By Alexander Flores, Debt Buyer & Triton Financial Solutions, LLC · Level 2: Intermediate · Last updated: November 4, 2026
Accurint skip tracing is a LexisNexis Risk Solutions service that collection agencies and debt buyers use to find consumers who have moved, changed numbers or stopped answering. LexisNexis sells it as Accurint for Collections. The product comes in two workflows that sit on opposite sides of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and that split shapes how a collector can use each one.
This neutral review covers what the product does, how credentialing works, what data it covers, single versus batch searching, what LexisNexis publishes about pricing, and where the GLBA, DPPA, FCRA and FDCPA set limits. Every fact below comes from LexisNexis’s own pages or a primary legal source, and each was checked live on November 4, 2026. It is general industry information, not legal advice.
What is Accurint for Collections?
Accurint for Collections is a LexisNexis Risk Solutions platform for locating consumers and prioritizing accounts. LexisNexis currently presents it as two workflows: Contact and Locate, for skip tracing, and Decisioning, for FCRA-regulated ability-to-pay analysis.
LexisNexis describes each workflow’s legal status on its product pages:
| Workflow | What LexisNexis says it is for | Legal status per LexisNexis |
|---|---|---|
| Contact and Locate | “Streamline skip trace efforts and pinpoint right-party contacts” | Not provided by a consumer reporting agency and not a “consumer report”; may not be used as a factor in eligibility decisions |
| Decisioning | Determine ability to repay, eligibility for a repayment plan, and recommended payoff amounts | A consumer reporting agency product from LexisNexis Risk Solutions Bureau LLC, accessed only in compliance with the FCRA |
In short: Contact and Locate finds people, and Decisioning supports decisions about them under FCRA rules.
How does Accurint skip tracing work for collections?
Accurint skip tracing works by matching the identifiers you already hold, such as name, last known address and SSN, against LexisNexis’s linked records. It returns ranked contact and location leads for a person you may then try to reach.
On the Contact and Locate page, LexisNexis lists these tools and reports:
| Item named on the page | Type |
|---|---|
| LexisNexis Contact Plus | Locate tool |
| Workplace Locator | Locate tool (employment) |
| Business Locator | Locate tool (businesses) |
| LexisNexis Phone Solutions for Collections | Related phone product |
| Finder Report, Contact Card Report, Address Report, Business Report | Report formats |
The page says results show first-seen and last-seen dates, relatives and associates, and address details. The Decisioning page adds “Next Steps” and “We Also Found” prompts that point users to related searches.
LexisNexis’s skip tracing page also mentions automated alerts for key account changes, “such as new contact information and bankruptcy filings,” and says customers can “automate batch processes.” For more general background on skip tracing, see our skip tracing guide.
What data does Accurint for Collections cover?
LexisNexis says Accurint draws on public records and proprietary sources. These include addresses, driver’s license and property records, bankruptcies, court records, assets, licenses, employment information and phone data. LexisNexis does not publish total record counts on these pages.
| Data category | Where LexisNexis names it |
|---|---|
| Address history, relatives, associates | Contact and Locate page |
| Phones and right-party contact data | Contact and Locate page; Address and Phone Batch Wizard page |
| Employment and workplace | Contact and Locate (Workplace Locator); skip tracing page |
| Court records, assets, licenses | Decisioning page |
| Bankruptcy | Skip tracing page (alerts); Banko Solutions listed as a related product |
| Driver’s license and property ownership | Skip tracing page |
LexisNexis’s own Decisioning page says the product draws “public and proprietary data from thousands of proven sources” and forns that public records “may contain errors” and “should be independently verified.” The Contact and Locate notice also says LexisNexis does not guarantee accuracy, location results, right-party contact rates or compliance outcomes. Build verification into your workflow before you act on a hit.
How do you get access to Accurint?
Access requires credentialing, which is LexisNexis’s review of your organization and its intended use. You submit a Customer Information Form and supporting documents through the LexisNexis Account Center, and a credentialing analyst reviews them.
LexisNexis’s support article on credentialing for public records access lists what the Customer Information Form (CIF) collects:
| CIF section | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| Organization information | Legal name, DBA, address and phone matching state registration |
| Customer profile | Business type and activity classification |
| Public records use certification | A detailed description of intended use, with example scenarios |
| Consumer debt collection use certification | Whether records will be used for consumer debt collection, with a required acknowledgment |
| Permissible purpose certification | Which regulated uses users may select (all approved uses or a subset) |
| Death Master File | Documentation of permissible use if recent DMF data is requested |
| Contact information | The administrative user; may include date of birth and home address |
| Documents | Business identity and licensing documents; businesses under six months old provide two from an alternative list |
| Signature | Acceptance of responsibilities and digital signature |
LexisNexis says an analyst is assigned within 24 hours of submission and may ask for more documents, and that applicants can track status in the Account Center. A new agency should have its state licenses, entity filings and a written description of its collection use ready before it applies. Our buyer tools page lists other resources for setting up operations.
How do GLBA and DPPA permissible uses work in Accurint?
Every regulated search requires you to choose a permissible use. Your GLBA choice controls whether GLBA-regulated data is searched, and your DPPA choice controls access to motor vehicle record data. The options you can see depend on your credentialing.
Accurint’s GLBA help page says that if you select a GLBA permissible use, “your search will run against data regulated by the GLBA,” while “I Have No Permissible Use” searches only data not subject to the GLBA. The listed GLBA uses track the exceptions in 15 U.S.C. 6802(e), such as transactions requested or authorized by the consumer, fraud prevention, legal compliance and resolving customer disputes.
On the DPPA side, 18 U.S.C. 2721(b)(3) permits a legitimate business to use the data to verify information the individual gave it. If that information is wrong or out of date, the business may get the correct information, but “only for the purposes of preventing fraud by, pursuing legal remedies against, or recovering on a debt or security interest against, the individual.”
| Selection | Effect described by LexisNexis | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| A GLBA permissible use | Search includes GLBA-regulated data | 15 U.S.C. 6802(e) exceptions |
| “I Have No Permissible Use” (GLBA) | Search limited to data not subject to the GLBA | — |
| A DPPA permissible use | Search may include DPPA-regulated data | 18 U.S.C. 2721(b) |
| “I have no permissible use” (DPPA) | Search limited to non-regulated sources | — |
LexisNexis’s support center says staff “cannot advise which permissible use to select,” and tells unsure users to ask a manager or legal counsel. Its batch guide says users must pick a GLBA and a DPPA purpose before a batch job can be confirmed. Pick the use that matches the actual account, and consider documenting the reason for each search.
When does the FCRA apply to Accurint for Collections?
The FCRA applies to the Decisioning workflow, which LexisNexis describes as a consumer reporting agency product. It does not apply to Contact and Locate, which LexisNexis says is not a consumer report and may not be used for eligibility purposes.
Under 15 U.S.C. 1681a(d), a “consumer report” is information from a consumer reporting agency that is used, or expected to be used, as a factor in eligibility for credit, insurance, employment or other listed purposes. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681b(a)(3)(A), one permissible purpose is using the information in connection with a credit transaction that involves “review or collection of an account of” the consumer.
Applied to common tasks:
| Task | Workflow | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Find a new address or phone | Contact and Locate | Locate only; LexisNexis says it is not a consumer report |
| Decide whether to offer a settlement or payment plan | Decisioning | Eligibility-type decision; LexisNexis says this is the FCRA-regulated product |
| Score or rank accounts for ability to pay | Decisioning | LexisNexis markets Decisioning for ability to repay and prioritization |
| Use locate data to deny a payment plan | Neither, as configured | LexisNexis says Contact and Locate data may not be used for eligibility purposes |
Locate data still brings collection rules with it. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692b and 12 CFR 1006.10, a collector who contacts a third party to get location information must identify themselves, must not say the consumer owes a debt, and generally may contact that person only once. Relatives and associates that show up in a skip trace are third parties under these rules. For a wider view, see our Regulation F guide.
Should you use batch or single search?
Use single search when working an individual account, such as a dispute, a promise to pay or a pre-litigation file. Use batch when refreshing contact data across many accounts at once, such as a newly purchased portfolio.
LexisNexis’s Online Batch help guide (a 2015 PDF still hosted on accurint.com) describes how batch works:
| Feature | Single search | Online Batch (per LexisNexis’s guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | One account at a time | Placements, portfolio onboarding, periodic scrubs |
| Input | Search form | Comma-delimited or fixed-width file, up to 200,000 records per file |
| Products named | Contact and Locate searches and reports | Waterfall Phones and Address, Contact Plus and Address, WorkPlace Locator |
| Options | Report selection | Phone line type (cell, POTS, VoIP), carrier, number of phones (1-5), confirmation flags |
| Permissible use | Selected per search | GLBA and DPPA purposes required before confirmation |
| Output | Search results and reports | Email notice, then download under My Account > Batch Output |
The Address and Phone Batch Wizard page also describes a “de-dupe feature” so you “only pay for phones that you don’t already have,” plus a phone type indicator for wireless or landline. Phone type can matter for calling-rule compliance, and LexisNexis’s collections compliance page refers to the TCPA.
What does Accurint for Collections cost?
LexisNexis does not publish Accurint for Collections pricing on the pages we checked. Pricing is quoted through sales, and the product pages list a sales line, 1-800-953-2877.
The batch guide gives one useful detail about how charges work. It says, “you will not receive an estimate of total costs of the job, as it depends on the number of hits in the output, not on the number of input records.” It also says a pricing notice appears before each batch type. Some add-ons, such as email addresses in WorkPlace Locator batches, carry additional charges. No credits are issued on WorkPlace Locator batch files.
When you get a quote, ask about:
- Per-search and per-report rates for single searches
- Per-hit rates by batch product and append option
- Minimum monthly commitments or contract terms
- Charges for alerts and account monitoring
- Whether de-duplication applies to your files
What controls does Accurint give compliance teams?
Both workflow pages list administrative controls: managing user access, setting search access and usage limits, viewing activity reports, accessing billing information and running usage audits.
| Control | Compliance use |
|---|---|
| User access management | Remove departed staff; limit regulated searches to trained users |
| Search access and usage limits | Stop over-searching and unexpected bills |
| Activity reports | Review search volume by user |
| Usage audits | Match searches to accounts and recorded permissible uses |
| Billing information | Reconcile charges against batch jobs |
LexisNexis’s Contact and Locate notice puts responsibility on the customer: “Customers are solely responsible for determining whether their use… is permitted under applicable federal, state, and local laws.” Plan audits with that in mind.
What should collectors check before signing up?
Check four things: that your licenses and use case will pass credentialing, which permissible uses you will request, whether you need Decisioning as well as Contact and Locate, and how pricing scales with your batch volume.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Are state licenses and entity documents current? | Credentialing asks for identity and licensing documents |
| Which GLBA and DPPA uses fit your accounts? | LexisNexis will not choose them for you |
| Do you make eligibility decisions from data? | That points to the FCRA-regulated Decisioning workflow |
| How will you verify hits? | LexisNexis says public records may contain errors |
| How do you handle third-party location calls? | FDCPA §804 and Reg F §1006.10 limit them |
| What is the per-hit cost at your batch volume? | Batch cost depends on hits, not input records |
If you are comparing vendors, our TLOxp vs. MicroBilt vs. IDI comparison covers other data providers.
Why does skip tracing matter when you buy or sell debt?
Contact data quality decides how much a portfolio can actually collect. Buyers price files partly on how many accounts they expect to reach, and sellers who supply clean identifiers make that easier to judge.
For buyers: plan your skip budget and permissible-use setup before you bid, so a new file can be scrubbed as soon as it closes. Browse resources on our buyers page and in DebtHub.
For sellers: complete identifiers (SSN, date of birth, last known address and phone) help buyers locate consumers lawfully and accurately. If you are preparing a sale, our sellers page explains the process.
DebtMarket is the confidential debt brokerage desk of Triton Financial Solutions, LLC. We are not a collection agency. Portfolios are shared NDA-first with 200+ qualified buyers, with no public auction, and complete files close in 1-14 days.
Key takeaways
| Topic | What to remember |
|---|---|
| Two workflows | Contact and Locate (non-FCRA, locate only) and Decisioning (FCRA-regulated) |
| Access | Credentialing through a Customer Information Form and analyst review |
| Permissible use | GLBA and DPPA selections control which regulated data is searched; LexisNexis will not pick for you |
| Batch | File upload, up to 200,000 records per file per LexisNexis’s guide; cost depends on hits |
| Pricing | Not published; quoted through sales |
| Accuracy | LexisNexis says records may contain errors and should be independently verified |
| Third-party calls | FDCPA §804 and Reg F §1006.10 still apply to relatives and associates found in a trace |
Sources (all checked live November 4, 2026)
- LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Accurint for Collections Decisioning Workflow: https://risk.lexisnexis.com/products/accurint-for-collections-decisioning-workflow
- LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Accurint for Collections Contact and Locate Workflow: https://risk.lexisnexis.com/products/accurint-for-collections—contact-and-locate-workflow
- LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Skip Tracing for Collections: https://risk.lexisnexis.com/collections-and-recovery/skip-tracing
- LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Collections Compliance: https://risk.lexisnexis.com/collections-and-recovery/collections-compliance
- LexisNexis support, Credentialing for Access to Public Records: https://lnrc.custhelp.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1101863/
- LexisNexis support, Which DPPA Permissible Use Do I Use?: https://supportcenter.lexisnexis.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1101892/
- Accurint, GLBA Permissible Use Descriptions: https://secure.accurint.com/bps/509/html/tcol/glb.html
- Accurint, Online Batch Services guide (PDF): https://www.accurint.com/help/bps/col/batch/pdf/batch_how_to.pdf
- Accurint for Collections, Address and Phone Batch Wizard: https://secure.accurint.com/bps/414/html/col/phone_batch_wizard_popup.html
- 15 U.S.C. 6802 (GLBA): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/6802
- 18 U.S.C. 2721 (DPPA): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2721
- 15 U.S.C. 1681a (FCRA definitions): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681a
- 15 U.S.C. 1681b (FCRA permissible purposes): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681b
- 15 U.S.C. 1692b (FDCPA §804, location information): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1692b
- 12 CFR 1006.10 (Regulation F, acquisition of location information): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/10/
This article is general industry information for an Intermediate audience. It is not legal advice and is not an endorsement of any vendor. Product features, credentialing steps and permissible-use options change, so confirm current terms with LexisNexis and your counsel before you rely on any data source.