DoorDash deactivation can happen to anyone.
Whether the app or email informs you first, you could get deactivated at any time, even mid-shift.
DoorDash’s Deactivation Policy covers a wide range of ways to get your account pulled, but their Dashers do have a chance of getting access again.
Many apps like Uber and Lyft do not let their employees appeal, but DoorDash does.
Getting deactivated is not the end of the line for a DoorDash driver.
You can get your Dasher account reactivated and start working again by following these steps.
Deactivated by DoorDash? There's still hope.
If you got deactivated, we feel your pain. Thankfully, there is an appeals process that can potentially keep you active.
Table Of Contents
DoorDash Deactivation Policy
DoorDash prides itself on offering flexible work to its Dashers, letting people work on their time to serve their community.
However, being your boss has its shortcomings.
If the clients or merchants have an issue with your services, you might set yourself up for deactivation.
The DoorDash Deactivation Policy discusses multiple ways you can compromise your account.
The reasons are as follows:
Reasons DoorDash Will Deactivate You
DoorDash lists five primary reasons for deactivation within their policy.
1. Consumer Ratings
Customers have to rate their DoorDash deliveries once they receive them on a scale from one to five stars.
They base customer ratings on punctuality, thoroughness, and behavior.
Someone who drops the order off late, with DoorDash missing items, or with an unpleasant attitude often has a lower rating than a Dasher who does the opposite.
You will need to maintain a Consumer Rating of 4.2 stars or higher to avoid DoorDash deactivation.
While you should monitor your rating, DoorDash does notify you if you approach the threshold.
2. Cancellation Rate
DoorDash gives you the freedom to accept deliveries as you please, but they expect you to complete them.
They tell you the delivery’s destination, merchant, and pay before you agree, giving you plenty of opportunities to deny an ill-fitting order.
One metric is the Completion Rate, which is the percentage of deliveries completed after acceptance.
Sometimes sudden events arise that prevent you from finishing your dash, which is why you have some leeway.
You will need to keep your Completion Rate above 80% to maintain your account.
As with the Consumer Rating, you get notified once you near the threshold to save you from DoorDash deactivation.
Note that your DoorDash acceptance rate does not have to meet a specific threshold to constitute a contract violation.
3. Platform Abuse
While the above reasons are the most common, some Dashers abuse the platform’s services and encourage others to follow suit.
Some instances of these violations include:
- Copying, framing, indexing, monitoring, or scraping data you should not have access to on DoorDash
- Damaging, disabling, disrupting, impairing, interrupting, or overburdening the DoorDash servers or platform
- Eating, opening, tampering, using, or improperly storing items in the delivery
- Gaining unauthorized access to any resource on the DoorDash platform
- Hosting multiple accounts for one individual
- Infringing third-party rights
- Manipulating the Dasher or consumer referral program or promotions
- Providing false or fraudulent information during signup or dashes
Do any of the above and you’ll risk your a DoorDash deactivation of your account.
4. Compromising the Platform’s Safety
The merchants, consumers, and Dashers on DoorDash trust the platform for providing the utmost security.
They want you to feel safe when dashing, but they also protect the physical and financial welfare of everyone involved.
Compromising the feeling of safety on the DoorDash app can get you deactivated.
Some ways you can create an unsafe environment include:
- Biking, driving, or scooting dangerously
- Breaking any local, state, or federal law while dashing
- Dashing while using drugs or alcohol
- Discriminating or harassing consumers and merchants on any basis
- Engaging in violent, aggressive, or otherwise inappropriate behavior
- Failing a background check
- Sharing personal information like a phone number without permission or disclosure
- Using abusive language
- Violating the platform rules
5. Violating the Independent Contractor Agreement
When you create an account, you must agree to the Independent Contractor Agreement.
If you incorrectly mark a delivery as complete, take any goods, deliver late, or perform business without taking safety precautions, you could get deactivated.
How Do You Know You Got Deactivated?
When you get deactivated, DoorDash notifies you via the Dasher app and an email.
The in-app alert shows that it happened, and the email clarifies the reason.
If you can appeal the decision, the email will state how you can begin the process.
The deactivation can happen at any time, but they do tell you why.
What Happens If You Get Deactivated?
If you get deactivated, DoorDash will notify you immediately with an app alert and email.
You can get deactivated in transit, so have your phone visible.
All DoorDash deactivations are permanent unless you submit a successful appeal.
The process happens suddenly and sometimes without warning.
Not all deactivations let you submit an appeal, but the email will tell you if you can.
From there, you will get instructions to begin the process.
DoorDash does not have an official number of policy violations that you need to commit before getting deactivated.
They handle the offenses on a case-by-case basis, with some acts rendering faster deactivations.
What Should I Do If My DoorDash Account Gets Deactivated?
If your DoorDash account gets deactivated, you can apply for other gig services like Uber Eats, GrubHub, InstaCart, Lyft, or Postmates.
If you would like to remain on DoorDash, you might be able to submit an appeal.
You can only submit an appeal if you violated the Independent Contractor Agreement or committed fraud, abuse, or safety violations.
If it happened for an objective reason, like for Completion Rate or Consumer Rating, you cannot submit an appeal.
While reasons like DoorDash customer fraud or discrimination seem worse than a 75% Completion Rate, you can more readily dispute the former.
Editor’s Tip
If you get deactivated, try calling the DoorDash phone number and see what’s going on.
If that doesn’t work, reach out to DoorDash customer service for more information.
Then, follow the steps below to appeal your DoorDash deactivation.
Appealing Your Deactivation
To appeal your deactivation, you will need to submit a formal DoorDash Deactivation Appeals form.
The Appeals Process
You will find the form in your email if you can appeal the decision.
Make sure you fill in the relevant information concerning why you were deactivated.
Try to include photographic, video, or audio evidence to support your case.
By answering the questions to the best of your ability, you can build the strongest argument for yourself.
After submitting the appeal, you will need to wait a few days to hear back from DoorDash.
They will contact you if they plan on reactivating your account or will maintain the deactivation.
If you do not hear from them quickly, you may feel tempted to contact the customer support team on DoorDash.com.
However, these services will likely tell you to wait.
If DoorDash does not accept your appeal, you may wish to apply for another delivery app.
Keep in mind that most do not let you dispute violations.
Tips for a Successful Appeal
Here are a few tips to improve your chances of submitting a successful appeal.
Try to complete the form as soon as possible.
You will want to keep all of the details fresh in your mind, and waiting may lead to you forgetting some information.
While you may feel tempted to tell every detail about the incident, stick to the most relevant.
You will make your appeals form easier to read and comprehend, which can help the DoorDash team make their decision.
Something drawn on too long may sound like you are fabricating the story, struggling to remember, or just plain guilty.
If applicable, use evidence.
You could keep a hidden dash cam camera rolling in your car, take screenshots of any exchanges, or snap photos of each DoorDash delivery to prove their completion.
Recording audio conversations may prove your story, but it could also violate the customer’s privacy, which is against the policy.
Ensure you remain peaceable and collected when making your appeal.
Do not vent about the consumer or merchant, and only stick to the necessary details.
If you come across as polite, DoorDash support will be more likely to believe you had a misunderstanding than if you seem brash, rude, or inconsiderate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is an FAQ about DoorDash account deactivation.
Can I Sign Up for DoorDash After Being Deactivated?
If you commit a serious violation, you generally get banned.
You cannot sign up using the same information twice as that is a Deactivation Policy violation.
Occasionally, DoorDash will glitch and deactivate your account.
In that case, you can contact support or help.doordash.com to try and get your account back.
Can DoorDash Deactivate You for Being Late?
Yes, DoorDash will deactivate your account for excessive lateness.
If you repeatedly arrive late, you become eligible for deactivation.
They consider the food delivery late when you exceed the estimated time to travel from the merchant to the customer.
DoorDash uses Google Maps to estimate how long it will take to complete an order.
If the merchant takes longer to complete the order than predicted, you will not be penalized.
They try to keep up with real-time traffic when making the estimates as well.
You usually get a few minutes of leeway for arrival, and you can report an emergency that prevents you from delivering on time.
You can also Pause a Dash or decline an offer if you need to take a break.
How Can I Use a Gift Card If My DoorDash Account Has Been Deactivated?
If you have a DoorDash gift card and have a deactivated account, you cannot redeem it.
You could give it to someone with an active account, but you will not be able to use it on yours.
Why Are Delivery and Rideshare Apps So Quick to Deactivate People for Violations Without Giving Warnings or Second Chances?
These days, delivery and rideshare apps have a high demand for full-time contractors.
If you violate one of their conditions, they can readily replace you with someone who may not break the rules.
DoorDash does give you warnings if you are scoring low on one of their objective metrics, and you can check your account for any violations.
Make sure you track your ratings frequently to correct any detrimental behavior.
Also, keep proof of your work if you need to submit an appeal at any time.
Wrapping Up
Every Dasher is susceptible to deactivation by violating DoorDash’s stringent contracts and policies.
You will need to stay on top of your performance to prevent deactivation and keep records of your deliveries if you need to appeal.
If you have found yourself on the receiving end of a DoorDash deactivation, consider appealing your deactivation.
However, if you are in the wrong for poor Completion Rate or Consumer Rating performance, you won’t be able to appeal.
In that case, getting another gig job like UberEats or GrubHub might be a suitable alternative.
With covid, and restaurant lobbies closed, drive through lines are all long and always make you late. Lateness shouldn’t be part of the equation during covid. I sat in a Taco Bell drive thru for 25 minutes today waiting to pick up a prepaid order for a customer who wasn’t even going to be home upon my arrival. Also, drove 11 miles to a millionaires house on the marsh in a gated community for a $2 dollar tip ($6 total order). They need to give the drivers some breathing room. Some of us go through alot of BS for pennies.
You should never accept an order if it pays less than $1.00 per mile. Also, set mileage limits like no more than 5 miles per customer and a minimum of $6.00 per order. Stick to those rules and you can make at least $200.00 or more per day. Also, don’t take orders from any establishment that doesn’t have their lobby open covid or not, it doesn’t matter. Because, drive up window times can be 25-45 minutes now.
I wish this was possible but with delivery driver apps, we all know it’s not possible to be picky or choosy with your orders because your ratings will drop and than do will your money.
They tell you that acceptance rating affects your standing over all, but is does not. In fact cherry-picking is vital to supply and demand. We are independent contractors we have the right to say no if we don’t want to take an order
That is so true about going to big nice house that you know the people have the money to tip a little better. I don’t understand it snd now I don’t bring orders to big homes like that. It has happened to me again and again
I’ve been deactivated which they said that my completion rate was too low and it’s 99% with 271 lifetime deliveries 91% on time I said two pills in I haven’t heard nothing from them but I still get emails about goings on I told her to take 30 days and it’s been two and a half months and I was I was up to 550-600 a week plus tips
Hi I’m sorry about your deactivation….same thing happened to me….I was wondering what your update is on the situation…thank u
i was deactivated as a Customer! ive never done anything wrong and have always had good interactions with dashers.. until last week was insulted and threatened by a very aggressive/unprofessional one, but they took quick action & all seemed good~ Could this be why?! ive never done anything that would warrant this!!! 🤔🤯🤷♀️
My account was deactivated recently with most everything in green 90% and up except my acceptance rate was around 85%. I received the email and it doesn’t explain why I was deactivated. I called support and they said a neighbors camera caught me stealing a package from the delivery address. It is cold out so I’m using my door dash insulated bag. They didn’t show me the video, but I can only think the camera angle shows me taking the food out of the bag and then me walking away with the bag. I just think the evidence they are speaking about is also provided to me so I can defend my case. I am still waiting for a response. I submitted my appeal yesterday. With the weekend I will call on Tuesday if I don’t hear anything.
I applied to DoorDash several months ago, nearly a year, at the age of 17. My account was frozen, and still is, in the application process. I’ve recently been hammering them to fix this problem, as I turned 18 five months ago. Still, nothing. Just “we’re escalating your case so your account can be deactivated”. It’s not even an offense? I was literally a dumb child trying to make money? This is absurd and insane, they continuously tell me to wait for an email for 24-72 hours. I’ve done this about three times. Nope, DoorDash, no freaking email.
I had two unlucky physical control violations three years ago. I won’t bore you with the details. Doordash sent me two adverse action emails in six months. I sent an explanation to them and they kept me active. Then, I received a third adverse action notice, same info, no additional action on my report. This time I called and was told that I had nothing to worry about. Several days later I was deactivated. I have completed over 4,500 deliveries, 4.95 customer rating, 100% completion rating and 95% on time rating. Plus many positive comments from customers. I have sent several requests to be reactivated. It’s like no one reads those requests. I didn’t deserve this!
I had almost perfect metrics and no contact violations. Dashed since the beginning and I get deactivated for marking a store closed when a host told me they were doing dine in only because there was a 4 hour wait for a table. (insane but true and it is an awful 24 hour diner!) support chat person told me to mark the store as closed. Did that. Deactivated the same day. Appeal denied because I wasn’t even sent an explanation (no it wasn’t even in my spam folder) and didn’t know how to defend myself. The appeal denial explained to me why I was deactivated. Spoke with one of their attorneys because they denied the dispute resolution conference promised in the contract and she acts like they can break the contract but I can’t break the contract.
I was recently deactivated with no warning and for no reason. My appeal to be reactivated and to be told why
the deatvation occurred was denied. The email that I received told me,
“After taking a look at your appeal and the reason why you were deactivated, we were able to confirm that a violation occurred. Please take some time to review your Independent Contractor Agreement and DoorDash’s Deactivation Policy. Please reference the “Abusing the platform” section within the deactivation policy to get more information.”
I read the policy and found nothing that explained what my violation was. Please tell me how to speak with one of their attorneys regarding the dispute resolution conference promised in the contract. Thank you.
I just had the same thing happen to me. No explanation other than to refer to abusing the platform. After reviewing it several times I found no fault. When I requested further clarification to appeal they just referred me back to this. How can I defend an appeal when I have no reference as to what I’m being accused of?
Yep deactivated because a customer’s drive had a 6 inch abrupt edge that was totally invisible to me at night. The customer would not help me and my car was house entered. So I drove my car off the edge and into the neighbors grass up the driveway and out. What was I supposed to do? The neighbor didn’t help me the owner wouldn’t help me and I had deliveries to make. I didn’t say anything to anybody.
High centered*** not house entered. Auto correct.
I was just deactivated out of the blue with no warning or even a hint that there was a problem. The email just says I didn’t complete orders that I marked as complete. I had a 5 star rating, and I have not had any complaints whatsoever in the year that I have been dashing. How can they do an investigation without asking me even one question? I have no idea what they’re talking about! I sent in an appeal but they denied it. I would really like to know what they think I did wrong! I continue to get emails from door dash stating I have achieved the five star award, but how does that happen if I’m deactivated? Why won’t they tell me what I was deactivated for? This seems to be a shady company that doesn’t care about it’s employees. I was a very devoted dasher. I always texted my customers if I was in a long line at the restaurant or always made sure to take a picture of the drop off. If anyone made a complaint, it was because they were trying to get free food, because I have never not completed an order!!! I’m taking this situation as a gift from God, because maybe I was going to be involved in a wreck or a mugging. This was devine intervention. It has to be, because I’ve never done anything wrong! I will never ever order from door dash again and neither will my friends and family. I have a full time job as a counselor in a prison, so this was just my part time gig for extra money. I feel scared for those that depend on this as their sole income, because they could be deactivated at any time and for any reason, even if they didn’t do what they’re being accused of. Door dash is definitely not a reputable company!
I wish everyone would see Door Dash for who they really are: a money greedy company who really doesn’t care about their customers or the drivers who deliver for them. All they care about is making money for themselves and they don’t care who the burn in the process. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone had Grub Hub or Uber Eats deliver food that they order from restaurants and either Instacart or Amazon Prime to deliver their groceries instead of using Door Dash? I would love to see Door Dash go out of business. Door Dash is crooked company. I’ve read so many stories about how drivers were so dedicated to Door Dash snd then Door Dash deactivate them for nothing or for things that was out of their control. It’s a shame because they are deactivating all their good drivers that csre about the customers and the drivers who are goof-offs and doesn’t care about the customers and are only doing it for the paychecks are still working for Door Dash. There are company’s out there there that are much better than Door Dash.
Bonnie Levy had the exact same thing happen to me. High marks and compliments, then I was deactivated just out of the blue. Stated I marked an order delivered but customer stated that they never received it. BS ! I followed all protocols. I appealed with information but it was like no one read the appeal. It’s a very unfair process. You’re correct in saying they don’t give a crap about dashers.
Dasher Rating 4.95
Completion Rate 96%
On time or early 98%
2500 deliveries
I got deactivated March 30, 2022 because Door Dash said a customer never received their food. Like really, does it look like I wanna steal someone food. Door Dash needs to protect their Dashers from scammers, customer would do anything just to get some free food.
Did anyone receive their pay after the appeal was denied?
Wayne McCarthy and Sherri Page I seriously want to let everyone know that orders from Door Dash what a crooked company they are! Also, I’d like to put this out there…my husband is a lieutenant in a prison that I won’t release the name of, and they have a unit that is like work release. Most of these prisoners are doing door dash as their job and return to the prison whenever they’re supposed to be back. These aren’t county jail inmates, but PRISON inmates! Door dash seriously let’s ANYBODY deliver for them, and people wonder why most restaurants have put the door dash delivery stations behind the counters now!!! Because of these crooked ass, theiving felons that steal other orders so they don’t have to pay for their own food! Door dash is the shadiest of all the delivery companies! You can start working the same day, regardless of your background check! I know for a fact that there are sex offenders delivering for door dash! They honestly don’t care who delivers for them as long as they get the money. I actually signed up with a reputable delivery service and the pay and customer service is so much better! And if I have an issue I am connected with someone that speaks clear English in America instead of the customer service reps from other countries that answer every call. I’m sure door dash only pays them pennies on the dollar, greedy bastards! Good riddance!
To everyone still dashing or is considering working for door dash, get as much money as you can from those greedy assholes and move on to a REAL company! Don’t take their bullshit offers of 3 dollars for a 12 mile trip! They used to kill me with that shit… I always wondered if there was really any suckers out there that actually fell for that offer. Trust me when I say they don’t give a shit about you, so use the hell out of them! Only accept orders that pay at least a dollar a mile, but never take anything less than 6 bucks! And when they get a wild hair up their ass and draw straws to see who they’re going to deactivate that day, don’t be offended if it’s you. More than likely you didn’t do anything wrong. They just have to eliminate a certain amount of employees to make room for the newbies coming on. Don’t expect an explanation of why you’re terminated because they will make up some bullshit excuse. Just know that more likely than not, it’s not your fault! For now while you’re still active, take as much money as you can from those assholes and have a backup plan in mind for when your time comes to be deactivated for whatever reason they decide to pin on you. I think they draw names and reasons to be deactivated out of a hat and just run with it, because when you send in your appeal they never provide you with the details of whatever occurrence they’re deactivating you for, nor do they have PROOF of what they’re accusing you for! And yet they still have some sleezy ass “lawyer” or paralegal representing them, making you think they actually have a case against you, when you know FOR A FACT that they don’t have shit on you! Unfortunately most states are a “right to work state” so you can be fired for any reason without an explanation. Honestly, I would rather be fired JUST BECAUSE instead of the company making up a reason. I hate being accused of shit that I didn’t do!!! For anyone that depends on door dash as your sole income, please be looking for something else ASAP, because it’s just a matter of time before you’re deactivated too!
Same thing happened to me 3 days ago. 4.95 rating, 100% completion rate, 88% on time.
Got an email out of the blue that my account has been deactivated due to Fraud. What? No specifics.
I have a full time job and was only doing this for fun. Made 3k in 3 weeks, with 3000 plus deliveries. I was really having fun.
Contacted Doordash and was asked to file an appeal, which I did…still waiting.
In the meantime, I will contact some of the big restaurants and find out if I can deliver food to their customers without going through doordash.
I can only immagine what it must feel like for someone doing this full time.
Luckily, I was using an older car that is fully paid for. What if I got excited after the first weeks and got a car on loan? Now, I would be stuck with the car, making monthly car notes and paying insurance.
Doordash, you are hurting hard working people out there. If a driver violated your policy, at least, give them a warning. If they don’t change their behavior, then you can let them go.
If someone can create a similar Gig company and name it “DashDoor”, with better services,, there is a long line of drivers waiting.
I recently was accepted by Door Dash. Once I received the email saying my background information was clear I entered the app and entered my direct deposit information. Was instantly deactivated, my wife has and account since we signed up sounds the same time. Same issue. This company seems really either bad with their algorithm or something worse.