# Best Service to look up people by Name?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-service-to-look-up-people-by-name/762281>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 9, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-service-to-look-up-people-by-name/762281 "2016-08-09T21:54:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-service-to-look-up-people-by-name/762281/1 "2016-08-09T21:54:42Z")

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I remember Switchboard from the 1990’s.

Google finds a bunch of search traps. searching, searching, searching 3 min later there’s a report. Click on it and there’s a screen to sign up and pay. Fucking assholes. ☹

I found a landline and address with Switchboard. Tried it and the Number is disconnected. Last resort I’ll mail a letter to the address and see if my friends still live there.

Any other lookup services except ancient switchboard? Especially something with cell phone numbers?

There has to be a way to reach someone you haven’t seen in 15 years.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-service-to-look-up-people-by-name/762281/2 "2016-08-09T22:01:10Z")

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If we do have to pay blood money for this.

Is there a service that charges by each search? I have ONE NAME. No way in hell I’m signing up for a monthly fee.