MyLife is an online reputation management platform that aims to help individuals monitor and improve how they look online. Founded in 2002 by Jeffrey Tinsley, the site claims to provide background information on over 325 million people in the United States.
As someone who has tested and reviewed many online reputation services over the past decade, I’ve taken an in-depth look at MyLife to help you determine if it’s the right solution for managing your digital presence. In this comprehensive MyLife review, I’ll cover how it works, pricing, customer reviews, legal issues, alternatives, and more.
How Does MyLife Work?
MyLife gathers personal data from public records, social media profiles, and other online sources to generate a “Public Page” for individuals. This page can include:
- Age, address, phone numbers, email addresses
- Employment and education history
- Political affiliations
- Known relatives and associates
- Photos
- A “reputation score” out of 5
MyLife members can claim their page to edit or remove information. The site also allows anyone to search for and review public pages.
MyLife’s Key Features
- Reputation score showing your ratings in areas like trustworthiness
- Monitoring of personal information online
- Ability to update or remove personal data from your profile
- Tools to promote positive content and suppress negative results
- Alerts if your information appears on risky sites
MyLife Pricing and Plans
MyLife offers a free basic membership as well as premium paid options:
Free Membership
- Claim and edit your MyLife profile
- Receive reputation alerts
- Remove your public profile
Premium Membership
- Connect with friends and relatives on MyLife
- Advanced privacy settings
- Background reports on other people
- Costs $7.95-$26.99/month depending on billing frequency
MyLife Customer Reviews and Ratings
MyLife has received mixed reviews from customers and third-party sites. As of June 2022, the Better Business Bureau gives MyLife a C- rating. It previously had an F rating and its accreditation was revoked.
Positive Reviews
- “Helped me find lost friends and relatives”
- “Useful for monitoring my online presence”
- “Feel safer knowing I’ll be alerted of threats”
Complaints and Criticisms
- Difficulty canceling paid memberships
- Unauthorized credit card charges
- Inaccurate or outdated information
- Aggressive, misleading marketing tactics
- Selling data to third parties
From 2018-2020, the BBB received almost 14,000 complaints about MyLife. Common issues included problems opting out, removing personal info, and deceptive billing practices.
MyLife Lawsuits and Legal Issues
MyLife has faced several lawsuits alleging unethical and illegal business practices:
False Advertising Lawsuit
In 2011, MyLife was sued for false advertising and charging members an annual fee while claiming to offer monthly plans. The case was ultimately dismissed.
Automatic Renewal Lawsuit
In 2015, MyLife paid over $1 million for violating California laws related to automatic subscription renewals and false advertising. The company was banned from engaging in these practices.
FTC and DOJ Lawsuit
In 2020, the FTC and DOJ sued MyLife for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act, using misleading billing practices, and falsely implying individuals had criminal records. In 2021, MyLife and its founder were banned from negative option marketing. The court awarded $21 million in consumer refunds.
MyLife Alternatives
There are several other online reputation management services that provide similar features to MyLife:
Reputation.com
Offers personal branding tools, privacy protection, and content removal. Plans from $99/year.
BrandYourself
Scans for damaging search results and guides you in improving your online presence. Free and paid plans available.
Podium
Geared towards businesses looking to manage customer reviews and local SEO. Plans from $239/month.
For a more comprehensive list of options, see our roundup of the best MyLife alternatives.
How to Remove Your Information from MyLife
Many people want to delete their profiles from MyLife due to privacy concerns. To remove your info:
- Search for your listing and select “This is me“
- Enter your email and click “Opt Out“
- Select the reason and confirm your opt-out
You should receive a confirmation email within 72 hours. Paid users can also hide their profiles from searches. For more detailed step-by-step instructions, check out our guide on how to opt out of MyLife.
MyLife Review – Final Verdict
After thoroughly researching and testing MyLife, I believe it provides some useful reputation monitoring tools. However, its history of legal issues and customer complaints raise red flags. Here’s who should consider using MyLife – and who is better off avoiding it:
Who is MyLife Best For?
- People who want a comprehensive view of their digital footprint
- Those looking to reconnect with friends and relatives
- Anyone seeking alerts if their private data is exposed
Who Should Avoid MyLife?
- Privacy-conscious individuals not wanting their info shared
- Those unable to commit to pricey, recurring subscription plans
- People who’ve had billing issues with MyLife in the past
MyLife Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Aggregates data from many sources into one profile
- Offers unique features like a public reputation score
- Sends alerts if sensitive info appears on risky sites
- Helpful for finding lost contacts and relatives
Cons:
- Expensive premium plans that are difficult to cancel
- Frequent customer complaints around billing
- Concerning legal history and lawsuits
- Collects and shares personal data without consent
MyLife Reviews FAQ
Is MyLife legit?
MyLife is a real company that has operated since 2002. However, it has faced legal issues and some consider its practices unethical.
How much does MyLife cost?
MyLife offers a free basic plan and paid memberships from $7.95/month. Premium plans are required to access most features.
Can I remove my information from MyLife?
Yes, you can opt out of having your profile displayed on MyLife for free. Premium members can also hide their profiles from searches.
How accurate is MyLife?
MyLife’s data comes from public records, but some info may be outdated or inaccurate. The site allows users to edit their own profiles.
Is a MyLife membership worth it?
It depends on your goals and budget. Paid plans offer useful monitoring tools, but there are many complaints about the service. Consider alternatives before signing up.
Key Takeaways
- MyLife aggregates public records into searchable personal profiles
- It offers reputation monitoring and privacy protection tools
- Pricing ranges from free to $26.99/month for premium
- The company has a concerning history of lawsuits and bad practices
- Consider alternatives like BrandYourself or Podium for online reputation management
In the end, managing your digital footprint is crucial in today’s connected world. While MyLife has some unique offerings, it’s wise to thoroughly compare options before entrusting any company with your sensitive personal information. I hope this detailed MyLife review provided the objective insights you need to make an informed decision. Remember, you are your own best advocate when it comes to protecting your online reputation.
