We’ve been professionally finding people for decades. So how do we actually do it, and could you do it yourself? Is it even legal? These are the questions we get asked most, especially about which databases we use.
Is There a Reliable Way to Find Someone’s Address in the UK?
Honestly, not one that always works. Occasionally, 192.com can help.
192.com is a paid online tool that lets you search the UK electoral roll from home, which is genuinely useful when it works. But it isn’t that useful. It only includes people who’ve opted into the ‘open’ version of the electoral register. Those on the ‘closed’ version are shielded from public searches on 192.com. You can still view that information, but only in person and under supervision, and only if you already know the street or road where they live.
Whereas 30 years ago the only way to peruse the electoral register was to either personally visit the local library, town hall, or British library where all these local directories were stored.
However, 30 years ago the register was 100% comprehensive and complete with everyone listed. Apart from people exclude who might be seen under threat to their life or personal well-being everyone was on the list.
But… if you never knew the precise road/street of the location, you would have to work your way through the entire directory. A big job, but doable. So you might find yourself spending 2-3 days locked away in the library archives.
How to Find a Person’s Address 30 Years Ago
There existed a great directory named ‘Kelly’s Directory” which was similar to the electoral register with a section of commercial listings too. But one of the drawbacks with both Kelly’s and the electoral register was how up-to-date, was it? The limitation with all these directories both 30 years, and today is, are these listings current and comprehensive? Answer NO.
Why? Many of you may remember the local council complied these listings thorough out the year, with a cut-off day around August. Then the whole thing for that year was compiled in a publication around March the following year. So, any listing after August was left off and carried over to the next year. In that period of time, people could have emigrated, relocated, or indeed died. Not to mention changing their name by deed poll, going to Prison, or other scenarios.
How to find someones address
1. How to find an address by a person’s name?
Description: The first and foremost and fatal barrier here is that in most cases there are literally thousands of others with exactly the same name. You can’t rely on location because they may have moved, or equally living in the same location, which one is it? Other than a massive door-knocking campaign forget it. If it was 30 years ago or more they have probably moved.
The only options open are Facebook you may be lucky but don’t hold your breath. It’s a case of pot-luck! Also, on Facebook, there is the frustration of you sending a message, and so often there is no response. Leaving us in the dark and wondering as to why. If they don’t answer you can’t ask them why!
2. How to find address by phone number?
15 years ago-yes. Every town and city had a telephone directory and if the surname was quite unusual you might be able to easily find them. Especially if you vaguely remembered their address to corroborate it. But today phone directories no longer exist, as very few people actually have landlines. So that method of finding someone’s address is unfortunately over. Indeed, finding phone numbers nowadays is passé.
Finding a person by their email. Not easy unless it is offered to you by the recipient. A directory of email subscribers to the best of our knowledge does not exist. In any event, you would actually need the person’s address before beginning the search. Which of course defeats its object of it.
Why Hire Professionals to Find a Lost Person?
We can say without any shadow of a doubt this is the way to go. One huge advantage they possess is access to some directories not generally available to the public. As we described above there is an open and closed version of the electoral register. Some licensed tracers can access the closed directories with certain restrictions, Without access to the closed directory using this method is often virtually impossible. They can click on a couple of buttons on a PC screen and find your target person in a matter of hours. Often these traces are inexpensive, and it works well if that person has been in circulation for the last 10-15 years. Older traces going back 50 years and more, are very tough without the assistance of a tracer virtually impossible.
In conclusion, In all circumstances, it’s very much about who you know!
It’s never too late to renew your relationship after many years! If you need to find the address of someone you knew long ago in the UK – we can help you!
Contact us, we will give you a free consultation and try to find your beloved person in England.