DoorDash Deactivation Reasons & How to Get Reactivated (2023)

DoorDash deactivation can happen to anyone.

Whether the app or email informs you first, you could get deactivated at any time, even mid-shift.

DoorDash’s Deactivation Policy covers a wide range of ways to get your account pulled, but their Dashers do have a chance of getting access again.

Many apps like Uber and Lyft do not let their employees appeal, but DoorDash does.

Getting deactivated is not the end of the line for a DoorDash driver.

You can get your Dasher account reactivated and start working again by following these steps.

DoorDash Deactivation Policy

DoorDash prides itself on offering flexible work to its Dashers, letting people work on their time to serve their community.

However, being your boss has its shortcomings.

If the clients or merchants have an issue with your services, you might set yourself up for deactivation.

The DoorDash Deactivation Policy discusses multiple ways you can compromise your account.

The reasons are as follows:

Reasons DoorDash Will Deactivate You

DoorDash lists five primary reasons for deactivation within their policy.

1. Consumer Ratings

Customers have to rate their DoorDash deliveries once they receive them on a scale from one to five stars.

They base customer ratings on punctuality, thoroughness, and behavior.

Someone who drops the order off late, with DoorDash missing items, or with an unpleasant attitude often has a lower rating than a Dasher who does the opposite.

You will need to maintain a Consumer Rating of 4.2 stars or higher to avoid DoorDash deactivation.

While you should monitor your rating, DoorDash does notify you if you approach the threshold.

2. Cancellation Rate

DoorDash gives you the freedom to accept deliveries as you please, but they expect you to complete them.

They tell you the delivery’s destination, merchant, and pay before you agree, giving you plenty of opportunities to deny an ill-fitting order.

One metric is the Completion Rate, which is the percentage of deliveries completed after acceptance.

Sometimes sudden events arise that prevent you from finishing your dash, which is why you have some leeway.

You will need to keep your Completion Rate above 80% to maintain your account.

As with the Consumer Rating, you get notified once you near the threshold to save you from DoorDash deactivation.

Note that your DoorDash acceptance rate does not have to meet a specific threshold to constitute a contract violation.

3. Platform Abuse

While the above reasons are the most common, some Dashers abuse the platform’s services and encourage others to follow suit.

Some instances of these violations include:

• Copying, framing, indexing, monitoring, or scraping data you should not have access to on DoorDash
• Damaging, disabling, disrupting, impairing, interrupting, or overburdening the DoorDash servers or platform
• Eating, opening, tampering, using, or improperly storing items in the delivery
• Gaining unauthorized access to any resource on the DoorDash platform
• Hosting multiple accounts for one individual
• Infringing third-party rights
• Manipulating the Dasher or consumer referral program or promotions
• Providing false or fraudulent information during signup or dashes

Do any of the above and you’ll risk your a DoorDash deactivation of your account.

4. Compromising the Platform’s Safety

The merchants, consumers, and Dashers on DoorDash trust the platform for providing the utmost security.

They want you to feel safe when dashing, but they also protect the physical and financial welfare of everyone involved.

Compromising the feeling of safety on the DoorDash app can get you deactivated.

Some ways you can create an unsafe environment include:

• Biking, driving, or scooting dangerously
• Breaking any local, state, or federal law while dashing
• Dashing while using drugs or alcohol
• Discriminating or harassing consumers and merchants on any basis
• Engaging in violent, aggressive, or otherwise inappropriate behavior
• Failing a background check
• Sharing personal information like a phone number without permission or disclosure
• Using abusive language
• Violating the platform rules

5. Violating the Independent Contractor Agreement

When you create an account, you must agree to the Independent Contractor Agreement.

If you incorrectly mark a delivery as complete, take any goods, deliver late, or perform business without taking safety precautions, you could get deactivated.

How Do You Know You Got Deactivated?

When you get deactivated, DoorDash notifies you via the Dasher app and an email.

The in-app alert shows that it happened, and the email clarifies the reason.

If you can appeal the decision, the email will state how you can begin the process.

The deactivation can happen at any time, but they do tell you why.

What Happens If You Get Deactivated?

If you get deactivated, DoorDash will notify you immediately with an app alert and email.

You can get deactivated in transit, so have your phone visible.

All DoorDash deactivations are permanent unless you submit a successful appeal.

The process happens suddenly and sometimes without warning.

Not all deactivations let you submit an appeal, but the email will tell you if you can.

From there, you will get instructions to begin the process.

DoorDash does not have an official number of policy violations that you need to commit before getting deactivated.

They handle the offenses on a case-by-case basis, with some acts rendering faster deactivations.

What Should I Do If My DoorDash Account Gets Deactivated?

If your DoorDash account gets deactivated, you can apply for other gig services like Uber Eats, GrubHub, InstaCart, Lyft, or Postmates.

If you would like to remain on DoorDash, you might be able to submit an appeal.

You can only submit an appeal if you violated the Independent Contractor Agreement or committed fraud, abuse, or safety violations.

If it happened for an objective reason, like for Completion Rate or Consumer Rating, you cannot submit an appeal.

While reasons like DoorDash customer fraud or discrimination seem worse than a 75% Completion Rate, you can more readily dispute the former.

Appealing Your Deactivation

To appeal your deactivation, you will need to submit a formal DoorDash Deactivation Appeals form.

The Appeals Process

You will find the form in your email if you can appeal the decision.

Make sure you fill in the relevant information concerning why you were deactivated.

Try to include photographic, video, or audio evidence to support your case.

By answering the questions to the best of your ability, you can build the strongest argument for yourself.

After submitting the appeal, you will need to wait a few days to hear back from DoorDash.

They will contact you if they plan on reactivating your account or will maintain the deactivation.

If you do not hear from them quickly, you may feel tempted to contact the customer support team on DoorDash.com.

However, these services will likely tell you to wait.

If DoorDash does not accept your appeal, you may wish to apply for another delivery app.

Keep in mind that most do not let you dispute violations.

Tips for a Successful Appeal

Here are a few tips to improve your chances of submitting a successful appeal.

Try to complete the form as soon as possible.

You will want to keep all of the details fresh in your mind, and waiting may lead to you forgetting some information.

While you may feel tempted to tell every detail about the incident, stick to the most relevant.

You will make your appeals form easier to read and comprehend, which can help the DoorDash team make their decision.

Something drawn on too long may sound like you are fabricating the story, struggling to remember, or just plain guilty.

If applicable, use evidence.

You could keep a hidden dash cam camera rolling in your car, take screenshots of any exchanges, or snap photos of each DoorDash delivery to prove their completion.

Recording audio conversations may prove your story, but it could also violate the customer’s privacy, which is against the policy.

Ensure you remain peaceable and collected when making your appeal.

Do not vent about the consumer or merchant, and only stick to the necessary details.

If you come across as polite, DoorDash support will be more likely to believe you had a misunderstanding than if you seem brash, rude, or inconsiderate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is an FAQ about DoorDash account deactivation.

Can I Sign Up for DoorDash After Being Deactivated?

If you commit a serious violation, you generally get banned.

You cannot sign up using the same information twice as that is a Deactivation Policy violation.

Occasionally, DoorDash will glitch and deactivate your account.

In that case, you can contact support or help.doordash.com to try and get your account back.

Can DoorDash Deactivate You for Being Late?

Yes, DoorDash will deactivate your account for excessive lateness.

If you repeatedly arrive late, you become eligible for deactivation.

They consider the food delivery late when you exceed the estimated time to travel from the merchant to the customer.

DoorDash uses Google Maps to estimate how long it will take to complete an order.

If the merchant takes longer to complete the order than predicted, you will not be penalized.

They try to keep up with real-time traffic when making the estimates as well.

You usually get a few minutes of leeway for arrival, and you can report an emergency that prevents you from delivering on time.

You can also Pause a Dash or decline an offer if you need to take a break.

How Can I Use a Gift Card If My DoorDash Account Has Been Deactivated?

If you have a DoorDash gift card and have a deactivated account, you cannot redeem it.

You could give it to someone with an active account, but you will not be able to use it on yours.

Why Are Delivery and Rideshare Apps So Quick to Deactivate People for Violations Without Giving Warnings or Second Chances?

These days, delivery and rideshare apps have a high demand for full-time contractors.

If you violate one of their conditions, they can readily replace you with someone who may not break the rules.

DoorDash does give you warnings if you are scoring low on one of their objective metrics, and you can check your account for any violations.

Make sure you track your ratings frequently to correct any detrimental behavior.

Also, keep proof of your work if you need to submit an appeal at any time.

Wrapping Up

Every Dasher is susceptible to deactivation by violating DoorDash’s stringent contracts and policies.

You will need to stay on top of your performance to prevent deactivation and keep records of your deliveries if you need to appeal.

If you have found yourself on the receiving end of a DoorDash deactivation, consider appealing your deactivation.

However, if you are in the wrong for poor Completion Rate or Consumer Rating performance, you won’t be able to appeal.

In that case, getting another gig job like UberEats or GrubHub might be a suitable alternative.