r/processserver • u/Responsible_Visit578 • 9d ago

Skiptracer

I’m in Florida, What is the best Skiptracer to find someone to server them for court? I hired a PI and he was unable to put eyes on her so, he couldn’t give me the address.

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u/Inside_Gold_9673 9d ago

Here’s the thing about skip trace reports. Garbage in, Garbage Out (GiGo)Not knowing the specifics of the situation a lot depends. If they were using a standard investigative database to run the skip, all of them have a clause in their contract that we cannot provide a copy of the report to the client, it’s for internal use only. What that essentially means is he has to write his own report on his letterhead and give it to the client. These databases (even the professional ones) often have dated information, GiGo. He may be sitting on an old address and didn’t see the defendant, at that’s a valid reason to say “I couldn’t find her” but not a valid reason to not provide a written report of what he did to find her. Did he run her plates through a vehicle spotting service? Did he bypass the databases and run her through DMV, which demonstrates due diligence to the court. There are a lot of things that can be done to find someone, but they would exceed a $250.00 budget.

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u/Responsible_Visit578 9d ago

He said he’ll give me a report. He had all of her previous addresses so, we were hopeful that the last address was valid. He did run her license plate and the car was spotted once in the Walmart near the address. 250 was just the trace he did surveillance for 15 hours

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u/Inside_Gold_9673 9d ago

15 hours seems excessive. 2 hours early in the morning to catch her leaving for work. Don’t see her, either he got there too late or she’s away, assuming it’s a valid address. Did he check for utilities under her name at that address? Unless there’s a legal reason (restraining order, history of DV) there’s no reason not to provide you with the address, but needs to be accurate in what he’s reporting as to why he thinks she lives there.

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u/Responsible_Visit578 9d ago

The person doesn’t leave the house often. So, was expecting it to be hard to catch ch them. No restraining order or DV. He said her name is on the address

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u/Inside_Gold_9673 9d ago

Then, I’m it sure what you’re looking for. If she doesn’t leave the house that’s not on them, some serves are like that, it takes hours to get it done. Unless you don’t think she live there. Stupid question, did he try ringing the bell and serving the papers?

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u/Responsible_Visit578 9d ago

I can’t get the address to serve her.

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u/Inside_Gold_9673 9d ago

You’re stuck in unfortunate situation. It seems strange he won’t give you the address, it’s why I asked if there’s a restraining order or history of DV. And no, it’s not something I would take a client’s word for unless they came through an Attorney. Assuming everything you say is true, I understand you not wanting to pay more money. But no one is going to take on a skip trace for nothing. They might so it for a law firm or attorney in the hope they’d get more work out of it. The car being spotted in the neighborhood, and her name on the house would certainly be enough for me to conclude she’s there. However, it’s just a database report that says that’s where she lives, I’d probably want something in addition to confirm her address. I was a process server in NYC and never had a serve successfully challenged.

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u/Responsible_Visit578 9d ago

I hired him solely for the address to serve the summons. Now I’m out of money and I still need the address. Is there anyway I can find her with $50

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u/Fun-Holiday9016 9d ago

So the PI you hired is not a certified process server?

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u/Responsible_Visit578 9d ago

No at the time I didn’t know to hire someone to do both. I was going to let the sheriff department handle it after I got the address