A method of deleting an item from a user account in a SIP multimedia environment. When an item such as an instant message is to be deleted, a SIP REFER message is transmitted from a user device to delete the item from the user account, with the message including a unique identifier for the item. In response to the transmitted request, an SIP INVITE session is established between a virtual agent and a network-based deleted items location. After the SIP INVITE session is established, the item is transferred from the user account to the network-based deleted items location and is deleted from the user account.