Can I (leagally) pull a credit report on the Defendant?

[free1ancer]

I have won a judgment in small claims court and the defendant has filled out the Interrogatories form. I have reason to believe the form was not fully filled out and there are assets missing. I have the Defendant's SS#, drivers license number and address.

Can I personally (as the Plaintiff a small business owner) go online and pay for a credit report on the Defendant? Can anyone recommend a website to do this from?

All I've seen are credit/background reports for landlords and employers. I don't want to over step my rights and pull this information if I'm not legally allowed to. Thank you for your help!

 

[Michael Wechsler]

The best way I've found is to use an information subpoena and restraining order - you can get the help from the court. Then you first serve all the local banks that you think he's banking with and freeze those assets. There are asset search firms and even public databases that might be of assistance, but you may need someone else to access them. The last item is to compel the debtor into court, although that is last resort IMHO since you're better off catching him/her by surprise with the restraining orders if you can.

 

[free1ancer]

To thelawprofessor in regards to collections

I followed your advice for trying to get a small claims collection from a judgment but it didn't work out. The court case is in Colorado and maybe the small claims court procedures are different in your state? I wanted to let you know since I've seen you giving this advice to a handful of others on this website:

I've found is to use an information subpoena and restraining order - you can get the help from the court.

When I went to the court to ask if they were familiar with the process they said 'no'. The woman said she has never had anyone file a information subpoena and restraining order on the bank. And I was informed a restraining order costs $80 to issue.

So I'm still try to figure out how to collect the judgment on a rich guy with no employment, living in a $1.6 Million dollar home in a ski resort town who seems to have four empty bank accounts -- yet his house is not in foreclosure and his wife drives a $50,000 SUV. I have a interrogatories form filled out with SS#, Drivers License, and the four empty bank accounts... I was thinking if I could (legally?) pull a credit report on him I might find there are other bank accounts he didn't claim on the interrogatories? Or other assets? Should I hand this over to a collection agency?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!