If you’re a driver for Uber or Lyft, you’ve probably been deactivated at least once in your career. And if the company has decided to deactivate you, well. It's not the end of the world. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't sting (or even hurt) a bit. The truth is that there are many reasons why drivers get deactivated from their rideshare companies, and most of them are legitimate! They could have been driving unsafely or violating one of the company's policies and procedures on purpose. Still, other times, drivers get banned from working for Uber or Lyft simply because they violated one rule too many times without ever being told about them beforehand...
If you do happen to get deactivated from Uber, Lyft or any other major gig apps, Driverly can help. When you sign up to become a Driverly Premium Member, you gain exclusive access to their Reactivation Services. Driverly helps gig workers earn more income, help prep for tax season, and help gig workers who have been wrongfully deactivated try to get their accounts back. While this isn't 100% guaranteed, it has worked for many gig workers so far. Sign up now so you can try to get back on the road and start earning again!
How to Get Reactivated With Uber or Lyft
You can appeal the decision if you think your deactivation is in error.
1. Contact the Company And Plead Your Case
If you feel your deactivation was unjustified, you should contact the company first. If Uber or Lyft disabled your driver account, you could use the customer support system to plead your case. If something else is needed, consider emailing the company directly.
2. Involve Social Media
You can also appeal to Uber and Lyft by taking to social media. This may be your best option if you have a compelling story or think you have a good chance of winning a case. It’s also an excellent way to help others in the same situation as you and gain support from other drivers who have been in similar situations with Uber and Lyft.
You don’t necessarily need to be rude or disrespectful when using social media; you can state what happened calmly and tag the company so they will see it. You should also get any immediate feedback from them, even if it is negative; this will let them know how seriously their customers take the issue of deactivations, which could lead to change within their company policy!
3. Contact a Lawyer
Contact an attorney if you feel that your deactivation was unfair and would like to seek legal help in appealing the decision. A lawyer can help you with the appeal process and may be able to provide insight into why Uber or Lyft decided to deactivate you.
4. Contat Driverly
You can also use Driverly. If you sign up for a Driverly Premium Membership, you can get access to their Reactivation Services. That way, they will handle the reactivation and appeal process for you to try to help you. Then you can carry on with other ways to make money while you wait for your appeal to be done.
Can you sue Uber for wrongful termination?
No. You can't sue Uber for wrongful termination because you are an independent contractor, not an employee. There is no legal basis to file a lawsuit against the company for wrongfully terminating your account.
How to Know You’ve Been Deactivated
You have been deactivated if you receive an email or text message from either Uber or Lyft. You will also receive this notification if you try to log in and are denied access. If you don’t get any communication but believe that a rideshare service deactivated you, contact the company directly with your concerns.
How long does an Uber appeal take?
It can take up to two days for Uber to review your appeal. You should receive a notification in the app if your request has been approved, rejected, or needs further investigation.
As long as you provide all of the relevant evidence needed and fill out your appeal form accurately and thoroughly, there's no reason why Uber should reject your appeal.
How long can you be banned from Uber or Lyft?
In the case of Uber, a driver can be given a one-week suspension for first-time offenses such as giving inaccurate pickup information or canceling rides without cause. In the case of Lyft, these infractions are known as deactivation standards and can result in an immediate ban from driving for Lyft.
A one-month suspension which can extend to three months, is given when a driver uses inappropriate language in an Uber vehicle or fails to comply with safety regulations while working with either company's app. With Lyft, breaking the law while operating their car could permanently deactivate the Lyft account.
Check out this great video from The Rideshare Guy to learn more about Uber and Lyft deactivation and what to do:
What is Uber's deactivation policy?
Uber's deactivation policy is strict and clear. Drivers can be deactivated if they violate Uber's community guidelines, which include the following:
Engaging in serious illegal activity while using the Uber app;
Not maintaining valid vehicle registration or driver's license;
Receiving serious traffic citations or several traffic citations that indicate unsafe driving.
What is Lyft's deactivation policy?
Lyft's deactivation policy is less stringent than Uber's, but it still specifies that Lyft can and will deactivate your account if you violate their terms of service or put a passenger at risk. While both companies want to keep drivers on their platform for as long as possible, Lyft does not wish to deactivate drivers for any reason; they know that fewer drivers available means fewer passengers served and, ultimately, a lower bottom line.
How long is Uber's investigation?
If you’re in the middle of an investigation, here is what you can expect:
Resolved within three to five days. As soon as we receive your appeal request, our support team will review it and accept or reject it within three business days. If we need more information, we will contact you directly through the Uber app to resolve the issue quickly.
Customer or driver claims are filed through the Uber app and then routed to agents who determine whether the matter requires an investigation. Once a claim is set in motion, neither driver nor the passenger has any control over its course, with some exceptions.
Can I delete my LYFT account and start over?
If you’re considering deleting your Lyft account, it’s essential to know that the process is not reversible. Once an account is deleted, you may not be able to reactivate it. If you want to use Lyft again, we recommend signing up for a new account and leaving your existing one active until then.
Conclusion
Now you know how to file an official deactivation appeal to Uber or Lyft. The process is easy but can be time-consuming, so plan accordingly. Remember that the best way to reactivate your account is by contacting customer support directly with a well-thought-out email explaining why they should reconsider their decision.
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