Uber deactivated my account with no explanation after 3 years and 6,000 rides - 4.95 rating, no incidents

I've been driving for Uber for 3 years. Over 6,000 rides completed with a 4.95 rating. Never had a serious complaint, never been in an accident, always passed background checks.

Yesterday I got an email saying my account has been permanently deactivated due to "violation of community guidelines." No specifics. No warning. No opportunity to respond before the decision was made.

I called support and they just read from a script saying the decision is final and they can't tell me what I allegedly did. I escalated and got the same response.

This is my main income - I was making $4,000-5,000/month. I'm in Los Angeles. What can I do? Is there any legal recourse?

This happens way more than people realize. Uber (and Lyft) can deactivate at any time for almost any reason, and their appeals process is notoriously opaque.

A few things that have worked for some drivers:

1. Keep escalating through every support channel - phone, email, Twitter/X, in-app
2. Request the specific policy you allegedly violated (they sometimes have to provide this)
3. Post on social media tagging Uber - they hate bad PR and sometimes that gets attention
4. Contact local news - "Driver deactivated without explanation" stories get picked up
5. Consult an attorney about arbitration rights

In the meantime, sign up for Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart - diversify your platforms immediately.

Gig worker advocate here. This is one of the fundamental problems with gig work classification. Because you're an "independent contractor," you have almost none of the protections that employees have:

• No requirement for advance notice
• No requirement to give you a reason
• No unemployment benefits
• No wrongful termination claims (in most cases)

California's Prop 22 includes some minimal protections for app-based drivers, including an appeals process for deactivations. Have you tried using that specific appeals process?

Attorney here with some experience in gig worker disputes. A few important points:

1. Arbitration Rights: Check your driver agreement - there's almost certainly an arbitration clause. You can demand arbitration to challenge the deactivation. Key point: under many arbitration agreements, Uber has to pay the arbitration fees (which can be thousands of dollars). This actually gives you leverage because it costs them money when drivers pursue arbitration.

2. Prop 22 Protections: Since you're in California, Prop 22 includes specific provisions about deactivation:

• Right to be informed of the reason for deactivation
• Right to appeal deactivations based on unsubstantiated rider complaints
• Access to an appeals process

3. Data Request: Under CCPA, you can request all personal data Uber has about you, including reports, complaints, and the basis for deactivation.

I'd recommend sending a formal letter demanding: (1) specific reason for deactivation, (2) all data related to the decision, and (3) access to the Prop 22 appeals process.

Thank you all. I didn't know about the Prop 22 appeals process - the support agents never mentioned it.

The CCPA data request is a great idea. I want to see exactly what's in my file.

One thing I'm wondering: could this be related to a false complaint? I had a rider a couple weeks ago who was clearly intoxicated and got belligerent when I asked her to wear a seatbelt. She said she'd "ruin me" when she got out. Could a single false complaint really result in permanent deactivation?

Former Uber support agent (not going to say more for obvious reasons). Yes, certain types of complaints result in automatic deactivation pending investigation - but the "investigation" is often just accepting the rider's claim at face value.

Complaints involving safety, discrimination, or sexual misconduct trigger immediate deactivation. Even if the complaint is obviously false, the default is to side with the rider.

The belligerent rider scenario you described is classic. She may have filed a false complaint about something serious.

Your best bet is the arbitration route. The company settles a lot of these cases rather than go through actual arbitration, because they know their deactivation process doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

This is why many experienced drivers use dashcams. Audio AND video, both inside and outside the vehicle. It's saved many drivers from false accusations.

Obviously too late for this situation, but for anyone reading: get a dashcam. A good dual-camera setup is $150-300 and worth every penny.

I was deactivated from Lyft last year for a false complaint. Rider claimed I was driving erratically - I wasn't, I have dashcam footage to prove it. Lyft didn't care initially.

What finally worked: I filed for arbitration through AAA (American Arbitration Association) as specified in the driver agreement. Within two weeks of receiving the arbitration demand, Lyft's legal team reached out to settle. They reactivated my account and paid me $2,500 for lost earnings.

The arbitration filing fee was $200 (which they had to reimburse), but just the threat of actual arbitration made them settle. These companies do NOT want arbitrators looking at their deactivation processes.

UPDATE: I submitted a CCPA data request and explicitly demanded the Prop 22 appeals process. Also sent a formal letter to Uber's legal department.

Got a call today from someone in "Driver Operations" (not regular support). They said my deactivation was related to a "safety report" from a passenger and they're "reviewing" my case.

I asked what specifically was reported and they said they couldn't tell me exact details but it involved "inappropriate comments." This is absolutely false - I barely talk to passengers beyond greetings. I suspect this is from that belligerent rider.

They said they'd have an update within 7-10 business days. Is this a good sign or are they just stalling?

This is actually progress. The fact that you got escalated to Driver Operations and they're "reviewing" suggests your formal requests got their attention.

Keep documentation of everything. If they don't resolve this favorably within their stated timeframe, proceed with the arbitration filing. You can always withdraw it if they reactivate you.

Also - "inappropriate comments" is vague enough that it's likely a he-said/she-said situation. With your 4.95 rating over 6,000 rides and no prior complaints, the weight of evidence is in your favor. A single unsubstantiated complaint shouldn't be enough to sustain permanent deactivation, and they probably know that.

The "reviewing" response is typical when someone pushes back with legal knowledge. They're probably actually looking at your history now instead of just accepting the complaint at face value.

Document the income you've lost during this period. If you do pursue arbitration, you can claim lost wages.

Old school taxi driver here (30 years). This is exactly why the taxi industry pushed back so hard against rideshare. Taxi drivers have much more protection - you can't be fired without cause and documentation, there's a hearing process, union representation in many cities.

Not saying taxis are perfect, but the "deactivate first, ask questions never" approach rideshare uses would never fly in regulated taxi markets.

Hope you get this resolved. The whole system is stacked against drivers.

MAJOR UPDATE: Got an email yesterday saying my account has been REACTIVATED!

The email said "after further review of your account and driving history, we have determined that your account should be restored." No apology, no explanation of what happened, no acknowledgment that they messed up.

But I'm back on the platform. I've lost about 2.5 weeks of income (~$2,500-3,000). Debating whether to still pursue arbitration for the lost earnings.

Glad you're reactivated! On the lost wages question - you could pursue arbitration, but consider:

• The time investment to pursue $2,500-3,000
• Risk of antagonizing the platform (though retaliation would be its own legal issue)
• Whether you have documentation of your typical earnings

That said, there's an argument that drivers SHOULD pursue these claims to create accountability. If there are no consequences for wrongful deactivations, they'll keep happening.

Up to you whether it's worth the effort. Consultations with employment attorneys are usually free if you want a professional opinion.

Final update: Decided not to pursue arbitration for the lost wages - I just want to move on and get back to earning. But I did invest in a quality dashcam setup and I'm also now driving for Lyft and DoorDash to diversify.

Key lessons for other drivers:

1. Get a dashcam immediately - audio AND video
2. Know your rights (Prop 22 in CA, arbitration clauses everywhere)
3. Push back formally - the legal letter and CCPA request clearly made a difference
4. Never rely on a single platform for your income

Thanks everyone for the help. This community is invaluable.

Great outcome and excellent summary. Pinning this for other rideshare drivers.

Key resources mentioned in this thread:

• CCPA data request - your right to see all data a company has about you
• California Prop 22 appeals process for deactivations
• AAA (American Arbitration Association) for filing arbitration demands
• Dashcam recommendation: dual camera (interior + exterior) with audio