MyLife Opt-Out Guide

The MyLife Reputation Score Problem

MyLife attaches a reputation profile to people in its database and sells background reports on anyone you search. The problems:

• Misleading teaser reports: Search results imply a person may have arrest, criminal or sex offender records even when no such records exist^[3]
• Pay to see the details: Those records are only viewable if you buy a MyLife subscription^[3]
• False implications: The FTC found MyLife led people to believe they or someone else had criminal records when they did not^[3]
• Reputation damage by design: The FTC said MyLife's model relied on people's fear that a background report would cost them jobs, housing or credit^[1]

Employers, landlords, or anyone Googling your name may see this profile and make judgments based on unverified, misleading information.

FTC Lawsuit and Settlement

The Department of Justice sued MyLife.com and its CEO Jeffrey Tinsley on behalf of the FTC in July 2020, alleging:^[3]

• False advertising: Teaser reports stating that a person's file may contain arrest, criminal or sexual offender records even when it did not^[3]
• Deceptive conduct: MyLife operated as a consumer reporting agency but violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by failing to verify how its reports would be used, that the information was accurate, or that it was sold only for lawful purposes^[3]
• Misleading sales practices: Upfront charges and auto-renewal were not clearly disclosed, and cancellations and refunds were made difficult^[3]

In December 2021 the court approved a stipulated order under which MyLife and Tinsley agreed to judgments totaling $33.9 million, were permanently barred from negative option marketing, and had to build a monitoring program to check they stay compliant with the FCRA.^[1]

Step-by-Step Opt-Out Process

Method 1: Email Request (Recommended)

The most reliable method is direct email. Send your request, with your name and a link to your MyLife profile, to:

[email protected]

Include in your email:

• Subject: "Data Removal Request - [Your Full Name]"
• Your full name
• Date of birth
• Current address
• Previous addresses (if any)
• The URL of your MyLife profile (if you can find it)

Use this template:

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to request the complete removal of my personal information and reputation score from MyLife.com.

Full Name: [Your Name]
Date of Birth: [DOB]
Current Address: [Address]
Profile URL: [URL if available]

Please remove all my personal information, my reputation score, and any associated data from your website and databases as soon as possible.

I do not consent to MyLife retaining, displaying, or selling my personal information.

Please confirm deletion upon completion.

Two other addresses get reported: [email protected] and [email protected]. Both are reported to route you into a phone call rather than a written request, so expect to pick up the phone if you use them.^[2]

Method 2: Web Form Opt-Out

1. Go to the MyLife privacy request page
2. Follow the prompts to submit your removal request
3. If that form does not work or demands an account, fall back to the email method above

Method 3: Phone Request

Call MyLife customer support at (888) 704-1900 and:

1. State clearly that you want to opt out and remove your information
2. Do NOT agree to create an account or subscription
3. Expect to give your name, age, date of birth, email address, current mailing address and a previous mailing address^[2]
4. Request a confirmation email or reference number
5. Ask when removal will be complete

Be prepared - representatives may attempt to sell you services. Stay firm: you want removal, not reputation management. Pressing 2 for removal used to work on that line, but it no longer appears to.^[2]

California Residents: CCPA Request

California residents have stronger legal rights. A business must respond to a deletion request within 45 calendar days, and can extend that by another 45 days if it notifies you.^[6] Include this in your email:

"Pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.105, I am exercising my right to deletion. Please delete all personal information you have collected about me, including my reputation score and any associated data. Confirm deletion within 45 calendar days as required by law."

California also runs a free portal that forwards one deletion request to over 600 registered data brokers, MyLife among them: the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform. Brokers must work through the queue at least once every 45 days, and it can take up to 90 days for your status to update there.^[5]

Processing Time

MyLife does not publish a removal timetable you can hold them to, so plan on it taking time. Removals often need a follow-up, and some requests seem to get lost.^[2]

• Processing can run for weeks
• Some requests seem to get "lost" requiring follow-up
• Phone follow-up may be required for stubborn cases

If your profile is still visible after a few weeks, follow up via email and phone. In California, the business has 45 calendar days to respond to your deletion request.^[6]

Your Data Will Return

Troubleshooting

Can't Find the Opt-Out Page

MyLife occasionally changes or buries their opt-out options. If you can't find it:

• Email [email protected] directly
• Call (888) 704-1900
• Go straight to mylife.com/privacyrequest

They're Trying to Sell Me Something

This is expected. MyLife's business model includes upselling "reputation management." Stay firm:

• "I am not interested in any paid services"
• "I am requesting free opt-out as required by law"
• "Please process my removal request"

No Response After a Few Weeks

• Send a follow-up email referencing your original request
• Call customer service and reference your request date
• If California resident, mention CCPA deadline requirements
• Consider filing a complaint with the FTC

Profile Reappeared After Removal

Unfortunately common. Submit a new removal request. Mention that you previously removed your profile and it has reappeared - this establishes a pattern if you need to escalate.

Removing from Google Search Results

After MyLife removes your profile, it may still appear in Google results due to caching. To remove:

1. Verify your profile is actually removed from MyLife
2. Go to Google's Remove Outdated Content tool
3. Submit the URL of your old MyLife profile
4. Google will remove it from search results within days to weeks

Consider Automated Removal

MyLife is one of the more difficult sites to deal with manually. Automated services handle MyLife and hundreds of other data brokers:

• Optery - Cleared 68% of listings in the Consumer Reports four-month test^[4]
• Incogni - Automated CCPA/GDPR requests, covers 420+ broker sites^[7]
• DeleteMe - Human agents for difficult cases like MyLife

Do not assume a paid service will do it for you. Consumer Reports found manual opt-outs cleared 70% of listings within a week, better than any of the removal services it tested.^[4]

See our comprehensive data broker opt-out guide for detailed service comparisons.

References

1. FTC, DOJ Obtain Ban on Negative Option Marketing and $21 Million for Consumers Deceived by Background Report Provider MyLife - Federal Trade Commission (December 16, 2021)
2. Big Ass Data Broker Opt Out List by Yael Grauer (updated October 31, 2026)
3. FTC Alleges California Purveyor of Background Reports Misled Consumers To Think its Reports on Individuals Might Contain Criminal and Other Records - Federal Trade Commission (July 27, 2020)
4. Consumer Reports evaluation of people-search site removal services finds that they are largely ineffective (August 8, 2024)
5. Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) - California Privacy Protection Agency
6. California Consumer Privacy Act - California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General
7. Incogni pricing and data broker coverage tiers