DoorDash Wrongful Account Deactivation: What to do?
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DoorDash Wrongful Account Deactivation: What to do?
DoorDash Deactivation Explained: Common Reasons and How to Fight Back
If DoorDash denies your application or deactivates your Dasher account due to a flawed background check or inaccurate reporting, you may have rights to challenge that decision and pursue compensation for lost income, reputational harm, and emotional distress.
For many drivers, DoorDash is not just an app - it is their primary income source. A sudden deactivation can feel abrupt, confusing, and financially destabilizing. Whether the issue stems from a failed DoorDash driver background screening, alleged policy violations, or automated enforcement systems, understanding your rights is critical.
In this guide, we explain:
- Why was my DoorDash account deactivated?
- What are DoorDash background check disqualifications?
- Does DoorDash do background checks?
- How does the DoorDash background check work?
- How to correct a DoorDash background check error
- Can I sue DoorDash for deactivation?
Why Was My DoorDash Account Deactivated?
If you were suddenly denied by DoorDash, or you got a brief no-reply@doordash.com email saying your account was deactivated, it’s normal to suspect DoorDash wrongful deactivation. But don’t guess. The first step is finding out what DoorDash relied on to make the decision, especially whether a third-party background check or consumer report played a role.
Important: DoorDash reserves the right to deactivate accounts for failure to comply with its Independent Contractor Agreement and community guidelines. If your account is deactivated, you should receive an email explaining the general reason for the decision.
The most common reasons include:
1. Background Check Issues
1A. Background Check Errors (Wrong Info, Wrong Person, Wrong Status)
Sometimes the “fail” isn’t about your history, it’s about bad data:
- Someone else’s record attached to you (mixed file / misidentification),
- Charges that were dismissed, reduced, or never yours,
- Records that are sealed/expunged still showing up,
- Duplicate entries, outdated status, wrong disposition date,
- Inaccurate driving record or mismatched DMV data.
DoorDash uses third-party consumer reporting agencies (often Checkr) for screening during onboarding and sometimes later. If a consumer report is inaccurate and it drives a denial or deactivation, that can trigger rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Solution: If you suspect report errors, get the report, preserve the emails/screenshots, and talk to an FCRA-focused attorney. An experienced DoorDash deactivation lawyer can evaluate whether the screening vendor (and potentially DoorDash, depending on process) violated federal law and pursue compensation.
1B. Background Check Failure (Accurate Results, Disqualifying History)
In other cases, the report is accurate, and the issue is eligibility. DoorDash background checks typically review criminal history and driving records. Certain items may affect approval, such as:
- Specific felony convictions,
- Sex offender registry listings,
- Multiple serious traffic violations, recent DUI, or major safety flags.
Solution: This is usually an eligibility/policy problem, not an “error” case. Your best path is DoorDash’s appeal/reconsideration process (if available) and focusing on timing, documentation (rehabilitation, disposition proof), and whether the platform will re-run screening later.
2. Low Customer Rating
DoorDash requires drivers to maintain a minimum customer rating threshold. Falling below that threshold may result in temporary suspension or permanent deactivation.
Solution:
If the deactivation resulted from a false complaint or inaccurate rating calculation, you may file a Deactivation Appeal through DoorDash support.
3. Low Completion Rate
Drivers are expected to maintain a minimum order completion rate. If too many accepted orders are unassigned or canceled, DoorDash may deactivate the account.
Solution: If you believe the decision was based on incorrect data or circumstances beyond your control, you may file a formal appeal through Dasher Account Support.
4. Safety and Security Allegations
DoorDash may deactivate accounts following complaints involving:
- Violence
- Harassment
- Unsafe driving
- Alcohol or drug use
These deactivations are often permanent.
Solution: Even in these cases, if the allegation was false or unsupported, you may submit an appeal. However, reinstatement is not guaranteed.
DoorDash Background Check Disqualifications
Many drivers search for DoorDash background check disqualifications checklist after receiving a denial. But the answer depends on both company policy and the content of the report.
DoorDash typically reviews:
- Criminal convictions,
- Pending serious charges,
- Sex offender registry listings,
- Driving history,
- DUI or reckless driving records,
- Repeated major traffic violations.
Some disqualifications relate to safety concerns. Others relate to driving eligibility.
But there is a critical distinction:
- A disqualification based on accurate information is a policy issue.
- A disqualification based on inaccurate information is a legal issue.
If the report contains outdated, sealed, expunged, duplicated, or misattributed records, that may trigger rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Before assuming you were properly disqualified, obtain a copy of your report and verify that what was reported is actually correct.
Does DoorDash Do Background Checks?
Yes. DoorDash conducts background checks on all applicants as part of its onboarding process and may perform additional screenings during active engagement.
The DoorDash driver background screening is typically conducted through a third-party consumer reporting agency, most commonly Checkr. Rather than manually contacting courts or the DMV, DoorDash relies on commercial databases that compile criminal and driving history information.
Passing this screening is part of the official DoorDash driver requirements. If a report returns potentially disqualifying information, the platform may deny the application or deactivate an existing account.
Because the screening is performed by an outside company, errors can and do occur and when they do, federal law may apply.
DoorDash Account Deactivation Due to a Background Check
A large number of deactivations occur after background screening updates.
To understand whether the decision was lawful, it helps to understand how the DoorDash background check works.
How Does DoorDash Background Check Work?
DoorDash does not typically contact courts or the DMV directly. Instead, it relies on commercial consumer reporting agencies like Checkr.
These agencies collect data from:
- Criminal court databases
- Motor vehicle records
- Bulk-purchased data repositories
Because these companies operate at scale, background checks are often completed quickly, sometimes within hours. However, speed can come at the expense of accuracy.
Common background check errors include:
- Reporting charges that were dismissed
- Misreporting dispositions (e.g., listing guilty instead of dismissed)
- Reporting sealed or expunged records
- Including someone else’s criminal history (mixed file error)
- Outdated driver’s license suspensions
- Duplicate records
If you are checking your DoorDash background check status and notice discrepancies, you should immediately obtain a full copy of your consumer report and preserve all communications.
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b), consumer reporting agencies must follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy. If they fail to do so and you lose income as a result, you may be entitled to damages.
Checkr is one of the most frequently sued background screening companies for inaccurate reporting affecting gig workers.
If you were deactivated because of a mistake in your background report, the issue may not be DoorDash itself - it may be the reporting agency.
How to Correct Your DoorDash Background Check
Appealing directly with DoorDash may not resolve a background check issue because the error originates from the reporting agency.
Here are the steps you should take:
1. Obtain a Copy of Your Report
Checkr typically emails a copy of your report after completion. If you cannot find it, log into Checkr’s Candidate Portal to download it.
2. Review Carefully
Examine:
- Criminal charges
- Case dispositions
- Dates
- License status
- Traffic violations
- Identity information
Even minor inaccuracies can trigger automated deactivation.
3. Dispute the Error
You may file a dispute directly with Checkr. However, disputes are often processed through automated systems and may be denied or “verified” without meaningful investigation.
Working with a DoorDash deactivation lawyer can strengthen your dispute and preserve your right to compensation.
If the reporting company violated the FCRA, you may be entitled to:
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress damages
- Statutory damages
- Punitive damages
- Attorney’s fees
Checkr will not voluntarily pay compensation simply because it corrected your report. Compensation typically requires formal legal action.
Can I Sue DoorDash for Deactivation?
Drivers don’t ask for sympathy. They ask for options. Specifically: can you challenge a DoorDash deactivation in court? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, and the details matter.
The answer depends on the reason for the termination.
You may have potential claims if:
- DoorDash relied on inaccurate background information without providing required FCRA notices
- You were not provided a pre-adverse action notice
- The deactivation was discriminatory
- The decision violated contractual terms
However, lawsuits directly against DoorDash can be complicated. Drivers are classified as independent contractors, and the Independent Contractor Agreement may include arbitration provisions.
If your issue involves wrongful termination unrelated to background reporting, you may need to consult an employment or contract attorney.
Consumer Attorneys focuses specifically on background check errors and FCRA violations. We do not handle direct wrongful termination claims against DoorDash unrelated to reporting errors.
Lost Income Due to DoorDash Wrongful Deactivation?
If you were deactivated because of an inaccurate background report, you may have a federal claim.
Background screening companies are legally required to:
- Maintain reasonable procedures for accuracy
- Provide you with a copy of your report
- Conduct proper investigations after disputes
- Correct inaccurate information
When they fail to follow the law and you lose income as a result, they can be held financially accountable.
Deactivated from DoorDash due to a background screening error?
Our attorneys focus on wrongful background reporting and help Dashers pursue compensation under federal law.
Contact our team today for a free case evaluation.
You don’t pay out of pocket. We only get paid if we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your deactivation notice mentions a background check result, it almost always means the issue originated from Checkr. DoorDash relies on Checkr’s data and doesn’t manually verify criminal or driving records.
Once your report is corrected, you must notify DoorDash of the updated information and request reconsideration. In some cases, DoorDash may refuse reinstatement even with corrected data, in which case a labor attorney may need to evaluate your legal options against DoorDash directly.
It typically takes 1–5 days. Delays can happen if documents are unclear, personal information doesn’t match, or court records require manual review. You can track your background check progress through Checkr’s Candidate Portal.
Yes. If Checkr or any reporting agency doesn’t permanently correct their data sources, the same or similar errors can appear in future checks. A lawsuit helps ensure your record is fixed and monitored for recurrence
In most cases, deactivation is final - especially if it’s for safety, fraud, or low ratings. However, if it was due to a correctable issue like a background check mistake, reinstatement may be possible after legal correction.
You are legally entitled to receive a copy. You can request it directly from Checkr through their Candidate Portal or contact DoorDash support and ask which agency provided your report.
Yes. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, emotional damages like stress, anxiety, embarrassment, and loss of confidence due to a false report are compensable, especially if supported by documentation or witness testimony.
Absolutely. If the inaccurate report caused you to lose income, that financial loss can be part of your claim in a lawsuit against the background check company. Pay stubs and tax records help document this.
Daniel Cohen is the Founder of Consumer Attorneys. Daniel manages the firm’s branding, marketing, client intake and business development efforts. Since 2017, he is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates and the National Consumer Law Center. Mr. Cohen is a nationally-recognized practitioner of consumer protection law. He has a we... Read more
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