When Did My Personal Info Stop Being Private? (Meet the Tool That Turns the Tables) 

Have you Googled yourself lately? If so, you may have been dismayed to see how much private information about you is available online – not to mention the numerous sites offering to provide even more to anyone willing to pony up their credit card number.  

If you find this lack of privacy disturbing, you’re far from alone. In fact, 72% of US adults think there should be more regulation governing what companies can do with our personal data.   

Fortunately, you don’t have to wait around for more data privacy laws to be passed. With a DeleteMe subscription, you can start removing your personal data from the web today.  

Let’s look at what DeleteMe does, how it works, and whether you can trust this company so you can decide whether reclaiming your data privacy with DeleteMe could make sense for you.  

What Is DeleteMe?

Launched in 2011 by Abine, Inc., DeleteMe is a subscription-based service that helps people reclaim their data privacy by removing their personal information from the internet.   

DeleteMe’s data privacy experts accomplish this by removing you and your family’s personal information from the top people search and data broker websites online. The personal information removed includes: 

• Names 

• Ages 

• Current and former addresses and property values 

• Phone numbers 

• Email addresses 

• Relatives 

• Occupation 

• Marital Status 

• Photos 

• Social media 

You could try to remove your information from these websites yourself, but data brokers make this as difficult as possible. After all, keeping your information on their websites makes them money.  

Meanwhile, DeleteMe’s team members are thoroughly trained in the laws regarding privacy and opting out.   

DeleteMe defines their mission as “to provide everyone with the power to control their digital identity.”  

In a world where our every online move feels increasingly under surveillance, this is a bold statement. Let’s see how DeleteMe delivers.  

First, what exactly is digital privacy?  

Digital privacy means preventing people from being able to find personal information about you on the internet. That might include where you live, contact methods including phone number or email address, or your relationship status.  

Digital privacy also means not having your online activity surveilled by companies trying to profit from your information.  

So what causes the lack of data privacy? Why isn’t data privacy the default?  

It comes down to data brokers. Data brokers are companies that gather your information and sell it to advertisers and other businesses and websites that can profit from that information in some way, or they can sell it to anyone willing to pay for it for any reason.  

How Does DeleteMe Work?

With DeleteMe, the process of establishing your data privacy happens in four steps. The best part? You only need to participate in step one. DeleteMe takes it from there so all that’s left for you to do is sit back and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with reclaiming your data privacy.  

Here’s a breakdown of those steps: 

1. Sign up for a DeleteMe subscription, pay your subscription fee, and submit your information. 

2. DeleteMe’s experts search for your information on hundreds of data broker websites. 

3.  DeleteMe begins the process of removing your information from these websites. Wanna be kept in the loop? No problem! You’ll receive a report within 7 days of the start of the data removal process.  

4. Reclaiming your data privacy isn’t a one-and-done proposition. That’s why DeleteMe will continue scanning data broker websites for your personal information, removing it as they find it, for the duration of your subscription.  

You’ll continue to receive quarterly reports and updates over the course of your DeleteMe subscription. And, of course, you can see the results for yourself by searching for your information online.   

You’ll also have a personal DeleteMe dashboard, where you can easily access information related to your account including your reports and estimated dates for when future reports will be available.  

Your dashboard is also where you’ll have access to your privacy advisor. DeleteMe’s privacy advisors are data privacy experts who can help with any questions or issues you may have about your data privacy during the course of your subscription, like if you find your personal information somewhere online. 

What Information Does DeleteMe Need From You?

Back in step one of DeleteMe’s data privacy process, we mentioned that you would need to submit your information to DeleteMe. In order to search for your personal information online so they can remove it, DeleteMe’s pros will need the type of information that can be found on data broker websites.  

This generally includes: 

• Your name 

• You address  

• Your contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses 

• Your employment information  

• The names of your relatives 

• A copy of your identification, such as a driver’s license or passport 

Providing a copy of your identification is necessary because some data broker sites require it as proof that the request to remove your personal information is coming from you.  

You’ll also have the opportunity to let DeleteMe know of any sites where you would like your information to remain public for any reason.  

Then, you’ll confirm that you authorize DeleteMe to act on your behalf to remove your personal information, confirm that you’ve read their terms and conditions (which will appear on screen at this time), and you’ll be all set to start reclaiming your data privacy. 

Is DeleteMe Legit?

Yes, DeleteMe is a legitimate data privacy company. DeleteMe’s parent company, Abine, has been accredited since 2016 with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), where they hold an A+ rating. DeleteMe also holds an impressive 4.5-out-of-5-star rating on Trustpilot with over 100 reviews.  

Additionally, DeleteMe has successfully facilitated over 100 million opt-out removals and is trusted by 20% of the Fortune 500 as well as several federal and state agencies to protect the data privacy of their employees.  

DeleteMe has also proven their commitment to data privacy rights by actively advocating for privacy legislation since 2012. 

How Much Does DeleteMe Cost?

With DeleteMe, you don’t have to talk to a representative or jump through any hoops before you can get a quote. The company’s pricing structure for their Standard service tier is transparent. 

Your Standard DeleteMe subscription’s cost will depend on the number of people you’d like covered, from one to four, and the subscription length you’d like to sign up for, either one year or two.  

Below is the current pricing for DeleteMe’s Standard subscription level, which includes removal of your personal information from over 89 sites as well as quarterly privacy reports.  

These prices reflect the current discount DeleteMe is running, as the cost of their Standard plan normally ranges from $129 billed annually for a 1-year subscription for one person to $499 billed biennially for a 2-year subscription for up to four people.  

Number of People	1-Year Standard Subscription	2-Year Standard Subscription
One	$103.20 billed annually  ($8.60 per month)	$167.28 billed biennially ($6.97 per month)
Two	$183.12 billed annually ($15.26 per month)	$279.12 billed biennially ($11.63 per month)
Up to Four	$263.28 billed annually ($21.94 per month)	$399.12 billed biennially ($16.63 per month)

DeleteMe’s Standard plan provides enough protection for many people, but let’s look at what’s offered at their higher service tiers: 

Service Tier	# of Sites Covered	Frequency of Reports	Annual Cost Per Member	Additional Benefits
Gold	Over 102	Bimonthly	$180	N/A
Diamond	Over 107	Monthly	$425	Enhanced personal data source coverage Removal from some business data brokers
Platinum	Over 140	Monthly	$1,000	Complementary Gold plan for an additional member  Unlimited custom removal requests
VIP	Over 160	Monthly	$5,000	Google search engine scrub from a dedicated DeleteMe privacy advisor Ability to add up to 5 additional members Unlimited custom removal requests

All subscriptions also give you access to email masking, which allows you to receive email to your regular email inbox without having to give out your personal email address.  

DeleteMe also offers phone masking, which lets you create an alternate phone number that will still direct calls to your regular number, protecting your actual number from exposure and spam. This feature costs an additional $7 fee.  

DeleteMe also plans to make credit card masking available in the future so you won’t have to give out your actual credit card number when making online or phone purchases, but no further details are available yet.  

Could I Just Remove My Data From the Web Myself?

Yes, you could remove your data from the web yourself at no cost. And you might be surprised to learn that DeleteMe is willing to help you with that.  

In addition to their data privacy subscriptions, DeleteMe also offers free resources on their website that you can use to find and remove your personal information from data broker websites yourself.  

DeleteMe maintains a blog on their website where you can learn more about data privacy, whether you have a subscription with the company or not, as well as a section of guides on whether various websites are safe to use.  

These free resources include an entire section of DIY opt-out guides. You can even request a free report from DeleteMe detailing which data brokers have your information, saving you a step in your research.  

So, should you just tackle this process yourself? It would take you many hours to contact all the data brokers who have your information and get it removed. You’d also have to stay on top of this on a regular basis as your info pops up on new sites going forward.  

Still, if you have the time, it is an option. 

But with a DeleteMe subscription, you can skip the game of personal data whack-a-mole, save yourself countless hours of work, and let the data privacy pros take care of everything for you.   

DeleteMe Pros and Cons

So should you take the leap toward digital privacy with DeleteMe? Let’s break down some points on both sides of the question: 

Pros	Cons
Your personal information professionally removed from data broker websites	No free trial available. However, DeleteMe will provide a full refund if you cancel before receiving your first report and will provide a pro-rated refund for cancellations after that.
Regular, detailed data privacy reports	While a good value, the annual subscription can feel like a lot to cough up at once. Some might appreciate a monthly plan.
Data broker monitoring every 3 months	Phone masking isn’t included with a subscription but is available for an additional $7 fee.
Fast, responsive customer service
Email masking at no additional charge

Commonly Asked Questions About DeleteMe

When Will I Start Seeing Less of My Personal Information Online?

Once you’ve signed up for a DeleteMe subscription, you’ll receive your first report within 7 days detailing the actions DeleteMe has taken so far and the websites your information has been removed from. DeleteMe advises that it could take up to 3 weeks after that first report for some of these changes to take effect.  

So, it’s reasonable to expect to see a significant drop in your personal information online within a month of signing up – and it could start happening within hours.   

Does DeleteMe Offer a Free Trial?

Because DeleteMe immediately goes all-in on removing your personal information from the web, it isn’t practical for them to offer a free trial. You can, however, cancel your subscription and get a full refund before receiving your first report.  

After that, DeleteMe’s satisfaction guarantee means you’ll be eligible for a pro-rated refund, based on the amount of time left on your subscription when you cancel.  

How Is DeleteMe’s Customer Service?

Your DeleteMe subscription includes access to a dedicated privacy advisor in your DeleteMe dashboard. DeleteMe also offers live chat on their website, and I tried it out while researching this review. I received prompt, thorough, courteous replies to all my questions. If you have questions about anything not covered here or easily visible on the DeleteMe website, I highly recommend their live chat.   

Is DeleteMe Safe to Use?

Security and privacy are at the center of everything DeleteMe does. The company has robust security in place to protect your information and is constantly updating their tools and processes to keep up with the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. DeleteMe is very transparent about what this involves, and you can find all the details by navigating to About Us, Security on their website.   

DeleteMe also takes customer privacy seriously and never sells your personal information to third parties. They do, of course, have to share some of your information with data brokers so they can get it removed from their sites.  

Why Should I Care About Data Privacy?

There are many potential negative outcomes to having your personal information available online, including: 

• Harassment, stalking, and threats 

• Identity theft 

• Credit card fraud 

• Spam email and phone calls 

• Websites you want visible (perhaps related to your work) pushed farther down the search results 

• A general lack of control over what people know about you 

• Misinformation attributed to you, such as the criminal record of someone with the same name 

Does DeleteMe Provide Data Privacy Solutions for Businesses?

Yes! DeleteMe can remove the personal information of executives, administrators, and other employees who have access to sensitive data from data broker websites. That way, your company’s security won’t be put at risk by someone using personal information obtained about those employees from data brokers.  

DeleteMe’s business services are trusted by 20% of Fortune 500 companies as well as dozens of federal and state agencies.  

Unlike DeleteMe’s personal data privacy services, which are easily accessible on their website and in this article, pricing for DeleteMe’s business services can vary based on several factors. You can contact the company via a simple online form to learn what the pricing structure would be for your company’s data privacy needs.