How to Remove Your Personal and Contact Information from Whitepages

Data broker sites collect and store information about people, which on the surface is pretty straightforward. They’re entirely legal, and the information that they gather and contain is taken from public records, as well as information voluntarily supplied by users of social media sites. It’s safe to say that the most well-known of these sites is Whitepages.

Back in the old days of telephone books, you could find a person’s name, address, and phone number on the white pages in the front of the telephone book. Business names, addresses, and phone numbers were listed in the yellow pages in the back of the telephone book. Whitepages.com takes its name from this traditional, albeit outdated, way of finding contact information for people.

The problem is that the data contained in Whitepages has grown significantly since those telephone books. A landline and a home address are useful pieces of information to have, but why does a person need to know your cell phone numbers, criminal records, address, relatives, landline numbers, age, traffic records, fraud ratings, financial records, business details, lien records, professional licenses, maiden names, and property details?

Having this much information about people at your fingertips leaves them open to scams, spam, identity theft, and even financial losses and fraud. It certainly has never been easier to stalk someone. It’s for these reasons that many people decide that they’d like to remove themselves from data broker sites, especially Whitepages.

If you’re working with a reputation management company, like Reputation Rhino, you can request that their team tackle the opt-out processes for the many data broker sites out there, including Whitepages. If you’re personally taking the time to remove your information from sites, there is a process you can follow in order to remove your private information from public view on Whitepages.

Whitepages.com, a prominent online platform, stands as a digital beacon for nearly 50 million individuals every month, offering them a convenient and efficient means to unearth valuable information about someone. 

Its colossal user base is a testament to its reliability and importance in today's information-driven world.

Employers, driven by the desire to make informed hiring decisions, often rely on Whitepages to assess the character and reliability of potential employees. Similarly, landlords utilize the platform to vet prospective tenants, ensuring a safe and secure living environment for their properties.

You can easily remove your name, address, phone number, and age from Whitepages.com, but it’s important for you to understand that other information, like your legal history or if you have been foreclosed on, will require a paid Premium subscription. A Premium subscription is also required in order to access these records.

Removing your basic information from Whitepages can be accomplished by following these steps.

1. Use a browser to go to Whitepages.com. Type your full name and city in the search box. Push the “Search” button.
2. The first record that you find of yourself will have a button next to it that says “View Full Report,” but this is a paid function. Continue to scroll down until you find another record with a “View Details” button next to it. Push this button so that you can see your profile with your free-to-access personal information.
3. Select and copy the URL for your profile page.
4. Go to https://www.whitepages.com/suppression-requests and paste your URL in the supplied box. Push the button that says “Next.”
5. A confirmation page will display the information you’re asking to be removed. Push the “Remove Me” button.
6. You will be prompted to give an answer for why you want to be removed from Whitepages. You can choose “I just want to keep my information private” and push “Next.”
7. Unlike other data broker sites, you have to verify your identity in order for Whitepages to remove your profile and information. You input your phone number when requested, which sends a verification code to your phone. Input your code into the site, and check the small box confirming you’d like your listing removed from the site. Push the “Call now to verify” button.
8. This action prompts an automated phone call to the number you put in previously. A verification code will appear on the screen, and the call requires you to type that code into the phone. The automated responder will confirm that your opt-out request was received, although it can take up to 24 hours for the listing to be removed from Whitepages.
9. Check the site within the next 48 hours to confirm your listing was indeed removed.

Just like other data broker sites, Whitepages are able to collect your information from public records. 

Put all together in one site, this makes for a very complete picture of your life and personal information.

A lot of people don't realize it, but they also provide personal information about themselves that can then be added to public records. 

Sites like Google and Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) sell the information that you put on your social media profiles. This can also be added to your Whitepages profile.

If you have a Whitepages Premium subscription and want to cancel it, you'll need to turn off auto-renew. 

This can be done in just a few simple steps.

1. Sign in to your Whitepages account.
2. In the top right corner, click on your Profile.
3. Click "Account," followed by "Account Dashboard."
4. Click on "Account Settings," and then "Cancel Auto-Renew."
5. Check your email for a cancellation confirmation.