In response to my posting of Sept. 10 soliciting opinions on the pros/cons
of the public records databases CDB Infotek and LEXIS-NEXIS, I received
13 messages comparing and contrasting the two, as well as two strong
endorsements for a newer entrant in the field, Autotrack.
The endorsements for CDB certainly had a more emotional tone:
"I love CDB! Especially for California records it is always my first
choice...The prices really are as good as they seem...much less
expensive than LEXIS."
"For all my people/business/corporate record searches, I use
CDB....I love it...it..allows you to search by Social Security #, like
LEXIS' P-find...."
"We use both...CDB really is as inexpensive as they say they
are...You can also get full SSN's or find people using the SSN if
you already know it.."
"CDB is cheaper; you can search the SSN files to dig up other
names without the big P-TRAK charge. It prints out a list of
databases that show no hits, which is nice if you have an
attorney who wants to know what's been checked."
Several people mentioned that CDB offers some state files that LEXIS
does not, but none said it with 100% certainty or evidence as to which
sources those might be; one respondent mentioned that CDB " does on-
site searches of materials not online and sends back a report. If
you do a lot of public record searching you will probably want
both."
Similarly, "CDB is cheaper than LEXIS...we subscribed when
Information America, now on WESTLAW, became so expensive.
We also subscribe to D&B Credit Service which includes access
to their public records files....."
Yet, several researchers preferred LEXIS:
"The big advantage with LEXIS is that you can put in multiple
names...truncate for dubious spelling, different parts of
information (address, SSN, name, etc.) so it's cheaper if you
have a lot of searches to do..."
"I like P-trak because it's tidy and accurate.."
Several responses pointed out that if you have a flat or hourly pricing
agreements with LEXIS, then the cost might turn less with that system in
the end. Also, along the lines of you get what you pay for dept.:
"CDB is easy to use, but...you lose some things you can do with
LEXIS: truncation, multiple name searching for one fee (using
OR), the ability to search for any terms in the entire record (full-
text) and command stacking. LEXIS is much better for the soph-
isticated user and for more off the wall type search (all UCC's
with a certain business address, for instance)."
"I use both--we have one attorney who routinely wants us to
run a SSN through to get all the different/correctly spelled
names and addresses, then use those in LEXIS."
Several people complicated my life, just a bit, by raving about, just a bit,
another relatively new service called Autotrack, of which I was totally
ignorant:
"My new best friend in information databases is Autotrack from
Database Technologies...1-800-279-7710..it's very inexpensive at
$1.50 a minute, no print charges. Running more comprehensive
reports on a person can cost more; no monthly fee..no sign-up
fee."
"Our firm uses both (CDB & LEXIS) ....as well as a third,
Autotrack, and we have decided to use Autotrack. It is
inexpensive (time based, not query based) the information is
usually more up to date and the vendor (Database
Technologies) is working on internet access.....We love it!"
One response mentioned in passing two other systems, IRSC, Inform-
ation Resource Service Center in California, and Information America's
web product, KnowX, without elaborating on either. And speaking of
the internet, I got a couple responses recommending merlindata.com
produced by Merlin Information Systems, 888-900-6375. I also got their
brochure in the mail, which I guess serves as a reminder that the ven-
dors monitor these discussions. Merlin seems to be concentraing on
the Western states, particularly California, and offers the info. on CD-
ROM's. One email did mention that merlindata also had "really low
(web) rates...".
Finally, one note reminded me of free people finders on the net, such as
555-1212.com :
"It has links to the three major directories, and you can run
searches by phone number or address."
Contact info: CDB: www.cdb.com phone: 800-427-3747
Santa Ana, Calif; 714-708-2000
LEXIS: 800-346-9759 or 1-800-543-6862 Dayton, Ohio
Thanks to all who responded to me directly and for letting me summarize
for list members who are unfamiliar with public records databases. Since
I'm no longer a member of the lawlib list, if anyone from there would like
to contact me or amplify some points, please forward or CC me.
-Bruce Liebman
Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin
Los Angeles
bliebma@hlhz.com
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