimum required: Full name (first and last) and last known city and state. Helpful additions: Last known address, date of birth or age range, phone number (even if disconnected), email address, Social Security Number (partial—last 4 digits), relatives’ names, previous addresses. More information provided increases accuracy and speeds up results, but we can often locate people with just name and general location.
What's the difference between skip tracing and background checks?
Skip tracing focuses on locating people—finding current whereabouts, phone numbers, addresses, and contact information. Background checks focus on investigating people—verifying criminal history, employment records, education credentials, and assessing risk. Skip tracing finds where someone is now; background checks reveal who someone was in the past. Different purposes requiring different data sources and legal frameworks.
Download our Skip Tracing vs. Background Checks vs. People Search document for more information.
Do I need special permission to use skip tracing?
You need a permissible purpose under FCRA, which includes debt collection, legal proceedings, employment screening (with consent), insurance underwriting, credit decisions, or legitimate business transactions. You do NOT need a special license in most states to use skip tracing services (though some states require licensing for private investigators or bounty hunters). You must certify your permissible purpose when using our services.
Can I do skip tracing myself?
Yes, using free public records, social media, Google searches, and online directories. However, professional skip tracing services offer significant advantages: access to paid databases (credit headers, utility records, proprietary data) unavailable publicly, automated cross-referencing across 40+ sources simultaneously, verified and current data with 95% accuracy vs. 40-60% DIY success rates, and massive time savings (minutes vs. hours per search). For businesses requiring consistent results, professional services deliver much better ROI.
What databases do skip tracers use?
Professional services search 40+ databases including public records (property ownership, court filings, voter registration, professional licenses, bankruptcy records), private databases (credit header data, utility connections, magazine subscriptions, warranty registrations), digital sources (social media profiles, online directories, professional networks), and proprietary databases (compiled datasets from multiple sources, data aggregation services). Our databases update every 30 days with weekly updates for priority sources like credit headers.
Is skip tracing confidential?
Yes. We use 256-bit encryption, secure servers, and strict access controls. Your search activity is confidential and not shared with third parties. In most cases, people are not notified they’ve been searched. However, if you use skip tracing information to contact someone for debt collection or other regulated purposes, you must follow applicable disclosure requirements under FCRA and FDCPA.
What if skip tracing doesn't find the person?
If our database search doesn’t return results, you only pay for successful searches with contact information (depending on your plan). Options for difficult-to-find individuals include: providing additional identifying information for a second search, using our manual investigation service (additional cost), hiring a private investigator for on-the-ground research, or pursuing legal options like court-ordered information disclosure.
Can I integrate skip tracing into my CRM or software?
Yes. API access is available on Professional and Enterprise plans. Our RESTful API provides JSON responses with real-time results, batch processing capabilities, webhook notifications, and comprehensive documentation. Common integrations include Salesforce, Podio, HubSpot, and custom CRM systems. Integration typically takes 2-4 hours with developer assistance. We provide technical support for Enterprise clients including implementation guidance.
Why Choose Proceed for Skip Tracing?
Proceed combines extensive data coverage, automated cross-referencing, and human verification to deliver reliable, actionable contact information. Our reports are designed for immediate use in service of process, collections, investigations, and real estate research — helping you reduce wasted attempts, increase success rates, and keep your matters moving forward.
Need a new address or verified contact after an unsuccessful serve?
Learn more about our Skip Tracing Services
