Getting contact data on a business
The internet has now made it relatively easy to satisfy your needs with the services of a company out-of-state or offshore. However, that flexibility and ease of access carries certain risks and uncertainties that many people have encountered. Many people wonder if a business transaction goes bad, what they should do. Of even greater significance is what can you do?
Assuming that you have a problem with a business transaction and wish to obtain some sense of correction or monetary recoupment or refund you should contact the firm and make such a request. Assuming that you are unsuccessful but feel you have some justification to go beyond the existing status, then – assuming that it is worth the cost and effort, contact an attorney and validate your situation and get a feel of your chances for recoupment. Assuming that you’ve exhausted the normal attempts to contact the company – unsuccessfully – you may be dealing with a firm that doesn’t want to communicate or wants to keep access to their phone numbers, address, etc. private. Let’s examine that scenario.
The need to get information about a business can result from just the inability to make a personal contact with that firm. Many internet companies leave only an email address and not a phone number, so you may need to research their address or business phone listing.
Since there is a justifiable need for both individuals and businesses to protect their identity and contact information, to find a person or business is not a simple task. Public records are available both for businesses and to search for a person but that information is rarely free or readily accessible to strangers. Unlisted numbers and generic emails are often out of date and an address search may be unsuccessful.
If your need is primarily one of getting contact data, start with a White Pages search or an online people finder. This will validate that the firm is who and where they claim to be. Assuming you are unsuccessful in getting/validating contact information then you probably have a larger question to ponder – is this a real company? If they are a corporation, you should validate their identity with the Secretary of State in the state where they are located. If they are a partnership or proprietorship you can usually validate that at either the County or City level. Many municipalities now have licensing data online – and it’s free!