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

Wrongfully denied? Discover how to correct Grubhub background check errors. 

For most people, a background check is an afterthought - a box to tick before starting a job. But for Grubhub drivers, it can be the difference between earning an income tomorrow and being shut out indefinitely. The irony? It isn’t always your driving record or criminal history that holds you back. More often, it’s the background check itself that fails. Grubhub doesn’t personally call every DMV or courthouse to verify your history. Instead, it outsources the job to background screening companies. 

The most common provider for Grubhub is Checkr, but they aren’t the only player in the industry. Background screening companies like HireRight, First Advantage, Sterling, and Samba Safety aka Safety Holdings process millions of reports at lightning speed, 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 these companies deliver an inaccurate report, Grubhub will deny you automatically. But under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the background check company, not Grubhub, is legally responsible for accuracy.

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 If your Grubhub background check contained false or outdated information, you have the right to demand a correction, challenge the denial, and seek compensation for the income you’ve lost.

This guide breaks down:

• Why Grubhub applications get denied
• How the background check process works
• Common background check errors and mistakes
• How to fix a wrongful denial and get compensated

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 

A failed Grubhub background check often comes down to issues in your record. Common disqualifiers include:

• More than 3 moving violations in the past 3 years. 
• Major violations within 3 years (reckless driving, suspended license). 
• DUI/DWI or drug-related driving offences within the past 7 years. 
• Convictions involving violence, theft, sexual offences, or serious drug crimes. 

Important: Convictions can appear indefinitely on a background check. But under the FCRA, dismissed charges, non-convictions, or outdated records (older than 7 years) should not appear. Expunged or sealed records must never show. 

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. Low Ratings or Safety Complaints

Grubhub may also deactivate or deny drivers if they receive poor customer ratings or complaints tied to safety (unsafe driving, aggressive behavior, alcohol/drug use).

Tip: If the issue is a false complaint, you must appeal directly to Grubhub. But if the deactivation is tied to a background report error, you have the right to dispute it under the FCRA.
Contact Grubhub Support

3. Identity and Data Errors

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

• Wrong person’s criminal record (mixed up with a similar name). 
• Duplicate charges showing twice. 
• Expunged or sealed cases still appearing. 
• Typos in names, Social Security numbers, or license info. 
• Inaccurate reflection of existing charges and/or violations, such as charge name, disposition, and degree.

Your Rights: These aren’t harmless errors - they’re background check errors that can cost you your income. Under federal law, background check companies must ensure maximum 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. 

Why it matters: If the report flags something, even by mistake, Grubhub will reject your application automatically. 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:

• Old charges (dismissed or non-convictions beyond 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 or violation dates or 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’ve 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 directly with Checkr. Under the FCRA, they must investigate 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 have 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 background check error 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.