Making the Most of Address Search

How to turn address searches into a useful business tool

Address search services are a useful way of tracking down former clients, employees, or even locating contact information for new business contacts. These address search services are really just a convenience. They page through public records that anyone and everyone is permitted to freely access. Their main selling point is that they do this more quickly than one could do independently and they save you the trouble of having to know how, when and where to access public records. Suddenly they're at your fingertips, instantly, online.

Just because information is in the public domain doesn't mean it can be used carelessly or accessed easily through just any service. So, making the most of address search services means keeping the following in mind:

1. A reverse address search fills in gaps in contact information you already have.

2. Professional level address search services get you the right answers, faster, than many free services.

3. Address searches are governed by several laws that you should be familiar with.

 

Use a service that provides reverse address search

If you've got partial contact information on somebody -- a client, business partner or friend, for example -- and need the rest, a reverse address lookup may be just the ticket. Instead of inputting the person's name you input what contact information you have and then narrow the search down to the person or people you're looking for. Reverse searches are also useful for tracking down prank callers.
Try: Learn which reverse lookup services address which kinds of records -- cell phone, license plate or unlisted land lines, for example -- and how they've been rated by customers at Investigate Online. Learn why not all reverse lookup services are the same and how to choose the best one at ReverseMobile.

Use the highest quality search for address services

There's a reason that the people who depend on finding others accurately and quickly -- such as bounty hunters and private investigators -- depend on certain address search or people finder services. The more records a database searches at once, the more likely it is that they'll find the information you need and that it will be accurate. Going straight to the same services the pros use may cost you a membership premium at first, but it'll save time and money in the end.
Try: Find out how and why private individuals and businesses can access professional-quality background and address search information from Net Detective. You can also visit the eInvestigator forums to ask questions of law enforcement, investigation or bounty hunting professionals that may be able to help you track people down.

Keep your business address search legal

Doing a people search by address, telephone number, license plate or other information may be subject to several laws and regulations regarding the proper use of public information. Make sure that you're on the right side of the law -- and website terms of service -- by carefully reading all disclaimers and terms of service agreements on premium and free address search sites. You should also familiarize yourself with laws that pertain to background check or people search products and how they may be used privately or in a business setting.
Try: You can learn a lot about which uses of background check or address search services are permitted or prohibited by doing a careful read-through of the disclaimer on services like ReverseRecords. Vericheck Information Services provides information about laws that pertain to background check or people search products, such as the Privacy Act of 1974, the Freedom of Information Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

 

• If you're doing a business search by address, phone number or other information, make sure to look up your own business -- and your own name -- as well. You may be surprised by the sort of information that's available on you and your business over the Internet.

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