How to remove yourself from Melissa
What they publish
Mostly a private data-quality/identity database, but the California notice says deletion applies to "our Melissa Lookups and other database products", so a public lookup surface exists . Sold or shared in the past 12 months "to Melissa subscribers and customers": "First & last names, maiden name, and/or alias; Home address; Username or user ID; Email address; Title & employment information; Age & date of birth; Telephone number; Property records; Professional licenses or permits". The homepage advertises "Consumer Verify & Append — Access data on 2.1 billion consumer records" and "U.S. Property Verify & Append — Add 400 fields of property & mortgage data". They state "Melissa does not sell or share Social Security numbers or driver's license numbers."
Removing yourself, step by step
0 of 6 done- Open https://www.melissa.com/california-privacy-notice (or /state-law-privacy-notice for other states) and click "Fill out form", or use the footer link "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" on any page — both go to https://apps.melissa.com/user/consumerprivacy.aspx.
- On the form "select 'Right to Delete' and/or 'Right to Opt-Out of Sale'"; also select the limit-sensitive-data option if offered. No government ID is required.
- No-form alternative: email ConsumerRequest@melissa.com, or call 1-800-800-6245 ext. 4 (the notice header also lists 1-800-635-4772 ext. 4).
- Keep the submission; the published response window is 45 days, extendable once by 45.
- If refused, "you may appeal such decision within a reasonable period of time by emailing ConsumerRequest@melissa.com".
- California residents can additionally file once through the CPPA's DROP platform; Melissa states "We will access the DROP system at least once every 45 days to retrieve deletion requests."
Tap a step to tick it off. Progress is saved in this browser only.
How they confirm it
"in most cases, we verify your identity by matching the information you provide against our records. For deletion requests, this matching is typically the only verification required — as with opt-out requests, we will not require you to provide a government-issued identification to have your information deleted from our Lookups and database products." Opt-out and limit requests "are not subject to identity verification". Authorized agents and power-of-attorney holders are accepted as "verifiable consumer requests". Deletion is open to anyone: "any individual, regardless of state of residence, may request to have their personal information deleted".
If they ignore you
CCPA complaint to the CPPA (registrant) and a DROP request; California AG (the company is based in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA); registry contact compliance@melissa.com.
Re-listing risk for this site: Low — published suppression commitment: "We retain records of consumer rights requests (such as Opt-Out or Deletion requests) permanently or for the duration required by law to ensure we continue to honor those requests", and for DROP "We will maintain a record of your request to ensure your information is not re-collected or re-sold" (a promise, not yet verified by re-check)
Common questions
How do I remove myself from Melissa?
Use Melissa's opt-out page (apps.melissa.com/user/consumerprivacy.aspx). Or email their privacy address, consumerrequest@melissadata.com. The guide above lists 6 steps, and this page writes the removal request for you to send from your own email.
How long does Melissa take to remove my information?
45 days — state-law-privacy-notice §V: "We will respond to verifiable consumer requests within forty-five (45) days; where reasonably necessary, we may extend this period by an additional forty-five (45) days". Self-reported 2025 metrics on the California notice §7: "Right To Delete 12070 [received] 12030 [accepted] 40 [denied] 7 [average days to complete]". That is what our research recorded; the site may take longer.
Will my information come back on Melissa?
Low — published suppression commitment: "We retain records of consumer rights requests (such as Opt-Out or Deletion requests) permanently or for the duration required by law to ensure we continue to honor those requests", and for DROP "We will maintain a record of your request to ensure your information is not re-collected or re-sold" (a promise, not yet verified by re-check). Check again in about 60 days.