Grubhub Background Check Mistakes Explained: Common Errors, Denials, and How to Fight Back

Yes, Grubhub does background checks. Every Grubhub driver must agree to regular screenings that review motor vehicle records and criminal history, and the results decide whether you can start or keep delivering. Grubhub doesn’t contact courts or DMVs itself. It outsources the job to background screening companies.

Checkr is commonly reported as Grubhub’s main screening provider, but it isn’t the only player in the industry. Background screening companies like HireRight, First Advantage, Sterling, and Samba Safety process millions of reports, pulling data from courts, DMVs, and national databases across the country. That speed comes at a cost: accuracy. Applicants are denied for errors as simple as a typo, for cases that were dismissed years ago, or for records that belong to someone else entirely.

Why this matters: If a screening company delivers an inaccurate report, Grubhub can deny or deactivate you based on it. But under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the background check company, not Grubhub, is legally responsible for the accuracy of the report.

When that happens, it’s not just a bureaucratic glitch. It’s a legal violation with real financial consequences. The FCRA was written to protect workers from exactly this kind of harm. If your Grubhub background check contained false or outdated information, you have the right to demand a correction, challenge the denial, and seek compensation for the income you’ve lost.

Why Was My Grubhub Application Denied?

Grubhub screens all applicants through criminal and driving history checks. If you were denied, the reasons usually fall into these categories:

1. Failed Background Check

Every Grubhub driver must agree to regular background screenings that review motor vehicle records and criminal history. Grubhub’s Delivery Partner Deactivation Policy lists these background check results as reasons for deactivation:

• Recent felony offenses
• Recent serious criminal offenses, including sexual assault, sex crimes against children, murder or homicide, terrorism, human trafficking, and kidnapping
• Serious criminal charges that are still pending
• Multiple moving violations or accidents in the last 2 years
• Any recent serious driving violation, such as DUI, reckless driving, or hit-and-run

The exact eligibility criteria may depend on where you deliver and how you deliver, such as by car, bike, or scooter. State and local laws can add their own rules. Grubhub does not define how far back “recent” goes, so an older felony or DUI does not automatically mean you will be denied.

Important: Under the FCRA, convictions can be reported no matter how old they are. Arrests, dismissed charges, and other non-convictions generally cannot be reported once they are more than 7 years old. Expunged or sealed records should not appear at all.

Solution: If your denial was based on a background check mistake, such as an outdated charge or someone else’s record, Consumer Attorneys can review your report, dispute the error, and help you recover damages.

2. Safety Complaints

Grubhub may also deactivate or deny drivers after complaints tied to safety, such as unsafe driving, threatening or harassing behavior, or alcohol and drug use.

Tip: If the issue is a false complaint, you must appeal directly to Grubhub. Here’s how to file an appeal and reactivate your Grubhub account. If the deactivation is tied to a background report error, you also have the right to dispute it under the FCRA.

3. Identity and Data Errors

One of the most common causes of wrongful denial is a simple clerical mistake. Examples include:

• Another person’s criminal record mixed up with yours because of a similar name
• Duplicate charges showing twice
• Expunged or sealed cases still appearing
• Typos in names, Social Security numbers, or license information
• Incorrect details of existing charges or violations, such as the charge name, disposition, or degree

Your Rights: These aren’t harmless typos. They’re background check errors that can cost you your income. Under federal law, background check companies must follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy. If they fail, you can hold them accountable.

How Grubhub Background Checks Work

When you apply to drive with Grubhub, your personal details are sent to outside background screening firms such as Checkr, HireRight, or Sterling. These companies rely on massive databases to scan for criminal, driving, and identity records. The process is quick, sometimes completed the same day, but it’s far from foolproof. Because the data is pulled in bulk, outdated entries, mismatched identities, and clerical errors can slip through. The same screening companies work for other gig apps too. For example, Shipt uses Checkr for its shopper background checks.

Why it matters: If the report flags something, even by mistake, Grubhub may reject your application based on it. Legally, however, the responsibility for accuracy lies with the background check company, not Grubhub itself.

Common Grubhub Background Check Errors

If you were denied unfairly, it may be because of one of these errors:

• Dismissed charges or other non-convictions older than 7 years still showing
• Expunged or sealed records reported as active
• Someone else’s criminal history attached to your name
• Duplicate violations inflating your record
• Incorrect driver’s license status, violation dates, or violation types

How to Fix a Grubhub Background Check Mistake

Here’s how to correct errors if your application was denied:

1. Get your report – If Checkr handled your background check, you should have received an email with a link to the Checkr Candidate Portal. Download your report.
2. Review for mistakes – Look for outdated cases, mismatched records, or duplicates. Even small errors can block your approval.
3. Dispute the error – File a dispute with Checkr directly. Under the FCRA, it generally must complete its investigation within 30 days.
4. Contact an FCRA attorney – A dispute may correct your file, but it won’t compensate you for lost wages or stress, and there’s no guarantee the same mistake won’t happen again. Consumer Attorneys can pursue full compensation and accountability.

Pro Tip: Even if Checkr fixes your report later, you may still be entitled to damages for the harm caused while you were wrongfully denied.

Can I Sue Grubhub for a Background Check Error?

Generally, no. Grubhub relies on third-party reporting agencies like Checkr. If the denial came from a background check mistake, the liable party is the background check company, not Grubhub. Better option: file an FCRA claim against Checkr. This can:

• Force them to correct your report
• Recover lost income
• Compensate you for emotional distress

Consumer Attorneys has helped thousands of drivers overturn failed background check denials and recover damages.

Lost Your Grubhub Job Because of a Background Check Mistake?

Don’t let a false background check ruin your driving career. Federal law protects you, and we can enforce those rights.

• No out-of-pocket fees – If we win, the defendant covers our attorneys’ fees.
• 50+ years of combined experience fighting background check errors
• Proven wins against Checkr and other reporting agencies