What Happens to My Data If I Delete My Account?

Understand data retention, deletion policies, and what happens to your information when you delete your Apprentice account.

Overview

Deleting your Apprentice account is a permanent action that removes your personal information and account access. However, some data may be retained for legal, tax, or platform integrity reasons. This article explains exactly what happens to your data when you delete your account, what's removed, what's retained, and how to export your data before deletion.

Important: Account Deletion vs. Subscription Cancellation

These Are Different Actions

Cancelling Subscription:

• ✅ Stops billing and downgrades to Free plan
• ✅ Keeps your account and all data
• ✅ You can reactivate subscription anytime
• ✅ No data is deleted

Deleting Account:

• ❌ Permanently removes account access
• ❌ Deletes most personal data
• ❌ Cannot be undone after grace period
• ⚠️ Some data retained for legal/tax compliance

Don't delete your account if you just want to stop paying. Cancel your subscription instead.

Before You Delete Your Account

Warning: This Action is Irreversible

After the grace period (30 days):

• ❌ Account cannot be recovered
• ❌ Data cannot be restored
• ❌ Email address cannot be reused for new account (for security)
• ❌ All access permanently revoked

Make sure you're certain before proceeding with account deletion.

Export Your Data First

Download important information before deleting:

1. Portfolio images: Download all your tattoo photos
2. Client contact information: Export client list with notes
3. Payment history: Download revenue reports for tax records
4. Design files: Save AI-generated designs and collaborations
5. Appointment history: Export past appointment records
6. Chat transcripts: Save important conversations (if available)

How to export data:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy or Data Export
2. Click "Request Data Export"
3. You'll receive a download link via email (may take 24-48 hours)
4. Download ZIP file containing all exportable data

Available formats: JSON (machine-readable), PDF (human-readable reports)

Consider Account Deactivation Instead

Temporary deactivation (if available):

• Account hidden from public view
• Can be reactivated later
• Data preserved
• No billing charges (if subscription cancelled)

Use cases for deactivation instead of deletion:

• Taking a break from tattooing
• Moving to a new shop
• Temporarily leaving the industry
• Unsure if you'll return

Ask support about deactivation options before deleting.

How to Delete Your Account

Step 1: Navigate to Account Settings

1. Sign in to your Apprentice account
2. Go to Settings → Account or Privacy
3. Scroll to "Delete Account" section (usually at bottom)

Step 2: Review Deletion Warning

You'll see a warning explaining:

• Account deletion is permanent after grace period
• What data will be deleted
• What data will be retained
• 30-day grace period to change your mind

Read carefully before proceeding.

Step 3: Select Reason for Deletion (Optional)

You may be asked why you're deleting your account:

• Feedback helps improve Apprentice
• Common reasons: not using enough, switching platforms, privacy concerns, other
• This step is optional and doesn't affect deletion

Step 4: Confirm Understanding

Confirmations you may need to check:

• ☑️ I understand this action is permanent
• ☑️ I have exported my data
• ☑️ I understand some data may be retained for legal reasons
• ☑️ I want to permanently delete my account

Step 5: Enter Password and Confirm

1. Enter your account password (security verification)
2. Some platforms also require typing "DELETE" or "CONFIRM" to proceed
3. Click "Delete My Account" button

Two-factor authentication: If enabled, you'll need to enter your 2FA code.

Step 6: Receive Confirmation Email

Confirmation email includes:

• Confirmation that deletion has been initiated
• Grace period end date (usually 30 days from deletion request)
• Link to cancel deletion if you change your mind
• Instructions for permanent deletion

Grace period: You have 30 days to change your mind and restore your account.

Step 7: Grace Period (30 Days)

During grace period:

• Account is deactivated (can't log in)
• Data is preserved but inaccessible
• You can cancel deletion and restore account
• After 30 days, deletion becomes permanent

To restore account during grace period:

1. Click the restoration link in deletion confirmation email
2. Or attempt to log in (may prompt account restoration)
3. Confirm you want to restore
4. Account and data fully restored

Step 8: Permanent Deletion (After Grace Period)

After 30 days:

• Personal information permanently deleted
• Account access permanently revoked
• Cannot be restored
• Email address locked (cannot create new account with same email for security)

What Gets Deleted

Immediately Deleted (After Grace Period)

Personal information:

• ✅ Name, email address, phone number
• ✅ Profile picture and bio
• ✅ Date of birth and account credentials
• ✅ Location and address information
• ✅ Social media links

Account access:

• ✅ Login credentials invalidated
• ✅ API keys and access tokens revoked
• ✅ Active sessions terminated

User-generated content:

• ✅ Portfolio images (marked for deletion)
• ✅ Flash designs
• ✅ Personal notes and tags
• ✅ Custom branding and themes
• ✅ Saved preferences and settings

Communication data:

• ✅ Chat message content (visible text deleted)
• ✅ Private messages
• ✅ Comments and collaboration notes

Payment methods:

• ✅ Saved credit card information (actually stored by Stripe, not Apprentice)
• ✅ Bank account details

Anonymized or Archived

Project and appointment data:

• ⚠️ Project records anonymized (client/artist names removed)
• ⚠️ Appointment history anonymized
• ⚠️ Design collaboration records preserved for counterparty's records

Why anonymized instead of deleted:

• Preserves data integrity for other users (clients, artists you worked with)
• Allows platform analytics to function
• Maintains audit trail for disputes or legal requirements

Example: Your appointment with a client is anonymized—client still sees "Appointment with [Deleted User]" instead of your name.

What Gets Retained

Financial Records (7 Years)

Required by law for tax/accounting purposes:

• ✅ Payment transaction records
• ✅ Revenue totals and deposit amounts
• ✅ Refund history
• ✅ Subscription billing history
• ✅ Tax-related information (for contractors/businesses)

Data anonymized:

• Your name replaced with "User [ID number]"
• Contact information removed
• Only transaction amounts, dates, and IDs retained

Why retained:

• IRS and tax authority requirements (US and international)
• Audit trail for regulatory compliance
• Dispute resolution and chargeback defense

Legal and Compliance Records

Retained indefinitely if related to:

• ✅ Disputes, chargebacks, or legal proceedings
• ✅ Terms of Service violations
• ✅ Fraud prevention and platform security
• ✅ Law enforcement requests or court orders

Only minimal data retained: Just what's legally required.

Platform Integrity Data

Anonymized data for analytics:

• ✅ Aggregate usage statistics (e.g., "X% of users book within 2 weeks")
• ✅ Feature usage metrics
• ✅ Performance and error logs
• ✅ Anonymized design generation data (to improve AI models)

Fully anonymized: Cannot be traced back to you individually.

Shop and Client Relationship Data

If you're part of a shop:

• ⚠️ Shop may retain records of your work history with the shop
• ⚠️ Shop admin can still see anonymized records of your appointment history
• ⚠️ Your profile removed from shop's team page

If clients have projects with you:

• ⚠️ Clients' project records preserved (with your name removed)
• ⚠️ Clients can still access their tattoo designs and project history
• ⚠️ Chat history preserved for client (with your identity anonymized)

Rationale: Clients and shops need access to their own records, even if you've deleted your account.

Timeline: What Happens When

Day 0: Account Deletion Requested

• Account deactivated immediately
• Can't log in
• Profile hidden from public view
• Grace period begins (30 days)

Days 1-30: Grace Period

• Data preserved but inaccessible
• Can restore account at any time via email link
• No new charges if subscription cancelled
• Reminders sent at day 7, 14, 21 (optional opt-out)

Day 30: Permanent Deletion Begins

• Grace period ends
• Personal information deletion process starts
• Account permanently closed

Days 30-90: Data Deletion Process

• Personal information deleted from primary databases
• Data removed from backups (backups rotate every 90 days)
• Search indexes and caches cleared
• CDN cache purged (portfolio images)

Day 90+: Deletion Complete

• All personal data deleted
• Only anonymized/legal records remain
• Email address blacklisted (can't create new account with same email)

Special Cases

If You're a Shop Owner

Additional considerations:

• ⚠️ Shop cannot be deleted if active team members exist
• ⚠️ Must remove all artists from shop first OR transfer ownership
• ⚠️ Shop subscription must be cancelled separately

Steps for shop owners:

1. Transfer shop ownership to another admin OR remove all team members
2. Cancel shop subscription
3. Then delete personal account

If You Have Active Appointments

With clients:

• ⚠️ Active appointments should be completed or cancelled before deletion
• ⚠️ Clients will still see anonymized appointment records
• ⚠️ Deposits/payments already collected are retained (financial records)

Warning: Deleting account with active appointments may cause confusion for clients. Contact them first.

If You Have Ongoing Disputes or Chargebacks

Account deletion blocked if:

• Active payment dispute or chargeback
• Legal proceeding involving your account
• Terms of Service violation under investigation

Resolution required first: Disputes must be resolved before account can be deleted.

If You Have Unpaid Balances

Outstanding payments owed to Apprentice:

• ⚠️ Deletion doesn't forgive debts
• ⚠️ Unpaid subscription fees, refund repayments, etc. still owed
• ⚠️ May be sent to collections if significant amount

Pay outstanding balances before deletion to avoid complications.

Restoring Your Account During Grace Period

How to Cancel Deletion

During 30-day grace period:

1. Click "Restore Account" link in deletion confirmation email
2. Or try to log in (system may prompt account restoration)
3. Confirm you want to restore account
4. Enter password

Immediate restoration:

• Account fully restored within minutes
• All data accessible again
• Can log in normally
• No data loss

After grace period: Cannot restore. Account permanently deleted.

Third-Party Data

Data Held by External Services

Apprentice integrations with third parties:

• Stripe: Payment history retained per Stripe's policies (you can delete via Stripe account)
• SendGrid: Email delivery logs retained per SendGrid policies
• ClickSend: SMS delivery logs retained per ClickSend policies
• Google Calendar: Calendar sync data controlled by your Google account

Deleting Apprentice account doesn't automatically delete data with third parties.

To fully remove data:

1. Delete Apprentice account
2. Separately request deletion from Stripe, Google, etc.
3. Revoke API access/integrations before deletion

Privacy Rights and Compliance

GDPR (EU Users)

Right to erasure ("Right to be forgotten"):

• Request complete data deletion
• Apprentice complies within 30 days
• Exceptions: Legal/tax records, fraud prevention

How to exercise GDPR rights:

1. Email privacy@apprentice.com or dpo@apprentice.com
2. Provide proof of identity
3. Request data deletion under GDPR
4. Receive confirmation within 30 days

CCPA (California Users)

California residents have rights to:

• Know what data is collected
• Request deletion of personal data
• Opt-out of data sale (Apprentice doesn't sell data)

How to exercise CCPA rights:

1. Email privacy@apprentice.com
2. Request data deletion under CCPA
3. Receive confirmation

Other Jurisdictions

Similar privacy laws in UK, Canada, Australia, and other regions:

• Apprentice complies with local data protection regulations
• Contact privacy@apprentice.com to exercise regional privacy rights

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I reuse my email address after deleting my account?

A: No. For security reasons, deleted email addresses are blacklisted and cannot be used to create a new Apprentice account.

Q: Will clients be notified when I delete my account?

A: No automatic notification, but clients will see your profile as "[Deleted User]" in their project history.

Q: Can I delete my account immediately without a grace period?

A: No. The 30-day grace period is mandatory for account safety and to prevent accidental deletions.

Q: What if I forget to export my data before deleting?

A: You can restore your account during the 30-day grace period, export data, then delete again.

Q: Will my portfolio images appear in Google search results after deletion?

A: They should be removed from search engines within 90 days as cached images expire. You can request faster removal via Google Search Console.

Q: Can I delete my account via the mobile app?

A: Account deletion is typically only available via web browser for security reasons. Log in to the web version to delete.

Q: What happens to tattoos designed with AI on my account?

A: AI-generated designs you created are deleted. Clients who received those designs retain their copies.

Q: Does deleting my account cancel my subscription?

A: No. Cancel your subscription separately before deleting your account to avoid being charged during the grace period.

Q: Can someone else (spouse, business partner) delete my account?

A: No. Only you can delete your account using your password and 2FA (if enabled).

Getting Help

Contact Support Before Deleting

If you're considering deletion, talk to support first:

• Explore alternatives (deactivation, subscription cancellation)
• Address specific concerns (privacy, billing, features)
• Get help exporting data
• Understand exactly what will happen

Account Deletion Assistance

Contact support for:

• ✅ Help exporting data
• ✅ Questions about what's retained
• ✅ Restoring account during grace period
• ✅ Exercising privacy rights (GDPR, CCPA)
• ✅ Disputes or complications

Updated on: 16/01/2026