Q: Can assets be in someone else's name like a spouse or relative?
A: Yes. Our search is limited to the individual you requested we investigate. If you need us to investigate someone else, including a spouse, it means double the work for us. Accordingly, we confine our efforts to the subject of the investigation only.
Q: Why can't you search for Bank Accounts?
A: Recent changes in Federal Law (the Gramm, Leach, Bailey Act) have made it illegal for anyone, private investigator's included, to even try and obtain information about a person's financial accounts. This law is very broad and has eliminated all viable avenues to getting this information. When possible, the investigative methodology used must also comply with all restrictions of the Act, the FTC conditions and the various state and federal privacy acts. According to attorneys from the FTC, there is only one permissible purpose contained as an exemption in GLB and the FTC interpretation thereof. That one exemption is for child support collection in conjunction with a court order. In effect, there is no way to collect on a debt, even with a judgment from the court, unless it's for child support! When our government created these laws, they did so to try and protect people's financial information. The bi-product is keeping people who have need to know whether it is worth the time and energy to bring a law suit, or those who already have a judgment to be collected from finding the money owed. If you feel that your legal claim against an individual or company should be collected, write to your Congressmen and Senators urging an amendment to these biased laws.
Q: Can you search for bank accounts if I already have a judgment from a court?
A: No. Only if it's for child support and the judge in your case actually enters an order authorizing such a search. If someone else tells you otherwise, ask them how they are able to do this a stay within the strict constraints of the Gramm Leach Bailey Act.
Q: Aren't other companies offering to locate Bank Accounts?
A: Yes. We see the same sites you do but in our opinion, these companies are either breaking the law or taking your money and then telling you something to this effect: "Based upon the procedures we employed and the results we obtained, no accounts were located". They leave out the fact that the procedures they conducted were to merely look at any court records they found to see if banking information was listed, and that's the end of it. Many of these companies advertising on the net are also foreign corporations. Watch your wallet with these guys.
Q: What makes A.S.G.'s Asset Searches different?
A: The most obvious advantages our clients have is our investigative expertise. We are not an information broker. We do not simply resell old information found in public record archives like the VAST majority of our competitors do. We are license private investigators and you are paying for our court recognized expertise and skills in developing the information you require. You search will be conducted by an investigator, not a database.
Q: Why do some firms offer instant results but you don't?
A: These firms are doing nothing more than running your subject's name through some software that collects information from a number of free public records sources. Their computer spits out whatever it finds on-line and puts it into a report. They are not investigating anything and most are not licensed private detectives. It takes time, training, expert supervision and a license to uncover information and verify it.
Q: Can we get a Credit Report for someone?
A: No. Credit reports are protected and can only be accessed with the written permission of the subject.
Q: Do you guarantee that you will find everything?
A: No. To do so would be impossible. Not everyone has assets to be found. Further, the investigations offered within this web site are flat rate, limited scope products designed to capture the most common and most frequently detectable types of assets. With the nature of "ownership" and "registration" of assets in this country, it would cost prohibitive to conduct a guaranteed asset search.
Q: What if someone has changed their name?
A: If someone has changed their name legally, then we need to focus the asset search on one name or the other. There are simply too many ways that assets can be registered for a search of one name only to be accurate. Note during our search of the one name you select we many find assets listed under the other name but again, completeness cannot be guaranteed.
Q: What if someone has filed bankruptcy?
A: If a person or a business declares bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the Federal Bankruptcy Act and lists you as a creditor, your right to recover a court judgment is cut off, along with most of his other debts. (If your judgment was based on a secured loan, however, you do have the right to recover the property pledged as security). One big exception to this general rule occurs if your judgment was obtained because you or your property were injured by the malicious behavior of the defendant. In this situation, your right to collect your judgment should survive the bankruptcy (but you may need to intervene in the bankruptcy proceeding to be sure it does). An example of malicious behavior would be someone getting drunk and then attacking and injuring you. If you are looking for assets to collect back child support, the debtor cannot extinguish child support and they will be collectable.
Q: Does A.S.G. accept every assignment?
A: No. We ask for specific details about our client's motives and use for the information. We reserve the right to turn down any assignment and the right to cease with our work or refuse to provide the requested information if we feel that it is for inappropriate, fraudulent or destructive purposes. This is at our sole discretion.
Q: Are clients required to pay in advance for these services?
A: Yes. We will not begin work until the full retainer is paid. We recommend payment by credit card for fastest service.
Q: How long will it take to get the results back?
A: We need at least five business days for a Basic and Intermediate. The Advanced search requires 21 days. Frequently, results are available earlier, but we cannot guarantee same. If you require expedited service, please call one of our investigators at 888-677-9700.
