Find a Person
If you need to find a person, it’s not always easy to know where to start. Perhaps you’re trying to track down an old friend, find a lost relative or sibling, or search for a biological parent. Or maybe you need to find a person by name for probate or other legal procedure like settling a debt or tracing a tenant who's disappeared.
Even today, with the availability of the internet and social media, it can be a time-consuming, frustrating and expensive process trying to track someone down.
If you’re trying to find a person by yourself, you’ll also face a general lack of information, dead-ends, restricted records of dates of birth and phone numbers and no access to professional people tracing tools like those we use.
Let Vilcol help ease the burden and help you trace someone
We’re one of the UK’s leaders in how to trace a person, be they a long-lost friend or relative, a former flame or someone who owes you or your company money.
We can also facilitate the debt recovery process, serve legal notices like court orders and conduct private investigations. We also offer tenant tracing services and can trace people abroad if that is required.
Our people tracing service has been operating for more than 30 years. We know our stuff. We get results.
This page is to instruct us. If you click on "Start Here" and fill in the form it will be treated as an instruction. If you have a general query please either email customercare@vilcol.com or call us on 020 8390 9988.
Find a relative, friend, associate or someone that owes you money – 98% success rate
After being instructed to find a person, we assign one of our award winning, experienced in-house investigators. They carry out enquiries and follow leads based on the information supplied by you and any other data that may have been gained.
Our expertise can help you to:
- Find a person by name
- Find a someone's father or mother
- Find lost siblings, relatives or friends
- Search for someone for probate or will purposes
- Trace a tenant who owes money
- Trace a person to serve legal documents to
- Track down an old friend
- Track down an old flame
- Find a missing person in the UK or abroad
If you need to trace a person who owes you money then you should start your search via our find a debtor page here.
We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and all our work meets the most exacting standards in the industry.
Vilcol’s access to numerous databases combined with our investigative experience has given us an unparalleled rate of success. When tracking people down we have an enviable 98% success rate.
How to trace a person
Finding a person often involves time and investigation.
Depending on the information you have and the level of service you require, we can usually find a person quickly and efficiently by using a range of resources that are not generally available to everyone.
Obviously, the more facts you have about the missing person when you instruct us, the easier our job is. We always ensure we are meticulous and discreet while making enquiries.
Whichever of our services you choose to find a person (full list below), we will send a report with all the data that we have collected on your behalf. Besides sourcing and confirming the address of the person you want to locate, we can often provide other contact details like phone numbers and email addresses.
Instructing Vilcol to find a person or trace a tenant is as easy as A,B,C and can be a highly effective and time-saving solution.
Fees: -
(1) Trace a person from an address less than 10 years old - £85.00 + VAT
(2) Trace a person from an unknown address or older than 10 years Please call 0208 390 9988 for a quote to complete your enquiry.
(3) Doorstep Trace £225.00 + VAT
Detailed No Trace Report: - £55
In some instances of Divorce and Probate enquiries, courts request a comprehensive report of our actions which resulted in a No Trace report being supplied.
Though Vilcol strive to invoice on a success only basis in this instance a fee of £55.00 + VAT will be levied for the time it takes to prepare the comprehensive court document.
Please select the service you require from the options below, and click “START HERE” to provide us with your information.
How to trace a person
Vilcol will assign your instruction to one of our award winning experienced in-house investigators. They will carry out various enquiries and follow leads based on the information supplied by you and as a result of any other information gained.
- This is a manual investigation service for all matters.
- It can be utilised to locate long lost family and friends, probate, matrimonial matters etc.
- Average response time is 5 to 10 working days.
- INclusive of all email and telephone numbers found.
- Please note that you can also instruct us on this service if you cannot provide a last known address please see point 2 under fees.
- Our report will be emailed to you when we receive payment.
- All successful Traces have a free 30 day Re-Trace policy.
- Re-Trace Policy: Vilcol will re-check free of charge any information supplied by us if the request is received in writing within 30 days of the date of our report.
- If you require an extra level of confirmation, we recommend that you instruct us to conduct a Doorstep Trace as described below.
Doorstep Person Trace - £225
Vilcol will assign your instruction to our award winning team of agents. They will carry out various enquiries and follow leads based on the information supplied by you and as a result of any other information gained.
- This is a manual investigations and tracing service utilising all in-house resources plus an external agent attending to confirm residency
- They will carry out various tracing enquiries based on the information supplied by you and as a result of any other information gained.
- Average response time is 10 to 20 working days.
- If you also require photograph/video evidence further fees will apply depending on your requirements. · Contact contact us if you require a quote for photograph/video evidence
- Our fee is all inclusive.
- You will not be charged for mileage, refreshments or any other costs.
- Your tracing report will be emailed to you when we receive payment.
Why use Vilcol to trace a person?
If you want to find a missing person, Vilcol are your go-to trusted specialists.
We have more than 30+ years’ experience and a 98% success rate plus we offer a no trace/no fee guarantee on almost all our services.
We use sophisticated information gathering techniques and draw on a network of skilled and dependable people tracing specialists throughout the country.
We’ll get you the results you want while adhering to all relevant legislation. Furthermore, we provide a speedy delivery – one you can start in just five minutes!
Why use Vilcol to trace a person?
What are People Tracing Agents?
People Tracing Agents specialise in investigating missing persons, long-lost family and friends, witnesses and helping to recover debts. Tracing agents are professionals who work within the confines of the law.
Can you track down somebody who has died?
Yes, we can trace deceased persons in almost any country. We have access to various digital records, death indices and registrars, and legal documents that can help us ascertain the person's whereabouts, cause of death and their next of kin.
Can you find someone abroad?
Yes, we have a large network of international tracing agents who can trace people and assets in almost any country worldwide. We have recently traced people in South Africa, USA, Canada, Australia, India, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Mexico, France, Belgium, Russia, Sweden, Thailand and Germany. We sometimes also collaborate with other tracing agents if we believe it will deliver a better result for our client.
Can you trace assets?
Yes, we also have a team of asset tracing agents. We can find all types of assets, including money, property, vehicles, shares, equipment and investments. There are many different instances for asset tracing, including:
- Tracing assets for corporate acquisition
- Tracing assets that are being hidden from a divorce
- Tracing assets for probate purposes
- Tracing assets that are being hidden from prosecution
Are tracing agents legal in the UK?
Hiring tracing agents (also called Locating Agents) is completely legal, as long as you choose a recognised agency, such as Vilcol. Tracing agents are trained professionals who have access to technology and tools the general public cannot access, and can use those tools to locate missing persons for the purpose of debt recovery, locating lost relatives or finding a witness to a crime.
How much does a tracing agent cost in the UK?
The cost of tracing someone varies depending on the type of job and the time required to achieve the desired result. In most instances, the more information we have on the person we need to trace, the quicker and better the final result. Call us for a quote on your trace.
How do tracing companies work?
A people tracing agent uses both legal and ethical methods to search for a missing debtor, find links and leads and follow trails, even with minimal information. Tracing companies locate telephone numbers and current addresses of the missing person in question through the use of advanced technology and experience.
What legitimate methods can I use to find a person in the UK?
You can use electoral rolls, public records, social media and professional tracing services to track people you may be having trouble finding. The most reliable approach is often working with professional private investigators or seasoned trace agents like Vilcol, who have access to specialist databases, tracking tools and a global network of contacts.
How much does it typically cost to find a person through a tracing service?
Professional people tracing services in the UK generally charge between £55-£200 for a basic trace. Complex cases involving international searches or to find a person who has actively moved without leaving a trail may cost more, typically £300-£500+. For an accurate quote, contact Vilcol on 0208 390 9988 or email customercare@vilcol.com and let us know your exact requirements.
How long does it take to find a person through a tracing service?
Most straightforward traces take between 5-21 days. Success rates for tracing a person are highest when you can provide detailed information like the person's full name, last known address and date of birth. Some urgent traces can be completed within 48-72 hours for an additional fee.
What information do I need to provide to help find a person?
Essential details include the person's full name (including any previous names), last known address, approximate age or date of birth, and any connections to specific areas. Extra information like their occupation, relatives' names or previous employers are also helpful.
Is it legal to use a tracing service to find a person in the UK?
Yes, using professional tracing services is legal in the UK, provided the search is for legitimate purposes such as debt recovery, family reconnection or probate matters. The service must comply with GDPR and data protection regulations.
What's the difference between using a people tracing service and searching online myself?
Professional people tracing services like Vilcol’s have access to verified databases, specialist search tools and expertise in complex traces. While online searches can be useful, they often provide outdated or incorrect information and may miss those who maintain a low digital profile.
Can tracing services find people who have moved abroad?
Yes, many UK tracing services offer international trace capabilities, though these searches often take longer and cost more. Success rates vary depending on the specific country’s public records system and data sharing agreements.
How reliable are person tracing services in the UK?
Reputable tracing services like ours typically achieve success rates of 85-95% for UK traces. This is in cases where sufficient initial information is provided. Vilcol is a trusted and award-winning UK tracing agent with 40+ years expertise, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and we offer a 'no trace, no fee' guarantee.
What should I check before hiring a professional tracing service to find a person?
Verify the service's credentials. Vilcol are authorised and regulated by the FCA, and have successfully obtained ISO9001 accreditation for internal compliance standards, including ICO registration, professional memberships and client testimonials. We provide a clear pricing structure and written terms of service. Avoid services that guarantee 100% success rates or seem unusually cheap.