How to Cancel Instant Checkmate in 2026 (And Remove Your Listing)

Updated February 2026 · 5 min read

Instant Checkmate charges $35.12/month after a deceptive $1 trial. It's owned by the same parent company as BeenVerified (PeopleConnect Inc.), uses the same data, and is equally difficult to cancel. You must call to cancel — there's no online option.

How to Cancel by Phone (Required)

1. Call 1-800-222-8985 (Mon-Fri 7am-4pm PST)
2. Say "I want to cancel my membership"
3. Provide your name and email address on the account
4. They'll offer discounts — decline and insist on cancellation
5. Get a cancellation confirmation number
6. Ask for email confirmation

Cancel via Email (Backup Method)

Email support@instantcheckmate.com with subject "Cancel My Account Immediately." Include your full name and account email. This creates a paper trail but responses can take 24-48 hours — and they may still charge you for the next billing cycle if you don't cancel before the renewal date.

Remove Your Personal Data

Cancelling stops your payments, but your personal data stays in their system for anyone to search. To opt out:

1. Go to instantcheckmate.com/opt-out
2. Search for your name
3. Select your listing and click Remove This Record
4. Verify via email
5. Removal takes up to 48 hours

Why You Don't Need People Search Sites

• Free alternatives: TruePeopleSearch, FastPeopleSearch, county court records (all free)
• Data accuracy is poor: Much of the data is outdated, wrong addresses, incorrect relatives
• $421/year for occasional lookups: You're paying premium prices for public record data
• Google works: A thorough Google search often finds the same information for free

If They Won't Stop Charging You

1. File a dispute with your bank/credit card for unauthorized recurring charges
2. Block "Instant Checkmate" and "PeopleConnect" at your bank
3. File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
4. File a BBB complaint — PeopleConnect responds to BBB complaints