What is discreet checking and skip tracing?

Personally, I believed that Credit investigation would not be as exciting and challenging as it is without this two kinds of checking. Discreet checking is part of sourcing information without disclosing the identity, nature and purpose. For me, the challenge of obtaining information from various sources without having them know the inquiring party is truly an exciting activity.  Once mastered, these checking will unlock doors to voluminous information that will prove useful in business or credit reporting. To do or to conduct discreet checking, one can employ the following guidelines:

First, conduct first ocular inspection at subject’s building, always bearing in mind there are hints where to proceeds, i.e. company cars, calendars, posters, identification cards and even the kind of people visiting them.

Second, always check the immediate surrounding, most importantly those within the neighborhood.

Third, be observant: calendars, decorations, photographs, plaques, art pieces can give valuable “clues” or leads as to what interest your subject and how to handle follow ups from there.

On the other hand, skip tracing is the method of pinpointing the location of an existing company when a subscriber has no information other than the business name of the company. In tracing a location, the first and foremost rule for a credit investigation is the familiarization of the different areas and districts in Metro Manila or the locality concerned. This will surely aid in facilitating checking. Cadastral road maps and telephone and buildings directories are valuable references for locating streets and buildings.

There are different aids in doing Skip Tracing. The basic sources of information in determining where to look for a “skip” are the following: credit application, credit investigation reports and other records of the account. In particular, the following are some of the various aids skip tracing, such as: place of employment, previous employers, his family, wife, children, close relatives, neighbors and friends, trade references,          bank references, personal references, landlord, neighborhood business - grocery, sari-sari store, barber shop, etc., telephone directories, co-makers, local credit bureau, different government offices, different private/public utility companies/agencies, e.g. VECO, MCWD among others.

The above enumeration emphasizes the importance of requiring the credit applicant to fill up the credit application completely. The information coming from these sources must be indicated in the credit application or secured during the credit investigation. In addition, the skip tracer must be able to develop his own sources of information. Reading the obituaries, hospital notes and other reports in the local newspaper may give some lead to a skip. Also, cultivating friendly relations with or learning how to approach people who are in a position to know other - bartenders, waitresses, union officials, government officials, officemates - will be greatly helpful. 

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