Creditors can be almost mob-like in the way that the track down a debtor. Particularly in a digital culture, people are easy to track and available through multiple methods of contact.
We’ll tell you how they find you. What you say when they do is up to you.
Credit Card Applications
This is one of the most fruitful resources for your creditors. Not only is your residential and contact information listed, so are a number of contacts and acquaintances that creditors can use if you have since relocated. Banks, credit references or relatives may also be detailed on the application, which can provide promising leads to tracking you down.
Relatives, Friends, Neighbors, Etc.
It’s important for you to know that these types of contacts are not necessarily off limits. Collection agents may contact any number of people to get information on you, though there are some restrictions as to how/when they can do this. Read up on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) for more information, or check out one of our previous blogs here.
Phone Number
If a collection agency has your phone number, they may be able to track you down using a reverse lookup.
Voter Registration
Anytime you register to vote in a new area, that information can potentially be accessed by your creditors. Even if you move, your old county retains these records.
The DMV
As if they didn’t have a bad enough reputation, the DMV’s records are available to registered collection agencies in many states across the country.
Change-of-Address forms from the Post Office
Many major credit agencies receive change of address forms when you move from your previous location. They may also take the initiative to check with the post office themselves.
There are several ways your creditors can track you down, so the question is more of a “when” than an “if.” And if the Boy Scouts taught us anything, it’s to always be prepared. Contact one of our attorneys to discuss your options.
The original post is titled Debt Collectors: How They Find You , and it came from Oregon Bankruptcy Lawyer | Portland, Salem, and Vancouver, Wa .
