Key Takeaways
- Instacart can reactivate accounts deactivated due to inactivity, but reinstatement is harder for policy violations.
- Instacart’s rehire policy isn’t officially detailed online; account termination and reactivation are at the company’s discretion.
- Instacart allows only one account per household; creating a new account after deactivation isn’t advisable.
- If deactivated unfairly, contacting Instacart’s support team with proof can help reactivate your account.
- Can You Get Reactivated With Instacart?
- What Is Instacart’s Rehire Policy?
- How to Know If Your Instacart Account Has Been Deactivated
- Why Is My Instacart Account Locked?
- Can You Make a New Instacart Account If You Were Deactivated?
- How to Get Your Instacart Account Reactivated
- What If I Was Wrongfully Deactivated?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping Up
Can You Get Reactivated With Instacart?
If Instacart deactivated your account because you didn’t follow their policies, getting reactivated can be tricky.
However, if Instacart deactivated your account for inactivity, you can get the online delivery platform to reactivate it so you can start working again.
It’s possible to get your account back in good standing with the help of Instacart’s support team, but you might have to send them proof that the termination was a mistake.
If you committed a serious offense while working for Instacart or have a pattern of customers complaining about your deliveries, Instacart will likely decide against reinstating your account.
What Is Instacart’s Rehire Policy?
Instacart’s rehire policy is not explicitly defined in their official documentation available online. The terms of service, particularly Sections 15 and 16, imply that rehiring decisions are at the discretion of Instacart.
These sections cover dispute resolution and the rights of users to cease using the service, as well as Instacart’s right to terminate access. Therefore, rehiring is likely handled on a case-by-case basis.
Brett’s Take: Thoughts From an Expert
Some Shoppers have reported be able to re-apply after a period of deactivation. Others haven’t been so lucky.
Shoppers have varying success in getting re-hired after getting deactivated by Instacart, which leads me to believe deactivations are handles on a case-by-case basis that are heavily dependent on circumstances.
I suggest appealing the deactivation, and providing a good amount of documentation regarding your issue and the case.
Just remember to consider any and all legal and ethical implications of any actions taken to rejoin the platform.
How to Know If Your Instacart Account Has Been Deactivated
If you suspect your Instacart account has been deactivated, the most common indicator is an email from the support team outlining the issue. This email may serve as a warning or a notice of deactivation, and it allows you to respond and contest the decision.
Additionally, if you’re having trouble logging into your account, it could signal deactivation, though this can also be caused by technical issues or unauthorized access.
In cases of login difficulties without a preceding email, contacting Instacart customer service is the most reliable way to confirm the status of your account.
Why Is My Instacart Account Locked?
Instacart can lock your account for a few reasons:
- Instacart can lock you out of your account if you enter the wrong password too many times or if the tech team has any reason to believe that someone compromised your account.
- Instacart can deactivate your account if you haven’t completed a batch in a while.
It’s unclear for how long you can be inactive on the platform, but it seems that Instacart will deactivate your account sooner if you’re a new shopper. - Violating your independent contractor agreement is another reason for deactivated accounts.
For instance, impersonating another person on the app or using automated tools to grab batches will result in termination. - Failing to deliver orders will also go against this agreement.
Instacart will typically look for a pattern of complaints and issues with orders before locking your account. - If you commit a serious offense like breaking the law while working for Instacart, expect the platform to lock your account.
Can You Make a New Instacart Account If You Were Deactivated?
Yes, you can create a new Instacart account if your previous account was deleted. However, if Instacart deactivated your account for violating terms of service or other reasons, creating a new account is not advisable.
This is because Instacart’s policy allows only one account per household and creating multiple accounts, including for business purposes, can lead to issues if there is a deactivated account associated with your name.
This is especially relevant if you are trying to work for Instacart again, as it goes against the platform’s terms of service.
How to Get Your Instacart Account Reactivated
If you received a deactivation email or can’t log into your account, your best option is to reach out to Instacart.
Appeal Deactivation
If Instacart decided to deactivate your account because the platform received complaints from customers, your best option is to appeal the deactivation.
You’ll have to submit proof that shows the complaints aren’t legitimate.
If you can’t work on the Instacart platform because you were inactive for a while, getting your account reinstated should be easy.
All you have to do is reach out to the shopper support team and explain that you’d like to start working for Instacart again.
Depending on how long you’ve been inactive, the shopper support team might ask you to go through the initial background check process again.
Contact Customer Service
You’ll have to log into the Instacart website to access contact options for the shopper support team.
The regular customer service contact options like the 1-888-246-7822 number might not be helpful for resolving issues specific to shoppers, but the customer service representatives might be able to direct you to relevant resources.
What If I Was Wrongfully Deactivated?
If you believe Instacart made a mistake by locking your account, you should reach out to the shopper support team and explain the situation.
You might have to submit proof that you didn’t violate the independent contractor agreement or terms of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Instacart Deactivate for Inactivity?
Yes, Instacart does deactivate accounts for inactivity, but the specific duration of inactivity leading to deactivation varies.
Accounts may be locked after a few months to a year without activity, depending on demand and supply. It’s recommended to complete at least one order per month to keep the account active.
Can You Use Someone Else’s Instacart Shopper Account?
No, you cannot use someone else’s Instacart shopper account. Instacart prohibits impersonating others for placing orders or working as a shopper.
Using another person’s account will lead to termination, and it is highly unlikely that Instacart will rehire individuals who have impersonated others, as it compromises customer safety.
Wrapping Up
There is no official Instacart rehire policy published online, but the platform seems to reactivate accounts that Instacart locked due to inactivity or minor problems.
If you violated the independent contractor agreement or the terms of service, you can get your account reinstated as long as you can provide proof that Instacart made a mistake.
If you have any questions about the rehiring process, leave a comment below!
Getting rehired on Instacart is possible as long as you didn’t commit an offense or don’t have a pattern of complaints.
I would like to be reinstated with instacart. When I got deactivated it was 3 months after an issue with customers receipts and Fred Meyers does not go back after 60 days. I was told in September 2022 and the incident happens sometime in June. 3/4 months later I’m being deactivated. I had explained to them the situation. I had two orders and they got mixed up and that was my first time mixing two orders up.
I have been an Instacart shopper for three years and was automatically deactivated for customers claiming someone else was delivering my orders which is not true. This occured 10 days ago and I disputed it and still no response from the trust and safety team after numerous times contacting agents as well. I’ve been provided no proof to back up these accusations and how can I prove I delivered these orders if I don’t even know which customers have supposedly said that? I don’t video or take pictures of me shopping or delivering unless the app ask for a picture. I’m extremely upset as to why I’m being treated so poorly when I’ve done such a good job for three years and made the company way more money then they have ever paid me. They may have the right to deactivate accounts but they don’t have the right to defame someone’s character and actions and have no proof of the claims.
Same here but other accusations. It’s weird bc it was shortly after I made diamond status.
I want reinstated I’ve grown over this past couple of years therefore I’ve learned my lesson. I’m begging to be rehired it was my favorite job in my whole life and I’m 41 .
I don’t feel like we should face deactivation or any penalty because of hackers. We can’t control how & what people do let alone RANDOMS reaching out to US pretending to be YOU. Doesn’t make sense to me. We don’t ask to be hacked. Especially if I can prove it.
I was deactivated for using profanity. Lol. Although not really funny, I have no idea of what I said because I use talk to text all the time and this sometimes auto corrects my words to something else entirely. I was in a hurry the night in question and did not proofread before I sent the messages to live chat support an instacart refused to give me a transcript of the messages so all I could say was I had no intention on using profanity and if my words were autocorrected I apologize but I did not prove for you before I sent them out because I was trying to find a customer’s address and couldn’t get into her gate without a code and she was not answering my messages or the phone. I was extremely frustrated and tired and wanted to go home but instead I was desperately trying to reach this customer so I could figure out how to get into her gate which needed a code. And so they deactivated me. I appealed it but they kept their decision firm and I’m wondering if I can ever reapply to work for Instacart or if that’s it? Like maybe can I reapply it in a year or something? I made a lot more money with this than DoorDash and I’m putting way more miles on my car with DoorDash and I would really like my Instacart job back even though they frustrate the crap out of me most of the time but the money was way better like $2,000 a month better than DoorDash and I’m barely scraping to make ends meet now and using multiple apps or as before I was just doing Instacart.
@Bonnie, did you ever get reinstated? I was deactivated around the same time so it kind of looks like they might have done some sweet and got rid of people so they could get new hires on. My account wasn’t reactivated even though I tried desperately to do so.
I believe they used alot of excuses to get rid of the ones making higher amounts because I was deactivated saying I canceled to many orders which was a load of crap and they wouldn’t accept my appeal. My opinion they got rid of higher pays to bring in new hires at lower pay. Instacart needs to do better. I had a 5 star rating my customers loved me and no one should be fired when they have that kind of rating!
Yep same here. … same exact situation
*sweep not sweet. See what happens when talk to text autocorrects and I don’t pay attention to it and proofread it?
I’ve read comments stating their account was deactivated. But I want to see results. Are there any comments about getting their accounts reactivated from a deactivation for violating policy?
That’s how I feel. I was a diamond cart shopper and I accepted a few orders by mistake so I was up to 16 percent cancellations and they gave me a warning and then next thing I know they deactivated my account and will not reinstate it. I practically begged for my job back. I loved working on my own and I have over 10 customers save me to be their shopper. Also I got tons of compliments. I guess they don’t care about none of that though.