October 2011 marks Merlin's 20th year in business.  It's hard to believe, as it really doesn't seem that long ago that I was selling CD-ROMs out of a small office in Ojai, California to private investigators and collection agencies.  Needless to say, we've come a long way! 

Our corporate history has been highlighted by some significant milestones:

1991 – Merlin Information Services is formed, selling data on CD-ROM
1994 – Merlin relocates to Kalispell, Montana and expands staff
1997 – Merlin expands to the Internet, launching www.merlindata.com
1999 – National Flatrate is launched, with unlimited searching
2002 – Link to America™, Merlin's signature people search product, goes live
2005 – Construction is completed on Merlin's new corporate office & data center
2005 – Merlin creates its Locate Services (skiptracing) division
2009 – Merlin retires the "wizard" and creates new corporate logo and branding
2009 – Merlin forms strategic partnership with Experian
2010 – Merlin is named a top collection technology provider by Collection Advisor magazine
2011 – Merlin offers Verified Place of Employment service

Like many small businesses, Merlin has survived by sticking to its core values, being quick to react to customer needs, and benefiting from a little luck.  Our success and the service we have provided our customers is due to the efforts of many dedicated and tenured employees as well as valued business partners.

Some exciting changes are on the horizon for Merlin.  Our industry is constantly changing and we remain committed to our focus on innovation.  In the coming months, expect to hear more about new product offerings and strategic partnerships.

We share this anniversary celebration with our loyal customers, many of whom have been with us from the very beginning.  Over time, many of these business relationships have developed into valued friendships as well.   Thanks to our customers, we've enjoyed 20 successful years and look forward to serving you even better these next 20 years!

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What our Customers are Saying

"Congratulations! Your products have truly helped our business succeed and stay a step ahead of our competition. Keep up the good work."

~David, The Casey Group, Ltd.

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"Good job Mike and congratulations! I have been there since the beginning and refuse to use anyone else for my investigative practice. For me, the single most important reason I continue to use Merlin for my investigative practice and needs, is that Merlin was founded by a private investigator for private investigators. Mike, you have always known what we need and why.

Congratulations again on your 20 year birthday."

~Carter, Millennium Intelligence Agency

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Link to America Pro - New Features

One of the key differences between Link to America and Link to America Pro (LTA Pro) is the addition of the GLB TransUnion credit header in LTA Pro. This database only became available from TU about a year ago and is not widely distributed. The TU credit header includes over 90 million consumer-supplied phone numbers and up to three current and historical addresses.

Merlin has also improved LTA Pro's search functionality. When a search includes an address, all SSNs from TU associated with that address are automatically rerun, adding up to three additional current and historical addresses for each subject.

At first, this additional information may be confusing as the addresses in the Results List don’t match the address supplied in the search.

Here’s an example of what to expect and how to interpret LTA Pro results that include an address that was not in your search:

If you search on "155 Formosa, Morro Bay, CA", you will see all matches for that address, PLUS additional addresses for each subject who was reported at the address you searched.

To see all results by address, sort the Results List by clicking on the "Address" column header. To see all results by subject, sort by "SSN", which will display an address history grouped by individual.

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Suzanne Davis Project Manager Bringing 15 years of experience as a project manager and business analyst, Suzanne joined the Merlin team in October.  The organization is already benefitting from her expertise as she is managing two custom development projects. Suzanne's primary goal is to align Merlin's technology and business strategies throughout a project. She's excited to be a member of an innovative group whose philosophies match her own. "I truly enjoy being part of a team that as a group can create something greater than any one person could create alone", states Suzanne. When not working, she and her husband are raising 6 children (all teenagers!), with 3 dogs, 2 cats and a tortoise, which means there's very little spare time.  On occassion, she does find time for kayaking and college football, especially when Clemson or LSU are playing.....go Tigers!

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There are two types of POE data, non-verified and verified. 

Non-Verified POE

Non-verified POE data using offline batch processes is offered by credit bureaus and non-traditional sources that supply payday loan and subprime lending information.  Given that many of the data sources provide a relatively limited number of consumer records, and that the resulting hit rates are usually low, numerous non-verified batches from multiple vendors are often processed to maximize hit rates. 

Sending non-hits from one vendor to another is referred to as a "waterfall" process.  While the use of waterfall processes is common, assuming a hit from any given vendor equates to a "right party contact" can be erroneous.  Conversely, simultaneously (sending the same batch files to numerous vendors) can lead to duplicated results and increased costs. 

A distinct advantage of non-verified POE data is the modest investment, typically $2-$4 per hit.  However, the data is not verified and assuming your collection strategy centers on a Writ of Wage Garnishment, verified employment information is essential. You can verify internally if your staff is versed in employment verification and has the necessary tools and resources. Another consideration with internal verification is understanding and tracking costs.  Tracking data costs (based on hit rates) is usually straightforward, but many of the other processes tend to be sporadic, such as managing vendors, uploading/downloading files, merging files, and calling employers.  As such, accurately tracking labor expenses associated with internal employment verification work can be challenging. 

Verified POE

Two tiers of verified POE are available, one that entails a high degree of automation and limited human involvement (Merlin's "VPOE") and another that entails little automation, is mostly manual and requires an experienced skiptracer (Merlin's "In-Depth POE").  The investment range for these services is $50-$150 (no hit, no charge). 

For each verified POE order, Merlin uses a proprietary process that features five non-verified POE data sources, custom automation, and Merlin's call center.  Batched consumer records are appended with possible employer phone numbers and distributed to the call center for verification.  To provide ample time to secure the court ordered wage garnishment and serve the employer, POE results are guaranteed for 90 days. 

Industry feedback indicates that using verified POE services to facilitate wage garnishment may not create an immediate and sizeable influx of cash, but it does provide the highest ROI over time.

Call Merlin Today

To learn more about post-judgment collection solutions or to discuss a strategy that will work best for your firm, please contact the Merlin sales team at 800-367-6646.

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Merlin will be at the following tradeshows and conferences. Please stop by our booth and meet the Merlin team!

February 7-9, 2012
DBA International's 15th Annual Conference
Las Vegas, NV

April 15-17, 2012
NAPBS 2012 Annual Conference
Nashville, TN

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Red Cross Blood Drive Merlin hosted a blood drive in October for the local Red Cross, collecting 13 units of blood and exceeding our participation goal! On a more interesting note, donation times for a unit of blood (one pint) can vary based on donor hydration levels. Typically it takes about 10 minutes; our fastest donor clocked in at 4 minutes 30 seconds!

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