How to Find People’s Address
Do you want to know how to find people’s addresses? This article will show you how to find people’s addresses with handy tips and advice.
To find people’s address in the U.K. or across the globe it can be a difficult task if you do not have access to the right data to obtain a current address. In the U.K. registered people tracing agents or enquiry agents have access to Credit Reference agency datasets which make the task of obtaining someone’s current address far easier for them versus a member of the General Public.
These people tracing data access and in turn, a more robust data environment for finding people is because a credit agency dataset allows for recency markers which indicate when a person was last residing at a given address. For instance, a recent credit application or bill payment at an address shows an indication that the subject is resident at the address at a given time and normally these are very accurate as they are over the last few weeks which demonstrates current or recent residency.
This is why it is wise to choose a registered people tracing agency such as Find UK People® to locate a person current address as the people finder agents will be able to access accurate and up to date data from Credit agencies and other verifiable sources which will locate and confirm a current residential address.
Introduction to Finding People
In this blog, we will run through some of the areas which help a tracing agency obtain a current address and how you can locate helpful information to locate the person’s current address with ease. We also summarise some of the available free sources to find people’s addresses in the U.K. and the pitfalls to be aware of with some of these data sources.
We also run through how to verify an address is current and up to date once you obtain an address.
Choose the right People Tracing agents
Choosing the right people tracing agency is paramount as these are the people who will conduct the people trace for you and obtain the current address for the person that you are looking for, make sure of the following when selecting an agency
- Make sure they are registered with the Information Commissionaires Office
- Make sure they have professional indemnity insurance
- Make sure they have numerous, verifiable reviews on an independent testimonial site such as Trustpilot
- Make sure that you can pay by Credit card or Paypal to have a third party guarantee of a payment
- Make sure they operate a no trace no fee policy with no hidden fees
- Make sure they have secure data systems and their website is up to date with SSL protection (padlock in top URL)
- Make sure they have a clear GDPR policy and it is displayed on their website
- Choose an agency that specializes in just tracing people, a specialist will be better than a jack of all trades
- Make sure they can complete your trace in a timely manner ie 7-10 days
- Make sure they have no hidden charges, better to pay a fixed fee and that it is
It is very important that you select the right tracing agent as there are considerations outside of will they trace the correct address such as
- How will they locate the person I am looking for?
- What data sources will they use and are they GDPR compliant?
- Will the agency store and delete the tracing data in a compliant manner?
There are many issues around selecting the best people tracing agent as there are many one-man bands in the UK and it is estimated that there are over 10,000 private investigators and tracing agents in the UK.
Consider this along with the fact there is no licensing requirements and hence anyone can setup as a specialist who actually has no training or specialization in tracing people.
If you need a compliant tracing agent that ticks all of the requirements then there is one choice we recommend which is Find UK People®
How to Find People’s Address
Here is a list of the ten information points that help to find people in the UK
- Full name of the person that you are looking for
- Date of birth of the person you are seeking
- Any and all old addresses of the missing person
- Any old telephone numbers even if they are now disconnected
- Any old social media profiles
- Partners names and old addresses
- Any old or current pictures as there is now technology for facial matching
- Workplaces with the name of employer
- Relatives names
- Any relatives addresses
The important data points to help find a person explained
We have listed here 5 important information points to help in the finding of the location of a person and to make sure the person found matches the correct person you are looking for.
This is very important as there can be various name matches across a country but when the data is matched against different data points it will narrow the search criteria and normally down to one match which should be the correct subject.
1. Name
Might seem obvious but this can make a real difference if there are middle names. Also, names of known associates or a partner can assist in being able to locate a “John Smith” who resides with another named individual.
2. Date of birth
This will always narrow a named subject match to only a handful and normally one match when one layers the name with a date of birth.
3. Last Known address
This will help a trace agent to gain address links moving forward to the present day from data sets that are available for a particular case. For example, a debt case can utilize credit agency information and will show address links from the historic address moving forward to the present day address for the subject.
4. Telephone numbers
Telephone numbers always help in an address tracing case as they can provide links to further information, so even if the number is old or disconnected it can link to information that is not held on the subject and can sometimes reveal new data to enable a positive address trace of a missing person.
5. Other tracing data points
Other tracing data points will always help a tracing agency to locate a person such as
- Business details
- Website addresses held by the subject
- Email addresses
- Partners names
- Family and friends details
How to Find People’s Address for Free
There are many open-source information sources to conduct address tracing (to find people’s addresses) on but there is one issue which is the recency of the data. As an example, the electoral roll data that services such as 192.com utilize can be very historic and risks being out of date. One can look at the supplied address for someone and it is not uncommon for the address to be 5 years out of date on a service such as this.
This tends to be a common theme on free or low-cost access tracing platforms for people finding, they can be used for people that have not moved in a long time but for an accurate people tracing solution it is just not data that is accurate for confident people tracing.
We list some of the free sources for people finding but please approach these with caution
Accurate people tracing to find people’s current addresses can now be completed for £45 plus vat on a no trace no fee basis with Find UK People® and the service takes just 24 hours to complete.
At this pricing it is so much easier to pay the small amount to accurately trace someone than take the risk with inferior people finder services.
How to verify a supplied address
There are several ways to verify a supplied address, tracing agents will use a variety of data sources and layer these data points to provide an accurate people trace and normally this results in a very accurate supplied current address. Once this has been supplied you will need to verify the address is current and the correct person you are looking for lives at the supplied address, you can complete this with the following steps
- Use a process server to deliver documents and verify the person lives at the supplied address
- Use a recorded delivery service with signed for a receipt – less expensive but not as robust
- Attend the property and verify yourself – only recommend in non-contentious cases
- Send a letter and await a response
We would always recommend the use of a professional process server in most cases as it will verify the person lives at the address by physical attendance and the affidavit they can swear to that can be used in evidence in any court proceedings.
Anything less than this runs a substantial risk and is not the right course of action in most circumstances, of course, every case is individual and you will be the best person to know what is warranted.
If you need to find someone address in the UK the preferred choice is Find UK People®
Missing people statistics
Losing touch with a loved one is one of the hardest things that anybody could ever experience. With each passing day, you know that you’re missing out on the opportunity to create magical memories. And if your friend or relative cannot be found on social media, effective people tracing can feel like an impossible task.
You may have lost touch for a whole host of different reasons. Whatever the incentive for reconnecting with loved ones might be, people tracing without contact details is a daunting task. Even when all hope seems lost, finding people with tracing agents can help you reconnect and rebuild that relationship. This article will show you how to find people in the UK.
Take the first steps to make up for lost time with Find UK People today.
Statistics on missing people in the UK
In today’s world of smartphones and social media, it would be easy to assume that people going missing would be something of a rarity. On the contrary, statistics for 2019 showed that a person in the UK goes missing every 90 seconds. That equates to around 176,000 cases every single year, with around 100,000 being adults.
Overall, there will be close to 400,000 reported cases over the course of a year. While many of those cases are false cases by people that have worried themselves prematurely, almost half of the families that report a missing person will have to face the heartache that it brings.
Moreover, the fact that 85% are found within 48 hours can cause additional worry for anyone who exceeds that timeframe.
The harsh reality is that finding people that do not want to be found can be very difficult. The cases have risen in recent times, with a report by VICE citing austerity as a major problem that makes it harder for officials to act efficiently. Crucially, it also feeds into many of the reasons why people go missing. While the list is almost endless, tracing agents find that the following stats are very relevant;
- Up to 80% of missing people are found to suffer from mental health issues, including both diagnoses and undiagnosed issues.
- Around 30% of missing people leave their past life following the breakdown of a relationship.
- Roughly 2% cite financial problems as the reason to flee and avoid contact with loved ones.
- Another 2% state that they are escaping violence, while trafficking and abduction aren’t exclusive to children either.
Whether it’s through a sense of self-pride, fear, or any other issue doesn’t matter. When someone leaves and doesn’t want to be found, it will be difficult for you to get back in touch. With the right support, though, finding people is still possible.
How many people move property in the UK
While finding people due to safety concerns is an urgent matter that often requires police attention, it’s far from the only reason that you’ll want to get back in touch with someone. It is often the case that you simply lost contact, perhaps by losing their phone number or following an argument that you now wish to repair the damage from.
Research shows that the average person moves home eight times in their lifetime. However, a person that has suddenly left everything behind is probably likely to move more frequently. This can make it very hard to find someone’s address, or at least their current address, especially if they are moving between short-term rentals, hostels, etc.
Studies show that the median distance to move is only 9 miles. While there are many cases of people moving further to escape the perceived danger or draw a line under the last chapter of their life, the good news is that the person is probably a lot closer to home than you might first fear. After all, only 400,000 people will emigrate to the UK each year – missing people account for a very small percentage.
Still, the fact that almost 400,000 households move home each year means that you may struggle to find people that have seemingly disappeared from the networks you’d usually use to contact them. People tracing without their current details is tough, but it doesn’t mean you should give up.
How tracing agencies help people
Locating and finding people with tracing agencies such as Find UK People(R) is the most effective solution by far. The experience and advanced techniques can make it possible to find people that have been missing from your life for several years. It can be the key to reconnecting friends, relatives, old flames, and more. There are many reasons why you may wish to find someone, including but not limited to;
- They are a relative who needs to be told about the passing of another loved one.
- An old friend needs to be told about something affecting their family.
- You want to apologize for a disagreement and rebuild broken bridges.
- There is a reunion coming up or you want to reconnect with someone after previously rejecting their attempts.
Whatever the reason might be, people tracing is a complex matter that requires the help of a professional tracing agent. Whether you want to find someone’s address, reopen dialogues, or allow them to connect with another family member, the right tracing techniques will give you the best shot at success.
Tracing agencies will collect all available information and use it to begin the process of finding people through registered addresses, employment history, credit histories, and other known transactions. Even when the person’s details are not on social media or in the phone book, there is always a trail from when you last met to the current day. With an expert trace agent on your side, the hopes of following that trail are greatly increased.
Aside from giving you the best shot at finding the right person in the quickest time, it ensures that all steps are completed in a safe, legal, and logical manner. Better still, with a ‘no trace, no fee’ guarantee, it’s the best solution for your pocket as well as your peace of mind.
How to Find People
1. Tracing people in an ideal world one will have a full name and a previous address which will result in a positive result most times as the trace agent will be able to look at the links moving from property to property up to the present day.
2. Tracing becomes more tricky if no previous address is known but it is not impossible. It all depends on the other key information points, for example, if you know the full name and date of birth, the tracing agent can search for matches based on this information and sometimes this results in one match, in the alternative the more information points the more accurate the result will be as it layers key information points such as credit agency data, and the more matches the more likely the results are true and accurate.
3. Most long-lost family and friend tracing normally falls into the limited information tracing category as there is normally no previous address that can be remembered and it is a name and area and perhaps a date of birth. This makes the case more difficult but by no means impossible to trace.
Find UK People® have helped many people in the UK reconnect to long-lost family or friends based on very limited tracing information sometimes. One can see this in our testimonials.
Obviously, the more information provided to us the more likely the trace will be positive but it is always worth instructing us as we always trace people on a no trace no fee basis.
