How we work
There is no mystery to how a skip trace is performed — just a lot of hard work done in the right order.
Tracing is done by collecting as much information as possible about the subject, which is then analysed, reduced and verified. It is important to verify and follow up the data found, then search other sources until all leads are exhausted. Everything below is that process, set out in full.
The five stages of a trace
- 1
Assessment
We review what you already hold and establish whether there is enough to work with — and whether the purpose is one we can lawfully act on. If the information is too thin, we say so before you spend anything. Declining a matter at this stage costs you nothing; discovering it three weeks later costs you the fee.
- 2
Collection
Licensed investigators search internal and external databases, public registers, court and property records, and open sources. Our subscription databases are updated daily, and we maintain access to sources that are not generally available. The objective here is breadth — assembling every data point attached to the subject.
- 3
Analysis and reduction
Breadth then has to become accuracy. Raw matches are filtered against known identifiers — date of birth, prior addresses, associates, employment. Stale records are discarded. Same-name matches are separated. This is the stage cheaper providers skip, and it is the stage that determines whether the answer is right.
- 4
Verification
What survives analysis is tested against independent sources. Where the matter warrants it — before service of process, before enforcement — a field call confirms occupancy in person. A result is not reported until it has been confirmed by something other than the record that produced it.
- 5
Reporting
You receive the confirmed result and a full record of the searches performed and information obtained at each stage. Anything that could not be confirmed is stated plainly. The report is written to be relied on, including by a court.
The trade-off
Why the cheapest trace is often the most expensive
A database-only search can be sold cheaply because almost no work is done. A name goes in, a record comes out, and nobody checks whether it is current, whether it belongs to the right person, or whether it is the address the subject left five years ago.
The cost of that shows up later. A statement of claim served at a stale address can be set aside. A demand sent to the wrong person creates a complaint and a privacy issue. A field agent attends for nothing. The trace was cheap; the consequence was not.
We verify before we report. Where we cannot verify, we say so rather than passing on a guess — because an unconfirmed answer presented as a confirmed one is worse than no answer at all.
What you can expect from us
A straight answer on viability
Before you commit, we will tell you whether the information you hold is enough to work with.
A fixed fee, agreed upfront
You know the cost before work begins. No open-ended hourly billing on tracing matters.
Realistic turnaround
Most traces complete in 7–10 business days; company and asset searches within 24 hours.
A report you can rely on
The result, the searches behind it, and a clear statement of anything unconfirmed.
An honest close
If a file has run out of leads, we tell you rather than continuing to bill it.
Confidentiality throughout
The subject is not contacted or alerted, and your instruction is not disclosed.
What we need from you
The quality of a trace is largely set by the quality of the starting information. You do not need all of the following — but every additional item improves the result and shortens the time it takes.
Send through what you have. We will tell you honestly whether it is enough before you commit to anything.
How we work — common questions
What makes an investigative trace different from a database search?
A database returns whatever is recorded against a name. An investigative trace treats that as a starting point: records are cross-checked against independent sources, tested against what is known about the subject, and confirmed before anything is reported. The difference shows up when the result is relied on — at service of process, or in a recovery action.
How do you avoid confusing my subject with someone of the same name?
Identity resolution is a distinct step, not a by-product. Candidate matches are tested against date of birth, known addresses, associates, employment history and other identifiers before one is accepted. Where we cannot separate two people confidently, we report that rather than choosing the more likely.
What sources do you use?
Public registers, court and property records, company and directorship records, bankruptcy and insolvency registers, open-source information, and subscription databases updated daily. What is available differs by jurisdiction and by the purpose of the engagement.
Do you visit addresses in person?
Where a matter warrants it, yes. A field call confirms occupancy directly and is often the difference between a probable address and a confirmed one — particularly before documents are served or enforcement action is taken.
What does the report actually contain?
The confirmed result, the searches performed to reach it, the information obtained at each stage, and a clear statement of anything that could not be confirmed. The record matters as much as the answer, because it is what allows the result to be explained or defended later.
How do you price work?
Fixed fee, confirmed before work begins, on the scope of the matter. Field work is the exception and is charged hourly, with expected duration agreed upfront. We do not bill open-ended hourly time on tracing matters.
What happens if the trace fails?
You are told plainly, and you still receive the full record of what was searched. We will advise whether further avenues are realistically worth pursuing rather than continuing to bill a file that has run out of leads.
Need to locate someone?
Tell us what you know and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help — before you commit to anything.
Licensed by Victoria Police · 20+ years' experience · Australia-wide