Account Deletion Policy

1. Overview

You have the right to delete your account at any time. This policy explains the deletion process, what data is removed, and what information we may retain for security, legal, or operational reasons.

2. How to Delete Your Account

2.1 Self-Service Deletion

You can delete your account through the website:

1. Log in to your account
2. Navigate to Settings > Account > Delete Account
3. Enter your password to confirm your identity
4. Select a reason for deletion (optional)
5. Click "Delete My Account"

Your account will be scheduled for deletion within 30 days.

2.2 Request Deletion via Email

If you cannot access your account or prefer to request deletion via email:

1. Send an email to support@thespencerwebsite.com
2. Subject line: "Account Deletion Request"
3. Include your username and the email address associated with your account
4. We will verify your identity before processing the request

2.3 Parent-Requested Deletion

Parents or legal guardians can request deletion of their child's account by following the process in our Children's Privacy Policy.

3. What Gets Deleted

When your account is deleted, the following data is permanently removed:

• Username — Your display name
• Email address — Your contact email (if provided)
• Password hash — Your encrypted password
• Profile information — Nickname, description, about section
• Profile picture — Your uploaded profile image
• Settings — Theme preferences, accent color, background choice, game settings
• Smail messages — All sent and received messages
• AI chat history — All AI conversation logs
• Session data — Active login sessions
• Local storage data — Any data stored in your browser's local storage

4. What We Retain

Even after account deletion, we may retain certain information for security, legal, or operational reasons:

4.1 Security Data

• Email hash — Hashed version of your email to prevent re-registration with the same email
• IP address hash — Hashed IP address to prevent ban evasion
• Device fingerprint — Browser fingerprint to prevent account recreation

4.2 Operational Data

• Yaps chat messages — Public chat messages are retained as part of the community record
• Payment records — Transaction records for accounting and legal purposes
• Strike/violation history — For terminated accounts, retained under GDPR "Legitimate Interest"

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may retain data if required by law, including:

• Court orders or subpoenas
• Tax record requirements
• Anti-money laundering regulations
• Other applicable legal obligations

See our Data Retention Schedule for specific retention periods.

5. Deletion Timeline

5.1 Self-Service Deletion

• Immediate: Account is marked for deletion and login is disabled
• 30-day grace period: You can cancel the deletion request by logging in and clicking "Cancel Deletion"
• After 30 days: Account data is permanently deleted

5.2 Email-Requested Deletion

• Verification: We verify your identity (1-3 business days)
• Processing: Account is marked for deletion within 5 business days
• Deletion: Data is permanently deleted within 30 days of verification

6. Can Deletion Be Reversed?

6.1 During Grace Period

If you request deletion via self-service, you can cancel the deletion request during the 30-day grace period by logging in and clicking "Cancel Deletion."

6.2 After Deletion

Once your account data has been permanently deleted, it cannot be recovered. You would need to create a new account with a new username and email address.

6.3 Exceptions

In rare cases, we may be able to restore some data if deletion was in error (e.g., account hacked and deleted by unauthorized party). Contact us immediately if this occurs.

7. Exceptions to Deletion

7.1 Terminated Accounts

Accounts terminated for rule violations cannot be self-deleted. Deletion requests must be submitted via email and are subject to administrative review.

7.2 Active Subscriptions

If you have an active subscription, you must cancel it before deleting your account. We will cancel the subscription and process any applicable refund (see our Refund Policy).

7.3 Pending Actions

If you have pending actions (e.g., active refund request, open support ticket), these must be resolved before deletion can proceed.

8. Contact

For questions about account deletion or to request deletion via email, contact us:

Email: support@thespencerwebsite.com

Subject line: "Account Deletion Request"