Account Registration
   Individual or corporate account?
   Selecting a plan.
   Individual account.
      Account number.
      Password distribution.
   Corporate account.
      Account name.
      Password distribution.
      Invoice option.
      The problem with Corporate signing as Individual.
Look-up Counts and Limits
   What's a look-up?
   Search look-up history.
   Search count limit.
   Bonus look-up.
Member Services
   Your account.
   Update credit card.
   Renew your subscription.
   Billing history.
   Search look-up history.
   Bonus history.
PublicData Home Page Services
   Cancel your account.
   Retrieve your password.
   Reactivating your account.
Tax Information
   Sales tax.
   Sales tax exemptions.
   Sales tax refunds.
   Federal tax ID - Form W9.
Searching records on PublicData
   Searching by name.
   Searching by date of birth.
   Searching by other items.
   Customized searching.
   Search result lists and details.
How do I change data in a PublicData database?
I'm leaving work ... everyone use my PublicData...
Who uses PublicData?
When will PublicData be adding databases?
Are there other sites like PublicData?

PublicData accounts are easy to establish. A customer needs only click Register an Individual Account or Register a Corporate Account, from the PublicData home page, and proceed through the two or three steps to create an account.

Individual or corporate account?

The easiest way to determine if a customer should register an individual or corporate account is to ask the question, will the account have a single user or multiple people using the account? To set up an individual account a user must have a valid driver's license. Individual PublicData accounts require a credit card to establish and maintain the account and sales tax will be applied. Tax exempt status is not an option with individual accounts.

A corporate account is set up using the business' name. Corporate PublicData accounts may be invoiced or have a credit card maintain the account. Sales tax will be applied, however PublicData corporate accounts may apply for tax exempt status. It is the account holder's responsibility to apply for the sales tax exemption.

Selecting a plan

PublicData offers four (4) individual plans and three corporate plans. One of the individual plans is a yearly plan whereas all but one of the corporate plans are yearly. Choosing a plan comes down to determining about how many searches the customer estimates they need, on either a monthly or annual basis, and comparing this to the comfort level of the pricing of the plans. Click here to use the PublicData pricing list to help make the plan decision.

All PublicData accounts are automatically or recurrently invoiced and billed, either monthly or annually, until the customer cancels this process by clicking Cancel your account on the PublicData home page. For clarification, here is an example of the how accounts are recurrently invoiced, billed or charged. Ex. Lets say you sign-up for an account on January 15th that bills monthly. On February and March 15th, an invoice is generated and your credit card is charged to satisfy the each of the amounts when they are incurred. On March 20th, you decide to cancel your PublicData account. Assuming that you do not exceed the number of 'lookups' that the account type allows, you can continue to login to PublicData until April 14th. On April 15th, you will not be allowed to login.

The same example could be built for annual accounts which would invoice, bill, or charge the amount due on the anniversary date each year. The only way that the anniversary date or day of the month is changed is if the customer requests the change because all of the account's 'lookups' were used.

Billing is done at the beginning of the invoiced period. Refunds are not given for unused days within an invoiced period.

Individual account number

The account number used to login and access PublicData functions is the customer's driver's license number and state. In an effort to reduce fraud and due to enacted legislation, PublicData.com must keep track of everyone who accesses the public records database. For both of these reasons, we must have a way of identifying users.

Individual account password email

Once the individual account is established, a password will be emailed to the registrant. If the account password is lost or forgotten, the customer may click Retrieve your password from the PublicData home page.

Corporate account name email

After a corporate account is established, the account name will be emailed to the registrant. If the account password is lost or forgotten, the customer may click Retrieve your password from the PublicData home page.

Many email providers, such as AOL, Google, MSN, Yahoo, etc. allow customers to filter SPAM -- please set your filters to allow email from PublicData.com. Some email based SPAM filters look at your address book to determine if the email should be delivered or discarded. If your SPAM filter works this way, as AOL does, place WebInfo@PublicData.com into your address book.

Also, AOL has "Additional Spam filters" which by default permanently delete email instead of sending them to your SPAM folder!

PublicData cannot respond to a real-time or interactive email address challenge such as those provided by NetZero and some other large ISPs. Please communicate with your anti-SPAM device or program and clear or "whitelist" any inbound email from PUBLICDATA.COM.

Once you have enabled our ability to email you, please click Retrieve your password from the PublicData home page.

Corporate account password distribution

Once the corporate account is established, the account's password will be faxed to the registrant. If the account password is lost or forgotten, the customer may click Retrieve your password from the PublicData home page.

Corporate accounts have a different pay structure and some privileges that individual accounts do not have. A fax number is required so that we can reduce fraud and improve security with our corporate customers.

At this point in time, only a US 10 digit phone number can be accepted. PublicData.com cannot support fax numbers behind extensions. The contractor that is used to transmit faxes sends from a phone number with the Caller ID Blocked. If you have Anonymous Call Blocker enabled on your fax, please disable this feature before requesting your password.

If you do not have a access to your company's 10-digit fax number, you may register with PublicData.com. Registering without a fax means you will not receive your password until our support department has reached you by phone to validate your account. If you wish to register under these conditions, please use '(000) 000-0000' for the fax number. If you do not hear from us after a couple of days, please contact our support department to receive your password.

At this point, the fax number will only be used by PublicData for distribution of passwords.

Corporate account invoice option

This option is a privilege only available for corporate account customers. If Invoice Payment Plan is selected when creating the account, a check or money-order payment is expected promptly. If payment is not received within a reasonable time frame, the account will be deactivated until payment is received. To reactivate the account with an outstanding balance, a valid credit card will be required. If a credit card is not available and an outstanding balance exists, a payment must be received before the account can be reactivated. Multiple deactivations for failure to remit payment for the invoiced amount will disable the Invoice Payment Plan privilege for the account.

The Problem with Corporate signing as Individual

Those setting up PublicData accounts as an individual, for billing advantage, where business activity is to be transacted should be forewarned -- this may prove to be problematic. In that the employee's driver's license number is the account name and key, once the employee leaves his/her employer, accounting becomes cumbersome and back billing at a corporate rate can be incurred. One other thing to contemplate -- if a fellow employee is using the PublicData account, with your driver's license number as the account name, to transact illegal or criminal activity -- the innocent party can garner much unwelcome attention. For these and a number of other reasons, you should keep your individual PublicData account for your own personal use and not share it or its password with anyone.

One of the most asked question at PublicData is "what is a look-up" and how is the Search Count calculated. Bear with us for a little history. The original intent was based on the idea that a PublicData subscriber should be charged for one look-up when the record that was being looked for was displayed. So customers were debited a single look-up each time a detail screen was displayed. Some very smart customers figured that all they needed was the search results lists and PublicData servers took a beating as these customers scraped results from the lists without getting charged for a look-up. Now PublicData understood that the results lists gave valuable information to the customer but the intent was to produce the list in order to help refine the search to finally display the record detail. The solution became counting the number of look-up searches and look-up details and take the larger of the two counts as the Search Count for the day. Realize that each time new criteria is used to search as well as each time Click here for more. is clicked, these count as a search look-up. The thought was that over time, the customer might execute two or more searches for each detail or more details per search but, all-in-all it should be something close to a free search for each detail (or visa-versa).

Search Look-up History

Once logged in and at the Search Screen, the Member Services box appears in the left upper portion of the screen. One of the services available is examination of the account's Search Look-up History. Clicking this services shows the current Look-up status of the account for the current invoice period as well as a historical list of counts used in previous billing cycles. The customer can click an invoice date within this historical list and another list is generated with details of the search, display and actual total look-up charged for each day of activity within that billing period.

Search Count Limit

When establishing a PublicData account, the various plans determine: how frequently you are billed, the amount to be billed and the number of searches during billing period that are purchased (referred to as the Search Count Limit). If the Search Count Limit is not exceeded before the end of the billing cycle, the new billing cycle begins with a refreshed Search Count Limit and PublicData service is not interrupted. However if the Search Count Limit is exceeded before the end of the billing cycle then Bonus Searches are used until they are exhausted and then PublicData service is interrupted. If service has been interrupted, the customer has two choices: (1) wait until the billing cycle is over when the Search Count Limit is refreshed or (2) apply to reactivate the account. Reactivating the account will establish a new invoice and will refresh the Search Count Limit immediately granting access back into the system.

Bonus Look-up

Bonus Look-ups can be very valuable because as long as a billing period has not completed and the Search Count Limit has been exceeded, then the bonus searches can be used until the cycle is complete to assure that service is not interrupted. PublicData bonus searches are easy to earn and they do not expire as long as you keep your PublicData account active (the bonuses carry-over between billing cycles).

When creating an account with PublicData, you are asked to provide a reference as to where you heard about PublicData. The number one answer we receive is that people heard it from a friend. To reward our customers for talking about PublicData.com, we have a Bonus program that provides you with Bonus Look-ups for new accounts.

The program works this way. You can request a Bonus URL to be sent to your email id by clicking on Earn More Free Look-ups in the Member Services box. When you receive the email, it will contain a URL to a PublicData.com create an account page. Forward the URL to your friends. If they join PublicData with the specified URL and create their own PublicData.com account, your account is credited with 100 Bonus Look-ups.

The easiest way to earn Bonus look-ups is to pay with a credit card. Each time your credit card is charged by PublicData, your account is credited with 100 Bonus Look-ups. Customers who have a monthly account can earn an extra 1,200 Look-ups per year which reduces the cost per search dramatically.

After logging in and clicking the Continue button, the customer should be on the Search Selection screen. In the upper right corner of the Search Selection screen there should be a brown box labeled Member Services.

Your account

This option is the most important in member services. Clicking this link allows you to edit information regarding this account. Please keep you email address up to date and change your password if you ever suspect that someone knows your PublicData password. Your password will never be displayed by PublicData.

Changing your billing plan cannot be done without the help of someone at PublicData.

Update Credit Card

This option allows you to edit your credit card information on file for this account. When this screen is presented to you, your card number will be masked so you can tell which card it is but anyone else looking at it will not be able to use the card information. Please take care to protect your card number as you enter it since we will not mask this field until after you have submitted all card information.

For your security, when updating your card information we will ask you for the security code on the card. For MasterCard and Visa, the three (3) digit number is located on the back of the card in the signature block, usually beside a reprint of the last digits of the number on the front of the card.

PublicData uses multiple methods to verify the customers address. When accepting a credit card, we will verify with your card issuer that the address is correct. If you receive a bad address associated with entering credit card information, please check to verify where the monthly card statement is mailed. Another address check used is provided by USPS and it requires that the street, city and zip fields match their database. The Street information creates the most confusion in this situation -- using Road instead of Circle or Blvd or simply omitting some part of the street name. Please try to be as correct as is possible when entering this address information.

Renew Your Subscription

This option should only be chosen if you have used all of your look-ups for a billing period and you have no bonus look-ups. At this point access to the account is denied until either the new billing cycle begins on the next invoice date or a forced invoice can be generated and access can be reestablished by clicking Renew Your Subscription. Do not click through this option unless you know that this is what you need.

Billing History

Clicking this link provides a display of all invoice and payment history associated with this account. The date beside each one of the invoice records may be clicked and a copy of that invoice will be displayed on your browser. The most recent invoice may be printed and sent with your payment to PublicData if you have an outstanding balance.

Search Look-up History
Bonus History
Earn More Free Look-ups

Clicking either History link will give a complete history of all searches purchased, used, and bonuses. Click to find out more about look-ups Clicking Earn More Free Look-ups will generate an email sent to you explaining how to earn more bonus look-ups by having a friend join PublicData.

Cancel your account

Just click the Cancel your account link on the PublicData home page and provide your login information and password. You should receive a confirmation screen and an email will be sent verifying the action. The instructions on the Cancel your account screen should be read so you will better understand how the final billing will be processed.

Retrieve your password

Just click the Retrieve your password link on the PublicData home page and provide you login information and the email address used when registering this account. You should receive a password within 15 minutes via email for individual accounts and via fax for corporate accounts. Please read the instructions on the Retrieve your password screen to insure that password will the received. If the registered email or fax number has changed, please contact PublicData.

Reactivating your account

If you canceled your PublicData account in the past and wish to reactivate it, just place your original account name and password in on the PublicData home page and click Logon. The system will recognize that you are an former customer and begin your access immediately. Welcome back!

Sales Tax

PublicData's Corporate offices and production servers are in Texas making the service subject to Texas Sales Tax per TITLE 34 PUBLIC FINANCE, PART 1, CHAPTER 3, SUBCHAPTER O, RULE §3.330, (a), (3). as quoted here: "Internet access service - a service that enables users to access content, information, electronic mail, or other services offered over the Internet and may also include access to proprietary content, information, and other services as part of a package of services offered to consumers. Internet access service does not include any other taxable service, unless the taxable service is provided in conjunction with and is merely incidental to the provision of Internet access service. Individuals providing Internet access should refer to §3.366 of this title (relating to Internet Access Services)."

The Texas sales tax rate for the Dallas area is 8.25%. The location of your home or office has no bearing on the calculation of this rate.

Sales Tax Exemption

If your organization is exempt from sales tax, please complete one of the following appropriate forms and submit online:

• Sales and Use Tax Resale Certificate Form
• Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate Form

These forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader

We cannot accept tax exempt forms that have been printed and mailed or faxed to us. Please only submit the exemption forms through the provided online method.

These forms provides us with the legal basis to NOT charge you sales tax. It is required by the State of Texas. Please understand that these forms are official State of Texas documents so it is important to be as complete and accurate as possible. Without these forms we must charge the tax, even if you are an agency of the Federal or State government.

Sales Tax Refunds

If sales tax was charged before the online exemption forms were filed, a sales tax refund is due. Please notify us via email as soon as is possible. If done prior to our paying the State of Texas, we can refund the money directly. If done after we have paid the State, you will have to file a form with the State of Texas and go through a lengthy confirmation process in order to get a refund check from the State of Texas.

Federal Tax ID - Form W9

PublicData.com is incorporated in the State of Texas as a Limited Partnership under the official name of: The Source For PublicData, LP. The partnership's federal tax ID or EIN/TIN number is: 90-0232788. If you need a copy of Form W9 for PublicData, click here and print.

Once you create an account with PublicData and have received your password, you may visit the PublicData home page and logon to your account. To learn how the system works, you may view the brief PublicData Demo from the home page, or read the following details.

Logon and proceed to the Search Selection page from the Welcome page. On this screen, select the PublicData database that is to be searched. Databases usually have various criteria be which they may be searched by such as by name, date of birth, or number such as a Plate Number or a VIN. Each database has listed the search criteria for which searches may be performed.

Searching by name

To search by name, begin by going to the Search Selection page to click the by name selection under the database category (e.g. Criminal) to be search. With name searches, a last name of a portion of the last name is required. If a partial last name is used as a search, do not enter a first or middle name. In order to narrow search results, use a complete last name and enter a full or partial first name. To further narrow search results, use a complete first and last name and either a full or partial middle name. Last, check or uncheck the boxes to select the specific database(s) to be searched and click the Search button. At least one box, or database, must be checked before searching.

Searching by date of birth

To search by date of birth (DOB), begin by going to the Search Selection page to click the by DOB selection under the database category (e.g. Criminal) to be search. Next, use the drop down fields for month, day, and year to choose the desired date. In many of the DOB searches, the day field can be left blank resulting in a request for all information with matching year and month only. Check or uncheck the boxes to select the specific database(s) to be searched and click the Search button. At least one box, or database, must be checked before searching. The search results list will be returned with matches to the specified birth date from the database(s). Frequently this list is fairly long, but can be the best method to locate someone if an exact name in unknown.

Searching by other fields

PublicData also has databases that are searched by other criteria. Examples include searching by License Plate of VIN number in a DMV database. Partial search criteria may be used in some of these databases.

When searching the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) databases, it is possible to search by Plate Number or VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It is also possible to enter a partial Plate Number or partial VIN. For a Plate Number, enter the first 3 or 4 characters, and all entries that match that pattern will be returned. Likewise, if the first 1 to n characters of a VIN number is known, a list of matches can be returned. Note that the wild card for searches is currently only possible on the left side of the search parameter.

Customized searching

PublicData does not provide custom searches.

Search result lists and details

Once the search has been requested, the search results and details can now be interpreted. The returned search results match the criteria provided but only the first 100 matched are shown. If more than 100 resultant items are found, clicking the link at the bottom Click here for more. will provide the next 100 matches. The Click here for more. can continue to be clicked until the results matching the search criteria is exhausted. Note that each Click here for more. counts as a Search Lookup.

If no matches exist to the initial search criteria, such will be stated. If no further matches exist after clicking Click here for more., then the Click here for more. will not be present at the bottom of the returned results. Realize that some people do not use their actual first name. They may use a middle name, nickname or an alias. Therefore, it may be necessary to try a number of different names to find the person's records.

From the search results list, each line is clickable which yields the detail for that item. Within the detail screen, some informational fields may be further clickable to provide additional information. In some cases, addresses are indexed and may be clicked to show other records with matching address criteria with the same database. Each viewed detail screen counts as a Detail Lookup.

A very frequently asked question. PublicData is a public records disseminator and is not responsible for any inaccuracies in any database. PublicData will NOT modify records in any database upon notification of inaccuracies. Those wishing to have inaccurate data corrected must contact the reporting/supplying government agency and negotiate changes. Once changes are in place with the government agency, PublicData will reflect the modification(s) in the regular update cycle of that database. In the event that PublicData's regular update cycle is inconvenient, you may request that PublicData update a database immediately. If PublicData has available programmers and/or database administrators to accommodate the request, and the requester has agreed to pay for the update, PublicData will be happy to satisfy the request.

Please do not bother sending expungement orders. PublicData has received so many counterfeit expungement documents that a policy has been established to rely only on complete database updates from the recording government entity.

Unfortunately, this has happened many times:

My company has been using an account opened by an employee who has now left us. We need to change the name on it, but your system does not allow us to do it. He was paid by the boss for a full year of service and the guy just changed the password.

Since a Driver's License account is tied directly to a person who is responsible for its activity we cannot transfer such an account to another individual or company. Since a company is using the account, it would be in their best interest to open a Corporate Account and close the individual account if that person no longer wishes to have the individual account.

Aside from all of these kind of problems, the biggest issue that we see at PublicData is an office using a person's Individual account and someone else in the office using the account for illegal activity. The kind person who's driver's license is used to set-up the account receives more attention than they deserve. Multiple persons using the same account should be on a Corporate account. The person signing up for an Individual account should never share their password.

There are numerous small businesses and individuals who access this information. Some of the people who have sent us notes include police officers, neighborhood watch groups, small and medium size businesses who need to verify driver's license numbers to prevent fraud, attorneys and numerous government offices.

PublicData is continuously adding new databases as they become available and are prepared for use. If you aware of a public records database that is available, please let us know.

We do not know of any other sites like ours on the web which offer the number of databases available for the pennies per search that PublicData offers. If you know of any, we would love to hear about them and maybe even provide links to them.