PlanFolks Account Deletion Policy
Effective Date: [Insert Effective Date] Last Updated: [Insert Last Updated Date]
Table of Contents
- Overview
- How to Delete Your Account
- Deletion Timeline
- What Happens After Deletion
- Exceptions to Deletion
- Data Retained After Deletion
- Appeals and Account Recovery
- Contact Information
1. Overview
This Policy explains how you can permanently delete your PlanFolks account, what happens to your data during and after that process, and the limited exceptions where certain data may be retained. This Policy is designed to comply with Google Play's account deletion requirements, Apple's App Store guidelines, and applicable data protection laws, including the DPDP Act and GDPR.
2. How to Delete Your Account
You can delete your PlanFolks account directly within the app, without needing to contact support:
- Open the PlanFolks app and go to Profile → Settings → Account → Delete Account.
- Confirm your identity (you may be asked to re-authenticate).
- Review the confirmation screen, which summarizes what will be deleted.
- Confirm deletion.
Alternatively, you may request account deletion by emailing privacy@planfolks.com from your registered email address, or by submitting a request through our website at https://planfolks.com.
A web-based account deletion request form and instructions are also available without requiring app installation, in accordance with Google Play's data deletion requirements.
3. Deletion Timeline
| Stage | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Account deactivation (profile hidden from other Users) | Immediate |
| Grace period (in case of accidental deletion) | Up to [14] days |
| Permanent deletion from active systems | Within [30] days of confirmed request |
| Removal from backup systems | Within [90] days of confirmed request |
During the grace period, you may reactivate your account by logging in again. After the grace period ends, deletion is permanent and irreversible.
4. What Happens After Deletion
Once your account is permanently deleted:
- Your profile, bio, photos, travel plans, and feed posts are removed from public view and permanently deleted from our active database.
- Your chat messages are deleted from your account; however, copies of messages may remain visible to other participants in a shared conversation unless they also delete their account or the conversation.
- Your login credentials (Email OTP association, Google/Apple Sign-In links) are permanently disassociated from PlanFolks.
- You will no longer receive notifications, emails, or communications from PlanFolks, except as required for legal or safety purposes described in Section 5.
5. Exceptions to Deletion
We may retain limited data beyond account deletion where necessary to:
- Comply with legal, tax, or regulatory obligations.
- Resolve disputes, enforce our Terms and Conditions, or defend against legal claims.
- Investigate or prevent fraud, abuse, or violations of our Community Guidelines.
- Maintain records of enforcement actions (e.g., bans) to prevent repeat offenders from creating new accounts.
- Retain aggregated or anonymized data that no longer identifies you, for analytics purposes.
6. Data Retained After Deletion
| Data Type | Retained? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Profile information, photos, bio | No | Deleted |
| Travel plans and feed posts | No | Deleted |
| Chat messages (your copy) | No | Deleted |
| Chat messages (other participant's copy) | Possibly | Shared conversation data outside our unilateral control |
| Moderation/enforcement records (if previously reported or banned) | Yes, limited | Safety and legal compliance |
| Transaction/payment records (future) | Yes, as required by law | Tax and financial regulations |
| Anonymized analytics | Yes | No longer Personal Data |
7. Appeals and Account Recovery
- Accidental deletion: If you deleted your account by mistake, contact support@planfolks.com within the grace period described in Section 3 to request recovery.
- Deletion following suspension/termination: If your account was deleted or terminated by PlanFolks due to a policy violation and you believe this was in error, you may submit an appeal to support@planfolks.com within [30] days, including your username, registered email, and the basis for your appeal. We will review and respond within a reasonable time.
8. Contact Information
- Account deletion requests: privacy@planfolks.com
- General support: support@planfolks.com
See also our Data Deletion Policy for deletion of specific data categories without full account deletion, and our Privacy Policy.