A charge from PeopleByName.com on your bank or credit card statement is a billing from a people-search website that sells public-records reports. It is almost always a $29.99 monthly “Unlimited Search Membership” that renews automatically until you cancel, and if the charge caught you off guard, it usually traces back to a low-cost trial that converted into a paid subscription. You can stop future billing by canceling through the site, by phone, or by email.
Why the Charge Appeared
PeopleByName.com is a data-broker site based in Boca Raton, Florida, that compiles public records into reports on individuals. It sells two things: one-time single lookups, which do not renew, and an Unlimited Search Membership billed at $29.99 every 30 days.1PeopleByName. FAQ The membership renews on its own until the user cancels.2PeopleByName. Terms of Use
The site also runs a trial version of that membership at an introductory price. Consumer complaints describe trial costs of $1.00 for seven days and a $5.95 one-time lookup fee.3ComplaintsBoard. PeopleByName Complaints Under the site’s terms, if you do not cancel before the trial period ends, you are “automatically enrolled in a subscription” and the payment method on file is charged the full monthly amount immediately.2PeopleByName. Terms of Use
One other detail explains charges that appear right after signup. When you start the trial, the company places a temporary authorization hold on your payment method for the full monthly subscription amount. The terms describe this as a verification step that is released within three to seven business days, but it can look like an immediate charge on a bank statement.2PeopleByName. Terms of Use
How To Cancel
PeopleByName lists several ways to cancel. Any of them should stop further billing.2PeopleByName. Terms of Use
- Online: log in and use the “Close account” button in your payment preferences, or go to the account portal at peoplebyname.com/accounts.
- Phone: (561) 990-1279, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.1PeopleByName. FAQ
- Email: support@peoplebyname.com.
- Support ticket through the contact page at peoplebyname.com/contact.php.
Closing the account through the website also removes your search history and stored personal information from the site, according to the FAQ.1PeopleByName. FAQ Keep a copy of any confirmation email or cancellation reference in case a later charge needs to be disputed.
Getting a Refund
PeopleByName’s terms do not offer a general refund policy or satisfaction guarantee for services already rendered. The terms state that refunds are issued only when the company itself cancels an order.2PeopleByName. Terms of Use Consumers on review sites describe difficulty getting refunds directly from the company.3ComplaintsBoard. PeopleByName Complaints The terms also warn that chargebacks and payment reversals may be treated as “fraudulent use” or “theft,” and the company reserves the right to file complaints with authorities.
That contract language does not remove your rights under federal law. If the charge is unauthorized or erroneous, you can dispute it with your card issuer. Send a written billing-error notice to the issuer within 60 days of the statement date on which the charge appeared.4Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card Bill The FTC recommends sending the letter by certified mail with a return receipt and keeping copies of everything. The issuer must acknowledge the dispute within 30 days and resolve it within 90, and during that time it cannot report the disputed amount as delinquent or charge interest on it.5Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Removing Your Information From the Site
Canceling a subscription stops future charges, but it does not necessarily remove your public listing from the site’s directory. Because PeopleByName is a data broker, your name and details may appear there whether or not you have ever paid the company. Removal requests go through a separate form at peoplebyname.com/remove.php, with a phone-number form at peoplebyname.com/remove_number.php.6PeopleByName. Privacy Policy7Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. PeopleByName Data Broker Profile You can also send a request to support@peoplebyname.com or use the contact page. California residents exercising CCPA rights should expect a response within 45 days; residents covered by GDPR, within 30 days.