ComplaintsforFamilyTreeNow.com

Genealogy

Additional Complaint Information

Customer Complaint:

BBB has received a number of complaints for FamilyTreeNow.com concerning public information which can be found by doing a records search of an individual's name and city, state, and/or birth date. Complainants are typically unhappy that FamilyTreeNow.com can be used to look up personal information such as current and past addresses as well as possible relatives.

The company generally responds to these complaints by removing the consumer's information from public view or explaining how the complainant can "opt out" of having their information searchable.

Consumers can have their information removed from the website by following the directions on this link: www.familytreenow.com/optout

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Initial Complaint
02/27/2024
Complaint Type:
Sales and Advertising Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
This sight displays public information that has not been authorized by me.
Business response
02/29/2024
Hello,

All of the information on our website is from public record databases. Every person aged 18 and older can have a public record. This information is collected on a County, City, State and federal level and can also come from reporting information during normal every day activities such as grocery store club cards, magazine subscriptions, voter registration, warranty cards, even fishing licenses, and forms you fill out when browsing the internet. There are thousands of ways this information gets reported.

If you would like your records removed, please submit your request by using our online removal tool, linked below. We will also endeavor to block future public records that belong to the same person, but identifying these future records is not 100% accurate and cannot be guaranteed.

****************************************

Thank you,
FamilyTreeNow.com

NOTE: FamilyTreeNow is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Initial Complaint
02/02/2024
Complaint Type:
Order Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
FamilyTreeNow.com has published nearly all of my personal information. I work in mental health with unhealthy people. This is a danger to me and my family. *** never authorized this nor heard of this before. I am unable to remove my name in fear they will collect more data upon retrieving my email address. Please assist.
Business response
02/12/2024
Hello,

We apologize for any inconvenience. Please provide the URL/web address of your profile details page so we can identify your profile.

Best regards,
FamilyTreeNow Customer Support

NOTE: ********************** is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Initial Complaint
12/20/2023
Complaint Type:
Service or Repair Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
I just did a ****** search on my name and they have posted my full name, maiden name and phone number, my addresses, and many other details about me, without me ever having heard of them before. I want them to take down the content.
Business response
12/21/2023
Hello,

We are happy to assist you with the removal of your information from our website.

Please go to the link below and carefully follow the instructions. Make sure you complete the steps involving searching for your name and selecting it for removal.

You will need to click 'View Details' on your search result to see the 'Opt Out This Record' button

*****************************************

If you are a ********** resident and are looking to exercise your right to opt out under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please click on the link titled Do Not Sell My Personal Information on the footer of our home page.

For additional information about the removal of your information, please visit our Privacy Policy found at
******************************************

If your records are removed from FamilyTreeNow but are still available via a ****** or Bing search you can remove the information cached by the search engine by following the directions on the URLs provided below:

***************************************************
****************************************************

Best regards,
FamilyTreeNow Customer Support

NOTE: ********************** is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Initial Complaint
12/09/2023
Complaint Type:
Sales and Advertising Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Personal information made public without my knowledge or consent
Business response
12/15/2023
Hello,

All of the information on our website is from public record databases. Every person aged 18 and older can have a public record. This information is collected on a County, City, State and federal level and can also come from reporting information during normal every day activities such as grocery store club cards, magazine subscriptions, voter registration, warranty cards, even fishing licenses, and forms you fill out when browsing the internet. There are thousands of ways this information gets reported.

If you would like your records removed, please submit your request by using our online removal tool, linked below. We will also endeavor to block future public records that belong to the same person, but identifying these future records is not 100% accurate and cannot be guaranteed.

****************************************

Thank you,
FamilyTreeNow.com

NOTE: FamilyTreeNow is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Initial Complaint
11/16/2023
Complaint Type:
Sales and Advertising Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
Website has my personal information- Email, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates and ages, and information of family members they gathered and put public for anyone to search, this is a violation of basic decency and privacy rights and this information must be removed. If not removed I will be seeking a lawyer to go after FamilyTreeNow.com
Business response
11/22/2023
Hello,

FamilyTreeNow has access to billions of public records, including the most recent and 40-years worth of historical data. This allows us to provide information about most every person or business in *****************. Public records are created from a variety of sources, including phone directories, property records, birth and death records, magazine subscriptions and voter registration cards.
Although FamilyTreeNow provides public records, we don't create or modify them in any way. We are only able to display the information provided in each record, so we cannot guarantee their accuracy. New public records are created every day, so we strive to report the most up-to-date and accurate information possible; however, this information must be publicly reported by the person themselves.

We are happy to assist you with the removal of your information from our website.

Please go to the link below and carefully follow the instructions. Make sure you complete the steps involving searching for your name, and selecting it for removal.
You will need to click 'View Details' on your search result to see the 'Opt Out This Record' button
*****************************************

If you are a ********** resident and are looking to exercise your right to opt out under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please click on the link titled Do Not Sell My Personal Information on the footer of our home page.

For additional information about the removal of your information, please visit our Privacy Policy found at
******************************************

Thank you,
FamilyTreeNow.com

NOTE: FamilyTreeNow is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Customer response
11/22/2023
I am rejecting this response because: The response email admits to collecting information without permission about anyone in ******* to display on their Website. This tactic is malicious by displaying people's personal information publicly online.. I want my information removed, I will not be forced to interact with FamilyTreeNows online forms as they will steal more of my information and keep me running in circles to get it removed. This company is violating people's privacy and admitting to selling their information. Remove my information or I will be talking to a lawyer. Damages have already been incured by me having to change phone number, password, and 2 factor for many profiles I have linked to the phone number they put online publicly. Remove my information immediately.
Business response
11/30/2023
Hello,

We have submitted your listing for removal, per your request.

Please allow 3-5 business days for this to **************.

Although FamilyTreeNow provides public records, we don't create or modify them in any way. We are only able to display the information provided in each record, so we cannot guarantee their accuracy. New public records are created every day, so we strive to report the most up-to-date and accurate information possible; however, this information must be publicly reported by the person themselves.

Note that certain requests may take longer as we verify the identity of the requestor. Ensure that you clear your browser cache and do not click on saved links. Please re-perform the search to verify your request.

Best regards,
FamilyTreeNow Customer Support

NOTE: FamilyTreeNow is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Initial Complaint
11/07/2023
Complaint Type:
Customer Service Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
My IP address has seemingly been blocked for zero reason and there is no way to contact FamilyTreeNow to query about it. I would like to have access to the service fully restored and functional.
Business response
11/17/2023
Hello,

We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused. Your device and/or IP Address may have been flagged by our anti-fraud and anti-abuse tools. This is not a setting we can override. Please wait 24 hours and try to search again. If the block has not automatically cleared, your use patterns are prohibited on our website.

Best regards,
FamilyTreeNow Customer Support

NOTE: ********************** is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Customer response
11/18/2023
I am rejecting this response because:
I have no reason to abuse the tool, I barely use the service. How would I commit fraud with a lookup tool?
How are you unable to override your own system? Is there no way to unflag my IP address that has been unfairly blocked?
Bogus excuse.
What basis do you have to flag my IP address? I'd like to see the data used to determine my IP needing to be blocked.

Business response
11/28/2023
Hello,

We are unable to override or provide details on our security protocols.

Best Regards,
FamilyTreeNow Customer Support

NOTE: ********************** is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Initial Complaint
10/21/2023
Complaint Type:
Order Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
I would definitely like to please Family Tree Now have my personal information taken down permanently off of your website Forever.
Business response
10/25/2023
Hello,

We are happy to assist you with the removal of your information from our website.

Please go to the link below and carefully follow the instructions. Make sure you complete the steps involving searching for your name, and selecting it for removal.
You will need to click 'View Details' on your search result to see the 'Opt Out This Record' button
*****************************************

If you are a ********** resident and are looking to exercise your right to opt out under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please click on the link titled Do Not Sell My Personal Information on the footer of our home page.

For additional information about the removal of your information, please visit our Privacy Policy found at
******************************************

Thank you,
FamilyTreeNow.com

NOTE: FamilyTreeNow is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Initial Complaint
09/30/2023
Complaint Type:
Billing Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
This site for what ever they're weird reasons are, keep hitting my credit reports sticking information that they've been there snooping around. The main sector who oversees this is usa.experian.com,they also cover equifax and trans union, i have seen where "removal in progress" dates as far back as 2021 and they never were removed. These weirdos are going to be sent a warning if they do not stop this invasion, I have no business dealings with these people, I even went in to their "opt-out" section and searched my name, many names are in there like mine but I am not according to this section. So Why they are snooping around is beyond me, but it is believed this is how hackers are able to attack and seize victims. A lawsuit will come if they don't stop this invasion! Their names are in my *********** and Equifax credit reports, ALL ARE ORDERED TO BE Removed NOW!
Business response
10/02/2023
Hello,

We are happy to assist you with the removal of your information from our website.

Please go to the link below and carefully follow the instructions. Make sure you complete the steps involving searching for your name, and selecting it for removal.
You will need to click 'View Details' on your search result to see the 'Opt Out This Record' button
*****************************************

If you are a ********** resident and are looking to exercise your right to opt out under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please click on the link titled Do Not Sell My Personal Information on the footer of our home page.

For additional information about the removal of your information, please visit our Privacy Policy found at
******************************************

Thank you,
FamilyTreeNow.com

NOTE: FamilyTreeNow is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Initial Complaint
09/26/2023
Complaint Type:
Sales and Advertising Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
removal of ALL my info, including those listed in another persons info(bio)
Business response
09/27/2023
Hello,

We are happy to assist you with the removal of your information from our website.

Please go to the link below and carefully follow the instructions. Make sure you complete the steps involving searching for your name, and selecting it for removal.
You will need to click 'View Details' on your search result to see the 'Opt Out This Record' button
*****************************************

If you are a ********** resident and are looking to exercise your right to opt out under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please click on the link titled Do Not Sell My Personal Information on the footer of our home page.

For additional information about the removal of your information, please visit our Privacy Policy found at
******************************************

Thank you,
FamilyTreeNow.com

NOTE: FamilyTreeNow is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Customer response
10/17/2023
I am rejecting this response because: hi, will try to replace what my computer decided to undo on its own, including 2 of the screenshots, this is the 2nd or 3rd time I have sent screen shots of what I'm talking about, my son ***************************(their spelling) actual is ******* notice that the ** and R) are reversed and my ex-wife is *********************** both live in Michigan and that is all that is needed in the location box when doing the search, when I checked my outgoing mail, the screen shots are visible, so if you can't see them, maybe your system is blocking them, had more written above, but in the world of computerdom, things do strange things, you will notice on mine, it says no info, but under no info there are 2 ads, that give some of my info, so in realallity they are publishing my info and, in both sons, and the exes, show me as a relative, wouldn't surprise me if they are run by the same companies, and do that to get around having to delete info, also called about an hour ago, was on hold for awhile, then got message to leave my contact info, so they can call back, that was more than an hour ago EST now 6:36PM

happy trails to you, ******
Business response
10/20/2023
Hello,

We have submitted your listing for removal, per your request.

Please allow 3-5 business days for this to **************.

Note that certain requests may take longer as we verify the identity of the requestor. Ensure that you clear your browser cache and do not click on saved links. Please re-perform the search to verify your request.

Best regards,
FamilyTreeNow Customer Support

NOTE: ********************** is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Customer response
10/24/2023
I am rejecting this response because: hi again, strange things are going on with familytree now, I didn't ask that they remove my son ******* (*******) ****** or my ex ***********************, just me as a relative, but they were removed, now I find me as a relative in my other son *************************, which didn't have me listed before, and with my name, it's same as before, no listing, but the ads with some of my info is listed, think that are playing games, with other search sites, I get we can't control what the paid ad show, maybe not, but can control whether a page shows an ad! could not find another way to respond, as the link in your last email, kept getting an error message, even when i put *******************************************************, the ***************, ** site appeared, so I went to my sent file to send this email

Business response
10/25/2023
Hello,

Thank you for the opportunity to resolve your concerns regarding your information appearing on our site.
After reviewing your request, we have found that your records have been removed from our site. What you are referring to are 'Sponsored Results', or advertisements, from our partners. You will need to contact them directly and have them remove your listing from that sponsored ad space.

Best Regards,
FamilyTreeNow Customer Support

NOTE: ********************** is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Initial Complaint
09/25/2023
Complaint Type:
Sales and Advertising Issues
Status:
Answered
The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
family tree now is corrupt and they are illegally collecting my data information without my consent I have never been to their website I've contacted them multiple times requesting that they removed me from their data collection and they have flat out refused! this company has nothing to do with family or anything other than collecting personal data to be sold to Black market individuals
Business response
09/27/2023
Hello,

As stated in our responses to your emails, we are happy to assist you with the removal of your information from our website.

Please go to the link below and carefully follow the instructions. Make sure you complete the steps involving searching for your name, and selecting it for removal.
You will need to click 'View Details' on your search result to see the 'Opt Out This Record' button
*****************************************

If you are a ********** resident and are looking to exercise your right to opt out under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please click on the link titled Do Not Sell My Personal Information on the footer of our home page.

For additional information about the removal of your information, please visit our Privacy Policy found at
******************************************

Thank you,
FamilyTreeNow.com

NOTE: FamilyTreeNow is dedicated to helping you find people and learn more about them in a safe and responsible manner. FamilyTreeNow is not a ************************* (CRA) as defined by the **** (Fair Credit Reporting Act). This site cannot be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or any related purpose. To learn more, please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

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