Right to Erasure Request (Right to Be Forgotten)

Request deletion of your personal data under UK GDPR Article 17.

When to use this template

Use this when you want an organisation to delete personal data it holds about you. The right applies in specific circumstances, most commonly when the data is no longer necessary for its original purpose, when you withdraw consent, or when the processing was unlawful.

When NOT to use this template

The right to erasure is not absolute. It does not apply where processing is necessary for legal compliance, the exercise of legal claims, or reasons of public interest. Do not use this letter in place of a DSAR if you first need to understand what data is held.

Legal Basis

UK GDPR Article 17 (right to erasure); Data Protection Act 2018. The right applies in the circumstances listed in Article 17(1) and may be restricted under Article 17(3). Organisations must respond within one calendar month.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗Not specifying the grounds on which you rely — simply saying 'delete my data' is insufficient
✗Using this letter where the organisation has a legal obligation to retain the data
✗Not following up with the ICO if the organisation refuses without adequate justification
✗Confusing erasure with rectification — use a separate letter if you want data corrected, not deleted

Build Your Letter

Fill in your details

Complete the fields below. Required fields are marked with *.

Your full name*

Your address*

Your email address*

Date of letter*

Organisation name*

Organisation address*

Description of data to be erased*

Grounds for erasure (Art 17(1))*

Optional fields

Your date of birth

Account / reference number

Letter preview

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]

[DATE OF LETTER]

Data Protection Officer (or Data Controller)
[ORGANISATION NAME]
[ORGANISATION ADDRESS]

---

Dear Sir or Madam,

**RIGHT TO ERASURE — UK GDPR Article 17**

I am writing to request the erasure of my personal data pursuant to Article 17 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Section 47 of the Data Protection Act 2018.

**My identity**

Full name: [YOUR FULL NAME]
Date of birth: [YOUR DATE OF BIRTH]
Account/reference number (if known): [ACCOUNT / REFERENCE NUMBER]
Email address on file: [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]

**Data I am requesting be erased**

[DESCRIPTION OF DATA TO BE ERASED]

**Grounds for erasure**

I rely on the following ground(s) under Article 17(1) UK GDPR:

[GROUNDS FOR ERASURE (ART 17(1))]

**Action I require**

I request that you:

1. Erase all personal data described above without undue delay.
2. Inform any third parties to whom you have disclosed my personal data of this request, so that they may also erase it, to the extent reasonably practicable (Article 19 UK GDPR).
3. Confirm to me in writing once the erasure has been completed.

**Your obligations**

Under Article 12(3) UK GDPR, you must respond to this request within one calendar month. If you refuse this request, you must inform me of your reasons and of my right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and to seek a judicial remedy.

If you consider that the right to erasure does not apply, please set out the specific exemption you are relying upon.

Yours faithfully,

[YOUR FULL NAME]

Unfilled fields appear as [FIELD NAME]. Review the letter carefully before sending. This template is a starting point — adapt it to your specific circumstances.