Erasure request | ConsumerWise

Be specific

Erasure is a qualified right.

An organisation may have lawful reasons to retain some data even when you no longer want it held. Identify the personal data, explain why you believe erasure applies, and avoid demanding deletion of records the organisation may need to keep for legal, regulatory, contractual or claims-related reasons.

Describe the data or account clearly.
State why you say it should no longer be kept or used.
Ask for partial erasure if only some categories are in issue.
If refusal is likely, ask the organisation to identify what it is retaining and why.

Editable template

Version 1: erasure request

Use this when you want an organisation to consider deleting specified personal data.

How to edit it: replace everything in square brackets with your own details. If a bracketed paragraph does not apply, delete it before sending.

Subject: Request for erasure of personal data: [reference]

Dear Data Protection Team,

I am asking you to erase the following personal data about me:

Data/category: [describe the information]
Where held/used: [account, service, marketing system, record or other context]
Reason I am requesting erasure: [explain why you believe the right applies]

[Repeat for additional categories if needed.]

Please confirm what personal data you have erased and when.

[Optional: If the data has been shared with other recipients, please tell me what steps you will take in relation to those recipients where required.]

If you decide that some or all of the data must be retained, please identify the category you are retaining, explain the reason and lawful basis for continued processing, and tell me how long it is expected to be retained or the criteria used to determine that period.

Yours faithfully,
[Your name]

Editable template

Version 2: they refused erasure

Use this when the response simply says the organisation “has to keep the data” without explaining what or why.

How to edit it: replace everything in square brackets with your own details. If a bracketed paragraph does not apply, delete it before sending.

Subject: Erasure request: reasons for refusal: [reference]

Dear Data Protection Team,

Thank you for your response dated [date]. You have refused [all / part] of my erasure request on the basis that [their stated reason].

Please clarify:
1. which specific categories of my personal data you are retaining;
2. the purpose and lawful basis relied on for continuing to process each category;
3. the retention period, or the criteria used to decide how long it will be kept; and
4. whether any data outside those retained categories will now be erased.

[Optional: My concern is that your response does not address [specific point/evidence]. Please address that point when reviewing the refusal.]

Please treat this as a data-protection complaint if you maintain the refusal and provide the outcome with reasons.

Yours faithfully,
[Your name]

Official & related guidance

Check the route that applies to your situation.

Check the linked guidance before sending. Rules, complaint stages and time limits can differ by sector.