Know which removal steps need you
Delist pursues eligible removal requests through supported routes after authorization. A site may still require you to open a confirmation link, access an account, receive a phone code or verify identity. Requirements depend on the site and request.
Start with scope and authorization
A free scan surfaces possible exposure. Paid removal work requires separate authorization, a confirmed match and a suitable request route. A site in a scan does not establish that Delist can complete every step for you. Read coverage and verification limits before subscribing.
Steps a site can reserve for you
Account access
Some controls are inside your own account. Use the provider's website directly. Do not share your password or recovery codes in a request tracker.
Confirmation links
A provider may send a link to the contact address used in the request. Check its destination and follow the current instructions. Opening the link can confirm a request without proving removal.
Phone or identity checks
A site may require a code or additional identity evidence. Confirm the recipient and purpose first, then provide only what the verified process requires.
Permission to act
An agent request may need authorization or other eligibility checks. A shared name, relationship or family plan does not by itself authorize action on another person's listing.
If a confirmation link expires
Return to the provider's official instructions to request a replacement or restart the required step. Keep the earlier receipt and record the new attempt separately. There is no universal confirmation-link lifetime across providers.
If a request is denied, read the reason before repeating it. The next step may involve a wrong match, missing authorization, identity verification or a request outside the site's scope. The privacy request kit helps distinguish these paths.
Keep progress separate from success
A prepared request is not a submitted request. A submission is not a completed removal. Record the response and any visibility check separately in the request tracker. Processing times and supported actions vary by provider.
A broker opt-out, a search-result request and an account control can require different people and channels. The FTC's people-search guidance describes provider-specific opt-outs and their limits.
Plan your next step
Check coverage and limits
Finding a listing, having a request route and completing removal are separate questions.
Use the privacy request kit
Choose the right route, prepare a request and interpret the response.
Keep an evidence log
Record receipts, provider responses and dated visibility checks without overwriting earlier observations.
Frequently asked questions
Is removal fully hands-off?
Some work can proceed through an authorized supported route, but a provider may require your participation. Check the requirements for your site and request rather than assuming every step can be delegated.
Is there only one reason I might need to act?
No. Account access, confirmation links, phone codes, identity checks and authorization requirements can all affect a request. Requirements vary.
Should I forward passwords or phone codes?
Use the provider’s verified instructions. Do not place passwords, recovery codes or full identity documents in a shared tracker. A request for sensitive data needs a verified recipient and purpose.
How long will a confirmation link work?
Follow the deadline in the actual message or current provider instructions. There is no universal lifetime. If it expires, use the official process for a replacement and retain the earlier record.
Can I act for a child or relative?
Check the provider’s rules, your authority and the service’s eligibility before submitting. This page does not establish guardian eligibility or Delist support for a particular child or relative.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission: people-search sites and opt-outs
- Google Search Help: remove personal information from Search
Sources accessed . See our source standards.