Merlin Data

Edit: Got my office set up in a dedicated room with key locked handle installed. No worries.

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Mark Garrison
San Antonio, TX

In order for you to have the necessary access that one would need affectly do this type of skip tracing you must have a sight inspection. It really is no big deal they are simply wanting to be sure that one is not providing access to the information (third party sales).

Mark, if you are wanting to perform your work honestly and legally then there should be no problem with complying with the information providers.

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Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face .... Marcus Antonius

I AM Some Folks "KARMA" and A MODERATOR @ FRN

I have absolutely no problem complying with the information providers. My problem is that I simply don't have the specific licenses they are asking for. I "only" have my Texas peace officer license, LEO credentials, and DBA (assumed name certificate) which is simply not enough for some sites. I will be working for a skip trace firm that requires their contractors to have their own access to databases. As stated in my Off Topic post, I will be finding updated information on debtors which does not require a license in Texas as it is exempt from the PI chapter 1702 Occupations Code (1702.324). It is also not considered debt collection so it does not require a collections license/permit/etc. since we don't actually contact the debtor about their debt and try and get them to pay etc.. We're only skip tracing and updating a file. It's just a tough situation trying to gain the needed access for this amazing job that I've been trying to land for some time even though I have what I would consider more than enough proof for the providers.

As for the site inspection, I do not have my own office. At least not what they are asking for. I work out of my home office and my office space is basically a corner of the house. My other rooms are occupied so I can't move my office in one of them which is what they want.

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Mark Garrison
San Antonio, TX

No offense intended as we don't know each other, but I have to agree with LuVonda. You are raising our suspicions as to who and what you are. The regulations/requirements you are encountering are in place for very good reasons.

Your protestations against thier strictness seem to suggest that perhaps maybe you are 1 or more of the following:

1) Illegitimate

2) Lazy

3) Stubborn

4) Feel that the rules shouldn't apply to you.

Several addages come to mind : "When in Rome do as they do "; Shakespeare- "Me thinketh thou doth prosteteth too much"

So for me it's simple. If you want to play this game then you are going to have to follow and obey the rules of the game, just like the rest of us do. Nothing more, nothing less.

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River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601

We went thru 3 different site inspections for various Intel databases, Also most companies will not offer Credit Headers to a home base business ether so this could be another snag you will have to deal with. If you don't qualify for an account outsourcing would be an avenue you might take, It would depend on what your client is willing to allocate on fees to do a skiptrace.

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The Rose Investigations LLC
Collection Agency
Security & Investigations Consultant
Retired Private Investigator & Bail Enforcement
NAM VET 1969- 1975 US Army (RECON)
Office 260-220-3877
1-888-631-5520
Fax 260-456-6062

A bit hard not to take offense to some of your allegations, but you are very right, we definitely don't know each other. I would love nothing more than to prove my legitimacy to you and everyone else here and am much more than happy to do so at any time. You seem to misunderstand my situation. This all started in the Off Topic section as I am not referring to fugitive recovery but the private business of skip tracing for missing debtors. Regardless, I have never protested the regulations that are in place. If anything, I have only vented as to my frustration being that I am just starting out. I have repeatedly said that their regulations are "rightfully so." So venting a little frustration I certainly am, protesting these sites regulations for reason of privacy rights I am not. I posted all of these posts knowing full well there would be those that interpreted my frustration as fishy business. I posted nonetheless hoping that I could get some support/advice which I have gotten.

1) Illegitimate: With all due respect, as stated before, even though unnecessary, I'm more than happy to prove I am who I say I am. It wouldn't be that difficult at all whether I or someone else did the favor.

2) Lazy: That's the last thing I would call it after spending 12 hours on the phone with literally dozens of individuals/county clerks trying to get all the information I need and going through 2 hours of telephone interviews with potential employers.

3) Stubborn: Stubbornness is irrelevant when there are unbreakable rules in place. Instead, if I'm stubborn with anything, it's trying to find a way to make this work. As I'm sure you know, stubbornness can be a very valuable tool.

4) Feel that the rules shouldn't apply to you: I don't feel that the rules shouldn't apply to me. But anyone who says that rules haven't gotten in the way of them performing their work at some point (and gotten upset) is suspicious themselves. It's adapting to those rules and finding ways to make them work in your situation that's important.

And thank you for your wise literary adages.
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Mark Garrison
San Antonio, TX

Mark, I have somewhat researcched the laws in TX, and isn't there an exception to getting your experience for a PI license for prior LE experience? Also you may be able to get a sub-license by working under another another company to meet the 2 year requirement. I would imagine that LE would have their own resources, so not eligible or available on an individual level for getting info from an outside company.

I understand your frustrations, but also understand the frustrations and legalities that the various databases that we utilize face in legally providing us with the information that we get from them. Because of stronger state and federal laws, many have stricter standards than were in place when we may have signed up. For example, one that I utilize accepted only that I prove that I was in the appropriate business (at the time), and I was accepted, even though no state licensing was (or even now) was in place for investigations. This same company is now requiring more stringent requirements, and while I can now meet them, others who met my initial requirements cannot.

The other professional-verified paid search site that I use, required my Bond Agent license, as well as as my trade name registration from the state, and a bank account under that name. I set those accounts up at a later date, after the laws had changed, but before I applied to the comapny for access to their database info. I have never had a company request a "site inspection", wanting to see my actual office, but I do have one. I have living quarters in the back of it, but am also in the process of building a house at another location, and that is the permanent address on my bonding license. So, I have a rented office, with a state defined "home office" designation, as well as a separate legal permanent residence address, with the constuction of the residence being in process as my bonding license address. My city business license and business bank account has the office address, my state bond agent license has the "under construction home one".

I am not questioning your qualifications or profession, but you will have to comply with whatever your state, and whatever search site you use requires to gain access. I think that TX may have an exception for ex-LE tp get a PI license, so check into that. Otherwise, you may be able to find a PI company that will work with you and allow you to work under their license for the required time until you can get the license on your own.

Also, if the company that you have been hired to work for is legitimate, they should have the resources for the info, and most of the legiiimate ones will provide their employees with access to their resources. It may be an excellent job, but i tend o question their business practices if they require their employees to pay for and provide their own resources for this skiptracing info..

I am only speaking from personal experienc, and others may differ. I pay for and use my personal resources when tracking my own skips. When I am working for another agent, I use their info or resources to track their skip, unless they are willing to pay my investigative hourly rates (my costs included in an hourly rate) for my time and espenses. Some will, some won't. I investigate for the ones who will, and follow up on the ones who won't. My success rate is 99% on the cases that I investigate, about 90% on the info from others.

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Kathy Blackshear
Blackshear Investigations
Blackshear Bail Bonds
Sales Associate, Prepaid Legal Services, Inc.
Walsenburg, CO

Proud Member of the AB Reject Club

I can personally vouch for Kathy's skill and capabilities. While living and working in California last year, I located a Ca. skip somewhere in Co. I outsourced the case to Kathy and she closed it for me in a timely manner.

On other occasions Kathy (and others) have run intel for me which has been fairly accurate.

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River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601

Your gonna run into the checks with any database. I use several, just signed up with another this week to add to my arsenal, and everyone check you out with everything but a rubber glove. And rightly so. You get some very, very sensative info.

I would think a LEO would know that. You guys got access to lots of info as well, not to mention state records, ect....

With some effort, you shouldnt have a problem.

I'm naturally curious and easlily confused.

Are you currently employed as an LEO in Texas? Are you going to work both as an LEO and a PI / Skiptracer? Can you do both jobs at the same time in Texas?

You also mention in the other post about a site that had credit application information. Do you mean the whole app info or just what is contained in the credit header of a credit report?