Tracing agents provide a critical service to businesses and individuals across the UK. They help you trace a person for court proceedings, reconnection or just peace of mind. But how do they work? Who can they trace? And is it all legal?
As specialist tracing agents in London, Manchester and across the UK, we’re best placed to answer all of those questions. Read on for our complete guide to tracing agents in the UK.
Why would you trace a person?
There are a range of reasons behind tracing a person. Generally, these fit into one of two categories – those you have lost touch with and those who have done wrong. Tracing agents can help in both cases.
Losing touch can occur in many different ways. A close friend or relative might have gone missing, but you’re sure they’re out there. Maybe you want to trace a distant relative or one you have never met. Or perhaps you have an old friend you want to reconnect with, but aren’t sure of their current name or whereabouts. You might even want to trace an heir or beneficiary to administer an estate or make a dispute.
On the flipside, there are people who have done wrong in one way or another. Somebody might have borrowed money from you then left. Maybe one of your tenants has left your property in a bad state or still owes their rent. Alternatively, you could have a suspect or witness that’s due in court and is crucial to your case if you track them down.
What can you trace?
Given the range of circumstances, there are several different types of information tracing agents can gather in the UK. That can include the person’s phone number and address if you want to contact them. Maybe you suspect they’ve changed their name, either because of marriage or to evade detection. Tracing agents can identify the person and any names they’re currently using.
Taking it to the next level, you can also trace what they’re doing. Tracing agents can monitor activity when tracing a person to find out where they’re working, who they’re with and what exactly they’re up to. That can be done to provide simple peace of mind, or to add evidence for your court case.
How do tracing agents operate?
The methods used by tracing agents in the UK depend on how much information you have as a starting point. In many cases, people simply want to know the whereabouts of a person who has gone missing or gone on the run. They can provide a full name, date of birth and the last address they have for that person. Using that, tracing agents can usually perform a basic search to locate the person within a couple of days.
Alternatively, you might not have very much information. Some people will only have a name for the person they want to trace. Maybe a rough idea of where they used to live, like North London, for example. If this is the case, tracing agents will perform a more advanced search. This will take longer and obviously doesn’t come with the same guarantees as a basic search.
While some tracing agents will provide a refund if a basic search is unsuccessful, it’s unlikely the same will be offered for an advanced search. However, you might be offered a partial refund if they can’t help you trace the person you’re after.
The tracing agent process
If you want to trace a person in the UK, most tracing agents will start with an initial consultation. That can be held in person, meeting at their office, your home or a discreet location somewhere else. Alternatively, you can have the consultation by email, phone or video call.
The consultation will establish why you’re looking to trace a person, what connection you have to them and what information you need. Crucially, it will also allow the tracing agent to gather all the details you already have about the person, whether that’s their name and address or even what they look like.
Once you’ve agreed upon the process and made the initial payment, it’s over to the tracing agent to get to work. On receiving the details for your case, they should be able to provide you a rough timeframe such as 2-4 days or perhaps a bit longer for an advanced search.
Your tracing agent will be in touch throughout the process, reporting anything they have found. They will then collate their findings in a final report, so you have the information you need for peace of mind or to take further action.
Are tracing agents legal?
Naturally one of the most common questions when it comes to tracing agents in the UK is whether they are legal. By and large the answer is yes. There is a vast array of information available to UK tracing agents, which can be accessed without breaking any laws. It’s simply a case of knowing where to look and what to look for.
As long as you’re working with a professional tracing agent, you can rest assured what they’re doing is legal. At OpSec Solutions, everything we do in our person tracing services is completely above board, so you have nothing to worry about when it comes to legality or compliance.
Tracing agents in London
If you’re looking to trace a person in the UK, OpSec Solutions can help. Whether it’s a missing friend, long-lost relative or someone who owes you money, our team of tracing agents can provide a fast, effective service that delivers the information you need.
Get in touch with us today to arrange an initial consultation or find out more about our services.