Instacart is a convenient app and service that connects independent shoppers to customers at home. Customers can use it to order groceries, household supplies, and more. And shoppers can earn a little bit of extra income on the side or even work full-time with an independent contractor status.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- How to Permanently Delete a Deceased Loved One’s Instacart Account
- How to Delete Your Own Instacart Account
- How to Delete an Instacart Shopper Account
A basic Instacart account is free, but you might want to delete your profile information for any number of reasons. For example, you might be trying to clean up your digital footprint or manage your digital afterlife. You might need to delete the online accounts of a loved one who has died.
Whatever your reason for deleting your Instacart account information, we’ll walk you through the process, step-by-step, below.
Post-planning tip: If you are the executor for a deceased loved one, handling the details of their unfinished business such as closing active accounts can be overwhelming without a way to organize your process. We have a post-loss checklist that will help you ensure that your loved one's family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of.
How to Permanently Delete a Deceased Loved One’s Instacart Account
When a loved one passes away, you might be responsible for closing their online accounts. It’s important to close as many of their accounts as you can to prevent identity theft and hacking. In our post-loss checklist, you'll find more instructions and suggestions for how to handle your loved one's accounts and digital legacy.
Here's how to permanently delete a loved one's Instacart account:
- Search for passwords.
- Cancel paid memberships.
- Contact Instacart by phone or email.
1. Search for passwords
Canceling or modifying any online account is easier if you have access to the person’s username and password. Your loved one might have kept passwords written down or in a document on their computer. Or they might have used a digital password manager to create and store more secure login information.
Before you attempt to log into your loved one’s Instacart account or contact customer service to cancel the account, try to locate the password for the account.
2. Cancel paid memberships
A basic Instacart account is completely free. But your loved one might have signed up for the paid Express Membership service.
If you want to avoid unnecessary charges before you cancel the account entirely, you can change the account’s membership status online.
First, log into the account on a computer. When you are brought to the main page, head to the top right where your loved one’s name will be written. Click on that, and then choose the “Your Account” option. A new page will load, and from the menu on the left, select Instacart Express.
Then, tap or click End Membership next to Membership Plan, and then click Continue to Cancel. This will only cancel your Express Membership, not the entire account.
3. Contact Instacart by phone or email
To completely cancel a loved one’s Instacart account, you’ll need to contact the company directly. Here’s how:
- Call 1-888-246-7822
- Email help@instacart.com
- On the mobile app or desktop website, select Contact Us at the bottom of any article in the Help Center for live chat
You can also submit a Help Request via Instacart’s Help Center.
Instacart recommends having the account email address or phone number handy when you speak with customer service
How to Delete Your Own Instacart Account
If you don’t plan on using your Instacart account again anytime soon, you may want to close it.
In general, websites and apps have access to your data and the longer they sit unused, they can become a part of a data breach. So to completely close any accounts you don’t actively use.
Instacart, for example, collects certain information about its users, including precise location data. It then shares this info with third-party companies to help improve the platform. You can learn more about this by viewing Instacart’s Privacy Policy.
If you want to completely close your Instacart account, here’s how you can do so:
- Find or update your password.
- Stop membership payments.
- Call or email Instacart customer service.
1. Find or update your password
If you remember your password or have it stored in a password manager, you’re already one step ahead. If not, you may need to go through the process of updating your password if you want to access your account.
Alternatively, you can skip this step and just contact Instacart customer service with the email address or phone number registered to your account.
Accessing the account using your password will allow you to cancel paid memberships, as described above. But it won’t let you cancel your Instacart account completely.
2. Stop membership payments
If you have a paid Instacart Express membership, we recommend canceling this before closing your account entirely. You will want to follow the steps above to cancel your subscription.
That way, you can take advantage of the added benefits through the end of the billing period. If you close your account, you won’t receive a refund for those extra benefits.
3. Call or email Instacart customer service
As mentioned above, the only way to completely remove your Instacart account from the company’s database is to contact Instacart directly. Here’s the contact information for Instacart customer service, once again:
- Call 1-888-246-7822
- Email help@instacart.com
- Select Contact Us at the bottom of any article in the Help Center for live chat
- Submit a Help Request via Instacart’s Help Center
How to Delete an Instacart Shopper Account
Working as an Instacart Shopper can be a good way to earn extra money on a flexible schedule. But if you no longer want to work with Instacart or you no longer have the time to spare, it’s a good idea to cancel your account.
If you need to cancel your Instacart Shopper account, here are some simple steps to follow.
1. Log into the app
The simplest way to cancel your account as an Instacart Shopper is to log into your account on the Instacart Shopper app. This is the same app you use to find work, communicate with customers, deliver products, and get paid for your work.
Of course, you’ll need your login information and password to log into the app, or you’ll need to update your password.
Contacting Instacart through the designated Shopper app can help speed up the process, as it lets the company know which kind of account you need to close.
2. Navigate to customer care
Once you’re in the app, find the “?” icon at the top right of the screen, and tap it. This will take you to a Shopper Help menu. From there, tap the icon that looks like a person wearing a headset, also located in the top right of the screen.
You can then select “Chat,” “Schedule a call,” or “Call now” to speak with customer care.
3. Contact Instacart directly
Again, going through the app will help direct you to the correct customer care team to work with you as a shopper. This might be important especially if you are waiting on any outstanding payments you want to collect or other questions.
You can also use any of the methods listed above (calling, chatting, or emailing) to reach customer service. We recommend using your Shopper app if you want to chat with a representative.
Managing your Instacart Account
When any person dies, they leave behind an entire life full of online accounts, credit cards, and endless passwords and login credentials. If you’re paring down your own digital footprint, canceling accounts you no longer use is a great way to start.
It can make life easier for the executor of your estate, who’ll ultimately be responsible for those accounts when you’re gone. And it protects your privacy, too.
Sources:
- “Privacy Policy.” Instacart. https://www.instacart.com/privacy
- “Help Center.” Instacart.” https://www.instacart.com/help/
- “Closing Your Account.” Instacart. https://www.instacart.com/help/section/360007902871/360039573311