Another skip trace trick: Your VIN#

The purpose of this and any skip trace tatic post I make is to make you aware of what information is out there that people can find out about you. I don't know if there is a way that your information can be protected against this as most of the information is public records. Check your state laws if this is a concearn of yours for what is and isn't public.

The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 USC 2721)forbids any Dept of Motor Vehicles from releasing any of its records, except under certain permitted uses. Of which, skip tracing is a permitted use :


So just like a CA can run your credit - they can also check your DMV records to find out where you are.

I have used the program on myself -- not only do I get my VIN, it also returns my license plate, everything about my car/year/make/model/color/engine size, the date the car was registered, the address listed on the registration. I have also used the program to pull my own driving record, and it lists all the tickets I've ever received.

Im surprised it does not give out shoe size, hair color, if you like decaf or regular, mothers maiden name, favorite movie, and firsts dogs name :!:

fyi--if you haven't broken the law you don't friggin care what any collection company might find out about you!!!!! any individual can find a dmv skip trace-- doesn't have to be a CA employee!!! these are available to anyone who requests --a simple on line search if you have vin # will suffice--why is this a big deal suddenly to U?! very strange indeed

Guest:

How do you do an online search? Do you just google it?

nope--works once in awhile but best way luke-- check with your state local dmv.gov--knowing license plate #--should bring up vin # (if not vehicle is stolen)--and if mistaken-- phone call with simple # of wrong license plate on said vehicle will verify anything that needs to be verified!

sorry LUKE!--- I am not the guest above-- but am trying to offer my opinion on matter although I AM ABSOLUTELY AS YOU KNOW NOT THE DEBT EXPERT!!!And never will be!yuk-yuk!!!! :lol: peace and God Bless!

The DMV's really should not be giving out information to just anybody who requests it....

Prior to September 1997, the DMV was required by law to release personal information from its records under the Federal Freedom of Information Acts. Since September 1997, the release of personal information by the DMV has been restricted by the passage of the DPPA.

WHY CHANGE? A California DMV employee gave a private investigator an actress???????? address. The investigator gave the address to the stalker who then killed the
actress. That prompted federal legislators to pass the DPPA. The Federal DPPA required that all states pass similar legislation.

The DDPA provides criminal and civil liabilities for both the DMV and anybody who obtains DMV records without authorization:

Thanks FYI- wasn't aware they used that as a tool to skip trace!

And I am sooo gratefull you posted this--I just remembered I forgot to get my car tag Friday :shock: :lol: ..karen

There is also another way to get both driver's license,vin #,and possibly soc sec #'s completely legal and free. If your creditor files UCC statements,these records are public knowledge in most states.

what is a ucc statement, there is so much out there that I do not know. I feel like an ant in an ocean.

UCC I think stands for Uniform Commercial Code. Creditors file these statements in a state administered database. The paper copies are normally at a courthouse,but a lot of states have online databases that you can research these records for free and print out the statements.

Ok so maybe i shouldn't even say this but... here goes: My best friend is an atty and she has a program that we used this weekend.... all we had was a phone number, a cell phone at that, and we were able to pull up, an address, vehicle type, license plate # and drivers license #!
I was in shock!
:shock:
Ang

My God, is anyone really safe from someone violating my privacy?, I donkt think so. I feel like a sitting duck and I bless the day when I can pay cash for EVERYTHING and get off this horrible "here I am" grid.

Check to see if your state allows PO Box addresses. Where ever I conduct business I ask if I can use my po box due to identify theft concerns and the majority of the time I'm allowed.

Other than the fact someone could get my SSN, I don't see what the big deal is. So, they can verify my address, car make and model, tag number, etc., it's not as if I have moved, am in hiding, or anything cloak-and-dagger like that. All my creditors have my phone number and address, so I am very easy to locate. The problem is I am unemployed, so that is why I cannot pay my debts at this time.

I can see where it would be useful if someone has defaulted on a car loan, or any other loan, and is trying to avoid it by moving. Or in cases where they have broken the law; however, the police have much more effective ways of locating someone, I'm sure.

I get nervous about this UCC and the fact it contains my SSN. That concerns me.

In today's day and age of identity theft - how is it that it's too easy for someone to get your SS # and impossible for you to get another one ! Granted there would be extra work for the SS administration. But doesnt it make sense; if I notify them that someone is using my # without my permission & I'm given a brand new #. If the old ss# pops up anywhere; job app or credit app; there should be some kinda flag that tells the employer or company that the SS # has been stolen & that the person standing in front of them is NOT me ! I routinely check my credit report and someone had applied for a MORTGAGE !

As a collector I have leanred many ways to protect myself from ID theft. One of the best ways is to contact all CBR agencies and pt a limit on your information that can be seen.

Thanks FYI, I love your insight. I'll be doing that now.

FYI= :idea:

FYI - your knowledge is priceless - thanks for being here!

I do try to be as helpful as possible. I'll have some helpful tips on how to deal with collectors around Christmas time later this month.

Cool, thanks.

Thanks FYi! And I think that would be great- the info about collectors and Christmas time!!..karen

FYI. Putting a limit on the information seen at the Credit Bureaus is a great idea. Are there any drawbacks to that, you can think of, though? I seem to remember reading somewhere there are, and it also doesn't block CA's that already have access to you credit reports though. What do you know about drawbacks to this?

Also, looking forward to the special "Holiday Edition" of dealing with CA's and collectors. (LOL):P Don't tell me they get even more nastier around the Holidays? I can't wait. Looking forward to your insight.

Big Brother is watching us and can get any information he wants, there is no such thing as privacy anymore and/or identity in the sense our parents were comfortable with. I have run my credit into the hole and will not dig it back out, if someone wants to try and steal my identity bring it on, I don't think they will get very far with a credit score of 530. lol I have my car, I have my mortgage which I struggle to pay but they do get paid. I do not do credit cards anymore. Why have something someone can take from you, I came into this world with nothing and will leave with nothing. The equity in my home will be my childrens inheritance and any life insurance policy I may have when I bite the big one

question-- do people REALLY find this sight because they are trying to quote "hide out from debt collectors?" and then to gather the proper instruction and ways to hide out from their actual obligations? (That a very select few moderators on sight in my opinion are seemingly supporting such posts here?) And do they actually come here looking for ways to avoid debt collectors at Christmas time? There are 365 days in a year and if someone wants to avoid their true obligations they can do it during any season without any hints (gee caller I.d.)gee hang up if it's a collector and you don't chose to deal with them and give them access to manipulate you into feeling guilty? I think people originally find this sight because they are actually trying to do the RIGHT thing and find ways to recover from what they have been through and are ready to get their life back in order-- OR have simply been treated wrongly and have been violated by debt collectors and don't know why this was allowed to happen. That is the topic subject and advice that I honestly feel most people appreciate here and are seeking! --to me a debt collector advising you on this site on suggestions of quote-- ways to hide out from collections is the same as me starting a thread "Hey people--I do repo's--I'm gonna come and repo and haul off that car you haven't made a payment on in the past couple of months -but guess what? I'll actually call ya an hour in advance and let ya know I'm coming!! I'll be there shortly and ya better have that car gone or by golly it's mine now!"-- Does this happen in real life? I think not! Now that's only my opinion but I tend to look for wolf in sheep's clothing every now and then-- and excuse me for bucking the tide and not trusting certain peoples' opinions--not disrespectful at all in my opinion--I have relatives currently in Iraq now fighting war as I'm sure many of you out there do-- because of the reason of dadgum methods of mass destruction!--wake up people!!! Look at info provided--afterwards analyze info provided-- and ONLY then form your own opinions!--I don't care if you disagree with my opinion-- as long as you take a moment to actually CARE!!!!! thanks!! :D

ps debt cruncher--I was talking about requiring and requesting vin# on owned vehicles--not something debt collection company says they can find out your vin #if they want--and hey--does a collection co knowing your Vin# mean you owe them what they state? NOT NOT NOT HELLO :shock: :shock: :shock:

HankySpanky42

Let me tell you why/how I found this site.

How I found this site was because of a nasty phone message that had been left on my answering machine by a CA. I Googled the name of the CA and this site was among some of the results returned. I'm very glad I found it, as it educated me on some of the illegal tactics used by the CA that called me. Not only that, I began to learn a lot about my rights under the fdcpa and what CA's cannot do, yet still do, in order to get people to give them money. I've learned so much in the last few months about the FDCPA and my rights and it has been a big help to me while I've been going through a very troubled time. I've also appreciated people sharing their experience through this forum (both good and bad) so I didn't feel like I was the only one going through this.

I'm very glad I found this site.

I honestly don't think anyone is advocating not paying your debts, or how to hide out from CA's. I really don't think I've gotten that from any posts on this site. I think the point of the posts you're questioning were to educate us on some of the tools CA's have at their disposal. I also think that CA's do alter their tactics during the Holidays, so it might be interesting to learn some of them. I also appreciated the suggestion about limiting the information seen on CBR's; however, I still would like to know if there are any negatives to doing this.

I appreciate having someone in the "Biz" giving contrasting views. Having enjoyed playing the "Devil's Advocate" myself, it's always good to have a contrasting point raised; it opens up a dialog for a more meaningful exchange. If I just wanted read posts that had the same opinion as me, I wouldn't learn anything and it would not be helpful at all.

I don't know if there is any drawbacks on the limiting the information seen when someone pulled your credit report. I do know that I have seen it a few times and there is a lot of information that can't be seen beyond the name of the person you are looking for.

I am due to pull my CBR next month and before I do I will call all of the agencies and put a limit on the information that should be disaplyed to anyone but myself and see how it goes!

FYI.

Cool, thanks for the information. Also, is there an expiration to this that you know of? What about a consumer statement being place on by credit reports by me? I had heard those only stay on for a year.

But I guess I might be veering off the original topic with these questions, though.

hey Luke,
I don't want to preach, but when is it, you think that you will be able to pay cash for everything and not have a papertrail? You have a doctor, buy groceries, drive with a licsence,etc. (ok I can't spell) Even child care providers name and address are public record!! talk about an invasion! I think what we should all be looking forward to is TRYING to pay current debts, be kind to all we can (yes even the creditors), Pray for our salvations and the salvations of those we may or may not like, and hope that when our time comes that the books of life are opened, we will have a pure testamony to give for the account of everything that we have done in our lives! How sad would it be to hear that we are so preoccupied with saving our identities that we forgot to treat others properly and pray for all great and small! life is so short, we live with what we are dealt, I hope that we all can find the small blessings! :wink:

yeah, ok

:shock: :lol:

i agree with you there Luke. but we'll all be lucky if they don't take cash away soon and go to the swipey card.

One COULD live with a relative or rent from a relative. No lease. No utilities. No paper trail. Then one COULD walk every where and not have a license or car registration. One COULD work under the table for cash. One COULD carry around a state certified birth certificate and not have to have a state issued ID. Wow - it could work!

ron you are 1 of few i have seen here who is breath of fresh air but research b4 u become fan of any 1 here from what i learned and stopped posting a few months ago after i learned truth someotimes i check in to see if people still are posters just research posts of posers clik on post under there name here and then decide how consistent and genuin some people are

Excellent advice guest. There are cliques and posters who treat the forum as their personal blog. But for the most part; everyone is really helpful. And it is a breath of fresh air to know that there are peeps in the world who take their time to listen to the woes of others. And regardless of their motive; offer advice & try to help.

Ron I agree with hvn-- I too as yourself found this sight because of a very bad experience with a debt collector and thought something was terribly wrong in sue crazy America when people in this profession could act in the manner they did with me- -I also feel it would be a very boring and unproductive world indeed if we all simply agreed with one another which is why I myself feel it is never wrong or disrespectful to challenge someone elses' posts especially if they are a moderator representing this sight and business at hand!

Hi Guys Im new in here!

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