Amazon Flex Terminated My Account - Standing Dropped to 'At Risk' Overnight (2024)

I'm absolutely gutted right now. Been driving Amazon Flex for 18 months, always maintained Fantastic standing, never had any issues. Then this week happened.

Got 4 "packages not received" reports in 3 days. All from the same apartment complex. I KNOW I delivered those packages - I have timestamp photos of every single one at the doors. Checked the app, my standing dropped from Fantastic to "At Risk" overnight.

Woke up this morning to the dreaded email: "Your Amazon Flex account has been deactivated." No warning, no chance to explain, just gone. 18 months of perfect service means nothing apparently.

I submitted an appeal immediately but I've heard horror stories about the appeal process. Has anyone successfully gotten reinstated? What did you say in your appeal? I'm panicking because this was my main income.

I actually got reinstated last year so it IS possible, though I'll be honest it took 6 weeks and a lot of persistence.

What worked for me:

• Submitted 3 separate appeals over 6 weeks - each one more detailed than the last
• Included specific dates, times, and addresses of disputed deliveries
• Mentioned my delivery history (2+ years, thousands of packages, previous Fantastic standing)
• Stayed professional and didn't blame customers or get emotional (even though I wanted to)
• Requested a manual review of my account and GPS data

The third appeal is what did it. I specifically asked them to cross-reference the GPS coordinates from my deliveries with the "not received" claims. Two days later I got the reinstatement email.

Don't give up after one rejection. The first appeal is almost always auto-denied. You need to keep pushing and provide as much evidence as possible.

Let me explain how Amazon's standing system actually works because there's a lot of confusion about this:

The Standing Tiers:

• Fantastic: Top tier, priority access to blocks, best earnings potential
• Great: Still good, some priority access
• Fair: Warning zone, reduced block access
• At Risk: One more issue and you're likely terminated

What triggers standing drops:

• DNR (Did Not Receive) claims - THE big killer
• Late deliveries exceeding your route window
• Reliability issues (forfeiting blocks, arriving late)
• Customer complaints about delivery quality

The algorithm weighs recent performance MUCH more heavily than historical. So 4 DNRs in 3 days will tank you even with 18 months of perfect history. It's frustrating but that's how they've designed it.

Important: Amazon's system is automated. The initial termination is algorithmic. Your appeal goes to an actual human (eventually), which is why persistence matters.

Brother, I feel your pain. Same thing happened to me last summer at an apartment complex in Phoenix. Turns out there was a package theft ring operating in that building - residents were claiming DNR, getting refunds, and keeping the merchandise.

Amazon doesn't care. They'd rather deactivate drivers than investigate fraud. We're expendable to them.

The package theft problem is REAL:

• Apartment complexes are the worst - no secure locations, packages sit in hallways
• Some customers game the system by claiming DNR for free stuff
• Porch pirates follow delivery vans and grab packages minutes after delivery
• Amazon's "photo required" feature doesn't protect drivers because customers can still claim it was stolen after photo

The whole system is rigged against drivers. I never got reinstated despite 3 years of service. Started doing DoorDash instead and honestly make better money with less stress.

@FlexDriver_Marcus - hope your appeal works out but start looking at backup gigs now. Don't put all your eggs in Bezos's basket.

Since you mentioned needing income while your appeal is pending, here are the best Flex alternatives I've found after getting deactivated myself:

DoorDash Drive (catering/large orders): Similar to Flex - scheduled deliveries, decent pay. Need to work your way up from regular DoorDash first but worth it. More reliable than Flex honestly.

Walmart Spark: Closest thing to Flex. Grocery and delivery orders, scheduled blocks or on-demand. Pay varies by market but I average $22-25/hr in my area. Acceptance into the program can take a few weeks.

Instacart: Grocery shopping + delivery. More work than Flex but tips are better. Best on weekends.

Veho: Package delivery like Flex but smaller company. Not in all markets yet but growing fast. Heard good things about driver treatment.

Amazon DSP (as last resort): If you want to stay in Amazon delivery, you can apply as a W-2 driver with a Delivery Service Partner company. Less flexibility but stable income and you're not subject to the same DNR BS since you're an employee.

Whatever you do, don't wait to hear back on the appeal before signing up for alternatives. That could take months.

5 year Flex veteran here. @FlexDriver_Marcus I'm sorry this happened to you. The documentation tips below might help your appeal AND help others avoid this situation:

How to protect yourself going forward (for anyone reading):

1. Timestamp Camera app: Use an app that embeds GPS coordinates, date, and time directly onto photos. The Flex app photos aren't always enough.
2. Video deliveries at apartments: I record a quick video walking up to the door, showing the unit number, placing the package, and walking away. Takes 15 extra seconds.
3. Request customer signature when possible: "Hand to customer" orders are your friend. Get that signature.
4. Avoid known problem addresses: Keep a mental note of addresses with previous issues. Some drivers maintain a spreadsheet.
5. Screenshot your standing DAILY: If your standing changes, you want proof of what it was before.
6. Report suspicious delivery locations: If an apartment complex has no secure area and packages are left in open hallways, report it through the app.

It shouldn't be this way - we shouldn't have to build legal cases just to protect our livelihoods. But Amazon has made it clear they won't protect us, so we have to protect ourselves.

Good luck with your appeal. The fact that all 4 DNRs came from the same complex is actually helpful - it suggests a pattern that isn't your fault.

Update for anyone following this thread:

First appeal was denied within 24 hours (clearly automated). Just submitted my second appeal with way more detail - included specific delivery times, mentioned that all DNRs were from the same complex, requested GPS verification, and attached screenshots of my standing history showing 18 months of Fantastic.

In the meantime, I signed up for Walmart Spark and got approved after about 10 days. Did my first few orders this week. Pay is slightly lower than Flex but the routes are shorter and customers are generally nicer about delivery instructions.

@ReinstatedDriver_Beth thanks for the hope. Going to keep pushing on the appeals.

@ProFlexer_Paula wish I had been recording videos all along. Starting that habit now with Spark. Never again will I just trust that "the system will be fair."

Will update if the second appeal works. If not, guess I'm a Spark driver now.

Thanks for all the tips in this thread, especially @ProFlexer_Paula's documentation advice. Just started Flex last month and immediately set up the timestamp camera app. Already saved my butt once when a customer claimed DNR - I showed support the timestamped photo with GPS and they removed the ding within 24 hours.

Sucks that we have to be this paranoid but better safe than deactivated.

@FlexDriver_Marcus how's Spark working out for you? Thinking about switching myself. I'm still on Flex but my standing keeps bouncing between Great and Fantastic and it stresses me out.

Also curious - did your second appeal ever go anywhere or are you done with Amazon at this point?

This entire thread is exactly why gig workers need better protections. Algorhithmic deactivation with no human review, appeals that go into a black hole, no recourse for false claims...

I write about gig economy issues and would love to feature this story (anonymized of course) if @FlexDriver_Marcus is open to it. DM me if interested.