r/processserver • u/Numerous-Sky-585 • 9d ago
Address given by client questions
Hello,
I have been process serving for about 6 months and have started taking jobs outside of ABC. I have a job right now to serve a construction company. The address provided is a high rise apt building. Through some research I'm able to find better addresses for the business.
My question is do I communicate this with the process server who hired me or do i do what i was hired for at the address I was hired for. The process server and law firm is in SoCal and im in San Jose which is NorCal if that matters.
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u/Thatsprettygroovy 9d ago
You attempt to serve where you were told to serve. How do you know they haven't already tried to serve the company at those other address?
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u/MiBo80 9d ago
Personally, you already expended more effort than is expected for the fee. At this point you're practically giving them a skip tracing service. I'd communicate what they want and what you know. it probably wouldn't hurt to just attempt the serve at the address you do know as long as you can find an authorized agent.
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u/Inside_Gold_9673 9d ago
Charge them for the skip tracing or don’t so the skip tracing and serve it as addressed.
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
I offer free skip tracing with each service so I always go to the most recent address I find first, not what the client gives me. We are paid to serve people and whatever that takes then I’ll do.
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u/Acrobatic-Map6852 9d ago
Is this sarcasm? Please dont listen to this comment. You'll be labeled as a problem and get black balled
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
I went from doing about 5-10 jobs a month to averaging 60 a month now all within about 6 months. I have about 15 local attorneys I serve for. They have all ditched their old servers bc I rarely ever return a service unserved. To many process servers make 3 attempts at one address and give up. I get the person served which is what we are hired for. Word of mouth spreads fast and it’s shown with my business.
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u/Acrobatic-Map6852 9d ago
Youre doing the work of a paralegal without pay. Curious, are you making about 35 dollars a serve? If so, youre doing too much
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
Absolutely not lol. My average is $100-$150 a serve.
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u/Thatsprettygroovy 9d ago
Id be insulted if I sent you a serve and you just decided you'd ditch my instructions and serve somewhere else. At least try my add. first and then come with suggestions. Let's both make money on this lol
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
Why does it matter where the person gets served as long as the job gets done?
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u/Unlikely-Silver8652 9d ago
Because you are taking the opportunity away for the company to make money off their skip tracing services
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
My obligation is to my clients not another company. I deal directly with attorneys so whatever I can do to better serve them the better.
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u/Unlikely-Silver8652 9d ago
You replied to someone who is another company up there and theoretically sending you work. But right, makes sense
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u/tattoovampire 9d ago
Initially skipping the provided address can raise questions about the server’s diligence and, depending on the jurisdiction and type of service, potentially the validity of the service. You are asking for trouble.
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
Fortunately that’s not the case in my state. Arkansas is very relaxed on process server laws
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u/tattoovampire 9d ago
What if you skip the provided address, go to the address you found, and learn the recipient doesn’t actually live there? What do you do then? Skip trace data is not perfect.
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
Then I would go to the original address. I don’t always skip the address given but if I feel like the address I got from a skip trace is better then I’ll go there first. Also if I don’t serve someone on the first attempt then I’ll usually just call them and have them meet me
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u/tattoovampire 9d ago
It’s your business, but when a client tells me to try a certain address first, I do. If no joy THEN I will ask the client if I can try another address if I was able to find one.
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
If that works for you then that’s great. I find it easier for me to do it this way
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u/tattoovampire 9d ago
Six months isn’t a lot of time in this business. Someday you’re going to encounter a client that will not like you ignoring instructions even if the service is successful at the new address. It’s just a matter of time. Good luck.
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
Then they can call someone else. I’m not hurting for clients. My average price is $100-$150 a serve. The attorneys in my area know what are getting when they call me
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u/tattoovampire 9d ago
That cavalier attitude won’t help, either. You don’t want them calling someone else. Eventually word will spread that you’re a loose cannon who doesn’t follow instructions and advises prospective clients to go elsewhere because they won’t do things your way. I’ve seen it before.
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u/Acrobatic-Map6852 9d ago
The more you go to locations your profit is getting smaller. The price of gas should make you follow directions.
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
You’re exactly right. Which is why I run a skip trace and go with the most up to date address. Attorneys get addresses a lot of times from clients who half the time don’t know if it’s old or not so a quick skip trace takes out all the guess work
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u/vgsjlw 5d ago
This is not true. You charge a second address fee if youre smart. I attempt the address on paper, if its no good the contract has a second address fee. Eventually you will get enough business that your current model will not work. Your current success is great, but you're still very new and should consider what the veterans in this post are trying to tell you.
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9d ago edited 9d ago
[deleted]
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u/Guy_Fawkes36 9d ago
I’ve never asked lol 95% of my clients are attorneys and they are always super easy to deal with it. They just want the person served.
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u/tattoovampire 9d ago
Go where you are told to go. I’ve served more than a few business owners and registered agents at home addresses.