Denied a Rideshare Job Because of Your Background Check Error? Here’s What to Do

Learn why rideshare background check errors happen and how to dispute them under the FCRA.

Uber and Lyft sell the promise of freedom - flexible hours, fast onboarding, and the chance to take control of your income. But before you ever log a single ride, there’s a gatekeeper standing in the way: the background check. And too often, that gatekeeper gets it wrong. But if Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare company wrongfully denies your application because of errors in a background check, you don’t have to accept the rejection. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you have the right to dispute the mistakes, appeal the decision, and seek compensation for lost income and emotional distress caused by the error.

For thousands of drivers every year, this isn’t about their bad driving or a criminal past; it’s about errors in a background check report. Wrong names, outdated charges, even someone else’s record tied to yours. The impact is immediate and devastating. Lost wages. A career cut short before it even begins. The stigma of being branded “unfit” when you’ve done nothing wrong. But here’s what most drivers don’t realize: denial isn’t the end. It can be the beginning of your rights.

Enforcing FCRA isn’t about asking for favors - it’s about enforcing federal law against billion-dollar companies that profit from careless reporting.

In this guide, we’ll unpack the most common reasons Uber and Lyft applications are denied, reveal how rideshare background checks actually work, and show you how to fight back when the system gets it wrong.

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

• Why Was My Rideshare Application Denied?
• What’s in a Rideshare Background Report?
• Common Errors in Uber & Lyft Background Checks
• Uber & Lyft Background Check Denial Due to Errors
• How to Correct Your Uber or Lyft Background Check
• Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for Denying Me?
• Why Work With Consumer Attorneys PLLC

Why Was My Rideshare Application Denied?

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft thoroughly screen all applicants before approving them. If your application is denied, you should receive an email notice, usually after the background check is completed. But too often, the reason is vague, incomplete, or even incorrect. Here are the most common causes of denial, and what you can do about them:

1. Failed Background Check

A rideshare background check will look at your criminal history and driving record. This may include misdemeanors, felonies, DUIs/DWIs, sex offender registration, or multiple traffic violations. Any of these can make you ineligible to drive.

Important: Under the FCRA, convictions can appear indefinitely, but dismissed cases and certain non-convictions must be removed after 7 years. Expunged or sealed records should never appear at all.

Solution: If your application was denied due to errors, outdated information, or someone else’s record, you can dispute the background report directly with the screening company (usually Checkr). Consumer Attorneys can review your report, guide you through the dispute, and help you recover damages if wrongful reporting costs you income. 

2. Safety or Rider Complaints

Uber and Lyft can deny applications or deactivate accounts based on alleged safety concerns - such as unsafe driving, aggressive behavior, or reports of alcohol or drug use.

Solution: False complaints can be challenged directly with the rideshare company. But if the denial is based on a background report entry (rather than internal company violations), you have the right to dispute it under the FCRA.

3. Identity or Data Errors

One of the most common reasons for wrongful denial is simple data mistakes:

• Mistaken identity (your name mixed with someone else’s name & record),
• Duplicate charges appear twice,
• Records that were expunged but still reported.
• Inaccurate representation of the existing record (disposition, degree, etc.)

Solution: These errors must be corrected by the background check company. Under the FCRA, the consumer reporting agencies are held to a high standard of accuracy. And if they fail to reflect your history correctly, they are legally required to investigate disputes within 30 days and fix inaccuracies.

4. Other Possible Causes

• Low Customer Ratings or Trip Issues: In rare cases, repeated complaints or consistently low ratings during onboarding trips can block access to the app and/or approval in other apps, as some rideshare companies share this information within the industry.
• System Errors: Sometimes denials happen because of technical or administrative mistakes in the screening process.

Solution: While these issues may need to be appealed directly to the rideshare company (such as Uber or Lyft) support, if a background report error is involved, you can enforce your rights through an FCRA dispute with the help of a specialised Consumer Protection Lawyer.

Enforcing your rights through an FCRA dispute involves several key steps:

1. Obtain a copy of your background report: The Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) that provided the report to Uber or Lyft is legally obligated to provide you with a free copy upon request, especially if it was used to deny you employment.
2. Identify the errors: Carefully review the report for any inaccuracies, such as incorrect personal information or criminal history, misidentified criminal records, or outdated information that should no longer be reported.
3. File a dispute with the CRA: You must notify the CRA in writing of the specific information you are disputing and why you believe it is incorrect. The CRA then has a legal obligation to investigate your dispute, usually within 30 days.
4. Provide supporting documentation: Gather any evidence you have to support your claim, such as court documents, police reports, or personal identification.
5. Review the results of the investigation: If the CRA finds an error, they must correct or delete the inaccurate information and send you an updated report. They must also notify anyone who received the incorrect report in the past (including Uber or Lyft) of the correction.

It's important to understand that while a dispute with the CRA addresses the accuracy of the background report, a separate appeal with Uber or Lyft may still be necessary even after the report is corrected. Once the background report is accurate, you can then present the corrected information to the rideshare company as part of your re-application or appeal process. This two-pronged approach ensures that both the underlying information and the decision-making process are addressed thoroughly.

Contact Uber Support | Contact Lyft Support

What’s in a Rideshare Background Report?

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft typically rely on Checkr, the same company used by DoorDash, Instacart, Postmates, and Grubhub. But Checkr isn’t the only one. Other common providers include Samba Safety (Safely Holdings), First Advantage, and sometimes HireRight. Reports often include:

• Driving records.
• County, state, and federal criminal checks.
• Global watchlist searches.
• Sex offender registry.
• Civil records.
• Employment/education history.

Problem: Automated systems are fast, but not always accurate. One false match can end your driving career before it starts.

Common Errors in Uber & Lyft Background Checks

• Wrong person’s records (common with shared names).
• Inaccurate representation of existing charges.
• Duplicate charges for one incident.
• Dismissed or dropped charges still showing after 7 years.
• Expunged or sealed convictions are not removed.
• Typos in personal details.

Convictions can appear indefinitely, but dismissed or non-conviction cases should not stay on your report longer than 7 years.

Your Rights: The FCRA gives you the right to dispute any false or unverifiable entry and requires corrections within 30 days.

Uber & Lyft Background Check Denial Due to Errors

Errors are not rare, in fact, background check lawsuits are among the fastest-growing consumer complaints. Checkr has been sued repeatedly for failing to ensure accuracy. If you’ve been denied for:

• Charges that don’t belong to you,
• Arrests that never led to convictions,
• Records that should have been sealed,
• Wrong disposition, degree or dates or duplications.

…you may be eligible not only for corrections but also compensation under federal law.

How to Correct Your Uber or Lyft Background Check

Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Request your report via Checkr’s Candidate Portal.
2. Check carefully for outdated, false, or duplicated records.
3. Dispute in writing with Checkr - include documentation (ID, court records, dismissal or expungement papers).
4. Track the investigation - by law, Checkr must respond in 30 days.
5. Escalate if needed - if your dispute is ignored or denied without proof, an FCRA attorney can take legal action.

Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for Denying Me?

Not directly. Uber and Lyft typically rely on Checkr, and it’s usually Checkr’s error that caused your denial.

The Better Path: File an FCRA claim against Checkr. Doing so can:

• Force them to fix your record,
• Recover your lost wages,
• Compensate you for emotional distress,
• Collect attorney fees from the defendant.

Why Work With Consumer Attorneys PLLC

Trying to fix a rideshare background check dispute on your own often feels like running a maze - long waits, generic denials, and no clear resolution. That’s where we step in.

Here’s how we help:

• Proven success disputing Checkr and other reporting agencies.
• No out-of-pocket cost - when we win your case, the defendant pays our attorneys’ fees.
• FCRA-based protection - securing not just corrections but also compensation.