How Do You Serve Someone A Court Order When You Can't Find Out Their Address

[ganesh]

To cut a long story very short someone owes me money-I have enough evidence of this loan and I have phone details and e-mail address but they have now moved and I can't find out the new address. I can't even fill in the small claims form in without it and it seems daft that someone can get away with it just by moving. Any ideas?

[bookbinder]

Ask the person's neighbours if they saw a removal van, and what was the name on the van? You never know, that might give you a link.

[ganesh]

No, I know the town but that doesn't help!

[Davethedog]

Can't you ask at the old address? Post office may have forwarding address.

[ganesh]

No, this person was renting there and does not want to be found, and nobody will tell me his address because of Data Protection. I am up against a brick wall whoever I ask.

[bookbinder]

I presume that you don't want to employ an investigator? I've just entered 'tracing persons' into Google and I got a long list of ideas that you might like to try.

[ganesh]

I think that a private investigator would cost me too much and it wouldn't be cost-effective. Thx, I will look at tracing persons.

[ganesh]

Actually it may be worth it, don't know how they do it, but they say no trace no fee. Might do it because it seems crazy as I know if the court can send him the court order I have won.

[Buenchico]

If you've got their (old) landline phone number, try ringing it and asking if the person left a forwarding address (or. if the property is nearby, call round and do the same).

[ganesh]

no, only a mobile number.

[themas]

You can get a CCJ using the last known address, but that's not really any help because if you can't find him you won't be able to get the money anyway.

Try the tracing agents.

[Peter Pedant]

I have always assumed that in this case (moved without forwarding address) you are stuffed.

which is kinda sensible as you have to give them a chance to defend your charges - or else sudduv - we would all be getting CCJs against the Dook of Edinburgh by saying to the judge - I put Buck House on it but it was returned as not known at this address......


People do this all the time - OK people do this in Manchester all the time

[Zeuhl]

Even if a Court Order is served, there is no guarantee you will ever get your money!

[society]

Google their name, see if anything turns up, and you could also check Facebook also. You never know, you might just be lucky.

[Bazile]

//Even if a Court Order is served, there is no guarantee you will ever get your money! //

Sherrifs , have a lot more power than bailiffs and have a better track record in obtaining satisfaction , in relation to court orders .

[ganesh]

Yes, I will either spend (or maybe waste) more money with these tracing people, and get his current address, or put the last known address on the form. I don't know why the court can't e-mail the order? It should be just as official. Ok, so he may not pay up but at least I will have a CCJ on his record which will be a bit of revenge if nothing else. He IS on facebook ,society, but it doesn't help as it has privacy settings and certainly no address!

[IggyB]

If you can see his friends on Facebook email all of them asking for his address... You never know someone might be helpful (I'd set up new account before doing it though), and you might shame him into paying up!

[Epona]

ganesh ,he's on FB, get a throw away FB account with a really sexy profile pic then ask to friend him. Flirt and ask questions to try and find out where he lives. Once you have that info though you are no further forward as you have little chance of getting any money out of him even if you get a court order.Like you say though his life will be worse off with a CCJ and I would go with that.

[Grimaldi]

If he was in work before moving, maybe some of his old colleagues might have some info.

[ganesh]

I don't want to start lying and pretending to be someone else etc to catch him. I do not want to resort to being sneaky or doing anything vaguely illegal. Unlike him, I do have a few moral values. I have tried friends of friends route without success. He does not want to be found and any company or official body will not help, even though loads of them must know his new address, because of the dreaded Data Protection rubbish.

[rockyracoon]

Hi Ganesh, if you do going down the tracing agency route I can highly recommend this chap.

http://ukpeoplesearch.co.uk/