Hundreds of thousands of GrubHub orders are placed and fulfilled each year, but not all go according to plan.
Some orders may be missing specific food items, end up at the wrong address, or get unceremoniously canceled.
This can be frustrating, especially when you’re hungry.
Fortunately, you can get a refund on a GrubHub order.
This guide will explore the GrubHub refund policy, the reasons why you might want to request a refund, and discuss how to go about getting a refund from GrubHub.
So, if you’re unsatisfied with your recent GrubHub order, read on to learn how you can get your money back!
GrubHub Refund Policy
GrubHub believes that its customers are always right, and this outlook heavily informs its refund policy.
In most cases, customers can enjoy a full refund on their order, regardless of whether it was canceled before delivery, left at an incorrect address, or found to be unsatisfactory.
Types of GrubHub Refunds
In addition to standard GrubHub services, there’s also the option to become a GrubHub Plus member and enjoy free delivery (on orders of $12 or more) from select local restaurants.
But how does this new membership option affect the refund process?
Refunds on Normal Orders
Refunds on normal orders typically take up to five business days.
But sometimes, refunds take as little as a few hours.
These refunds may not appear as separate transactions.
Instead, they may be shown as adjustments to the original purchase.
Some banks may take longer than five business days to process these changes, so be sure to contact your financial institution if your refund doesn’t appear within this time range.
Refunds on GrubHub Plus
Refunds for GrubHub Plus (stylized as GrubHub+) members are just like those issued for standard orders.
Upon requesting your refund, you can expect to wait up to five business days to receive your refund.
Notably, some refunds may process in as little as a few minutes or hours.
Common Reasons for a GrubHub Refund
Though many of the top nationwide food delivery service providers are trustworthy and affordable, none are entirely perfect.
For this reason, it’s not uncommon to want a refund on unsatisfactory orders.
For example, some of the most common reasons why customers request GrubHub refunds include:
- Missing food
- Incorrect address
- Canceled orders
- Food was spoiled when delivered
If any of these issues pertain to your recent GrubHub orders, be sure to act quickly to receive your money back.
Customer satisfaction is crucial to businesses like GrubHub, so if you’re not happy with your order, don’t be afraid to express that dissatisfaction and request a refund.
Missing Food
Should a restaurant fail to include all the paid-for food items in your order, you are more than entitled to request a refund on those missing meals.
GrubHub doesn’t take missing food items lightly and may even refund your entire order if multiple items are missing from your delivery.
Incorrect Address
There’s almost nothing more frustrating than having your delicious delivery food end up at someone else’s address.
If this happens to you, you’re entitled to a full refund from GrubHub.
After all, it’s unfair to pay for a meal that you never got to enjoy!
Canceled Orders
The customer or the restaurant can cancel GrubHub orders.
In either case, GrubHub is responsible for refunding your money on an unfulfilled (i.e., canceled) order as soon as possible.
Food Was Spoiled When Delivered
GrubHub drivers aren’t preparing and cooking the meals that they deliver.
Consequently, GrubHub has a limited amount of control over food quality.
This occasionally means that the food delivered to GrubHub customers is spoiled, incorrect, or just plain disgusting.
If you receive a GrubHub order that contains spoiled or unpalatable food, be sure to contact the GrubHub customer support team right away.
You might also want to consider contacting the restaurant that served this food, as the management may be unaware of this issue.
How to Get a Refund on GrubHub
Now that we’ve explored the reasons why you might want to request a GrubHub refund, let’s delve into the precise steps you’ll need to take to get a refund on a GrubHub order.
That way, you’ll be able to request a refund quickly and confidently!
How to Get a GrubHub Refund Using the App
It’s not possible to request a refund on a GrubHub order by using the GrubHub app.
Instead, customers will need to:
- Call the GrubHub customer support line by dialing (877) 585-1085
- Communicate the fact that you’d like a refund and explain why you are unsatisfied with the order in question
- Ask if your refund request is approved
- Inquire as to the expected time range of the refund
If your refund request is approved (the agent on the line with you should be able to immediately inform you of whether a refund is possible), the funds may take up to five business days to return to your account.
How to Get a GrubHub Refund Online
While it is possible to speak with GrubHub customer service representatives online via the instant chat feature, you’ll still need to call the GrubHub customer support line to request a refund.
This means:
- Calling the GrubHub customer support line at (877) 585-1085
- Communicating the fact that you’d like a refund and explaining why you are unsatisfied with your order
- Asking if your refund request is approved
- Inquiring as to the expected time range of the refund
How Long Does GrubHub Take to Refund?
GrubHub can issue refunds almost instantaneously.
However, depending on your payment method, it can take up to five business days to receive your refund.
If you have not received a refund after this point, be sure to contact your bank for more information.
Does GrubHub Refund Tips on Orders?
When you place an order via GrubHub, you’re given the option to add a tip before or after delivery.
Customers can also adjust tip amounts after their food has been delivered.
This additional payment is added to the initial payment total.
Consequently, GrubHub orders approved for a full refund will also include a refunded tip amount.
If you notice that your tipped funds aren’t refunded along with the pre-tip order total, you’ll want to contact GrubHub’s customer support team for assistance.
Alternative: Cancel a GrubHub Order Before Delivery
Sometimes, you’ll want to cancel a GrubHub order before delivery.
This might be because you suddenly need to leave your current address or because you’ve lost your appetite.
Fortunately, it’s easy to cancel a current (but undelivered) GrubHub order, no matter your reasons for doing so.
In nearly all cases, you’ll receive a refund on this order within five business days.
But canceling your order online or via the GrubHub app may not be enough to ensure a pleasant experience for the restaurant, driver, and yourself.
So, let’s delve more deeply into the best ways to cancel a GrubHub order before a driver picks it up and begins delivery.
Does GrubHub Refund Canceled Orders?
GrubHub gladly issues refunds on canceled orders, making it easy for customers to get their money back within a few business days.
So, if you place an order but decide to cancel it before a GrubHub driver picks it up, you won’t need to worry about not getting a refund.
Does GrubHub Pay Drivers for Cancelled Orders?
GrubHub does not pay drivers for canceled orders.
So, if a driver travels across town to pick up your food, but you cancel the order before they’re able to pick it up, they will not be paid for that travel.
This can be frustrating for some drivers, especially those that need to travel a lengthy distance to reach their destination.
However, this is a GrubHub policy issue, not something that customers should blame themselves for.
How to Cancel a GrubHub Order and Get a Refund
GrubHub refunds nearly all canceled orders, regardless of the reason.
As such, getting a refund on a canceled GrubHub order is relatively straightforward.
You’ll want to:
- Open the GrubHub website or app
- Select the Orders tab
- Choose your current, undelivered order
- Open the Order Details window
- Select the Cancel option
- Choose a reason for your cancellation
- Submit your cancellation request
- Wait up to five business days for your refund
If you do not receive your money back within five business days, it’s best to contact your bank to discuss the transaction.
In some cases, the funds may show as pending, even if they’re not yet available.
Suggested Resource: How to cancel a Grubhub order
Final Thoughts
There are several reasons why you might want to request a GrubHub refund, from missing or spoiled food to a delivery arriving at the wrong address.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you learn more about the refund process and made you more comfortable with the idea of requesting a GrubHub refund.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out our related articles about food delivery services now!
