Failed an Uber Background Check?

You can dispute your report, or even sue, if an employment screening error cost you the job. No out of pocket expense for you.

Updated on Author: Sergei Lemberg

Updated on Author: Sergei Lemberg

Uber runs background checks on applicants, but what happens if you are rejected? Don’t ignore it, or you may encounter the same problem if false errors remain on your report. You have legal rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to fix those mistakes or even sue for damages.

Does Uber Perform Background Checks?

Yes, Uber does background checks on everyone who applies to drive on the Uber app . According to Uber, this includes a review of the applicant’s motor vehicle/driving record as well as their criminal history.

The company says it also does periodic background checks on its current drivers.

According to the company , a background check that yields any of the following may result in denial of the application or removal of current drivers from its roster:

  • Major driving violations or a recent history of minor driving violations; or
  • Convictions for felonies, violent crimes, sexual offenses, and registered sex offender status.

Also of significance here is Uber’s stipulation pertaining to pending charges. Specifically, the information the company’s “What Does The Background Check Include” page indicates that applicants and current drivers with pending charges for crimes that fall into the categories mentioned above are also disqualified pending successful resolution of the matter in the applicant’s or driver’s favor.

Because Uber uses another company to run background checks, you must provide written consent first.

It is important to note that federal law excludes information about arrests that occurred more than seven years ago from background check reports unless the yearly salary for the position the applicant is seeking exceeds $75,000. There is no time limit for conviction records.

This is important because Uber says that when allowed by state and local law, background checks may include criminal records from throughout a person’s adult life.

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Uber and the Gig Economy

Founded in the United States in 2009, Uber is a primarily a transportation business that provides an alternative to traditional taxicab and other livery vehicle services. It does so by allowing its customers to use an app to hire a private car or share a ride to their destination instead of using their phones to call a cab.

As of 2018 Uber had global operations in 65 countries and more than 600 cities. It also had 3 million drivers serving 75 million Uber passengers worldwide. Although the United States was the company’s largest single market (with nearly 42 million users as of March 2018), only 750,000 Uber drivers were based here at that time.

How Much They Promise You Can Earn

Uber encourages people to become drivers by promoting flexibility, independence and the opportunity to make a significant amount of money.

In reality, and in absence of official company statistics, recent research determined the average U.S. Uber driver’s income ranges from $155 to $364 per month. Various reports and studies have also determined that Uber drivers working in the United States made $8.55 per hour on average, although it is important to note that these figures vary by state.

How Do I Qualify To Work For Uber?

To become an Uber driver, you must meet certain requirements, which vary depending on where you live . In general, you must be the specified age, have the required driving experience and your vehicle must meet the specified standards. If you do so, Uber also mandates that you provide a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.

And they’ll also run a background check on you….

What are my Background Check Disclosure and Consent Rights?

A Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA

You have a right to know if an employer will use information from a background check against you and an employer cannot obtain background check information without your express written consent.

A background check company cannot hand over your information to an employer unless the employer certifies that: (1) it has “clearly and conspicuously” disclosed to you in a separate document that it may obtain a background check; (2) you have authorized it to get the background check; and (3) it will provide you with advance notice of any adverse action based in any part on the background check report, a copy of the report, and a summary of your rights under the FCRA.

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Uber Background Check Complaints

Uber uses another company called Checkr, Inc. to do its background checks. Although Uber touts Checkr as a reliable partner that is “accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners,” there have been numerous complaints about the process and the results for both applicants and current drivers.

For example, Jay, a California Uber driver, shared his story about getting deactivated due to an unspecified issue with his background check on theridshareguy.com. He says his nightmare began when he was notified that his account “needed attention,” for no apparent reason. Eventually he learned that there was an apparent “issue with his background check,” but again received no specific information as to why. Attempts to seek clarification from Uber yielded little information and only added to his frustration. As his frustration grew, Jay – who verified that his driving record was clean – learned that his Uber account had been deactivated. The issue remained unresolved for at least two weeks, robbing Jay of a valuable source of income.

You Received A Pre-Adverse Action Notice From Uber. What Are Your Legal Rights?

By law, anyone who uses the information in a background check report to screen job applicants must let any applicant know when they didn’t get the based on the information in the report.

This means you have a right to see what is in the background check. Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also be able to sue the company that requested the background check and rejected your application, or the company that issued the background check report

Can criminal convictions appear on my background check after 7 years?

Yes, but a background check company must take reasonable steps to ensure its report is as accurate as possible. The FCRA also puts limits on the negative information a job screening report can include. A report cannot list civil suits, judgments, arrest records, paid tax liens, accounts in collection or most other negative information after 7 years, or bankruptcies after 10 years. It also cannot list expunged convictions. However misdemeanor or felony criminal convictions that go on record and are accurate can stay on your background check indefinitely.

What if I was deactivated or fired because of an accident and it wasn’t my fault?

You may have legal recourse now if you were fired or deactivated by Uber because you were involved in a no fault car accident, thanks to a groundbreaking decision handed down by the United States Court for the Sixth Circuit. The court held that material omissions, such as not reporting the fault of an accident, can be interpreted as inaccurate information under the law.

Your Right to an Accurate and Legally-Compliant Report From Uber

A background check company must take reasonable steps to ensure its report is as accurate as possible.

The FCRA also puts limits on the negative information a background check report can include. A report cannot list civil suits, judgments, arrest records, paid tax liens, accounts in collection or most other negative information (except criminal convictions) after 7 years, or bankruptcies after 10 years. It also cannot list expunged convictions

Can I Dispute an Unfair Background Check Report from Uber?

If you don’t get a job because of information on your background check report, you are entitled to a copy of the report. You also have the right to dispute the report if it has errors or includes information it shouldn’t.

If you dispute your report, the background check company must investigate and correct any errors within 30 days.

Were You Harmed By False Information or Errors In Your Uber Background Check Report?

Often, whether you get hired or promoted depends on the information gleaned from an employment background check. A background check can come in many shapes and sizes. It may be as simple as verifying your social security number. Or it may include a detailed report of your credit and criminal history, or even information gathered from interviews of your friends and neighbors about your character and reputation.

Whatever the scope of the background check, the FCRA sets strict standards for how employers background check companies get consent for and conduct background checks, and what they can do with the information they find.

If a background check commissioned by Uber fails to meet those standards, the FCRA affords you a number of rights.

Your Right to File A Lawsuit Against Uber if your report includes inaccurate or illegal info

If you lost out on a Uber job or were suspended or fired because a background check report included inaccurate or illegal information, you may be able to sue in federal court. If you sue and win, you may be entitled to your actual damages or statutory damages up to $1,000, plus punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and court costs.

Ready to Assert Your FCRA Rights?

Fired or Not Hired Because of an Unfair Background Check? If so, you’re in the right place.

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  • We care because we know what it’s like to lose out on a job because a faceless company didn’t follow the law.
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  • It won’t cost you a penny out of pocket – you pay nothing until we win money for you.

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If you’re ready to assert your rights and fight incorrect information in your background check, we can help you get justice. Complete our form for a FREE case evaluation, or call 844-685-9200 NOW. 

Sergei Lemberg

About the Author:

Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."

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25 COMMENTS
  • Angela W

    Uber accepted me with background in December of 2023.
    February 17th 2024 I was taken off of Uber because my background from 2014 and 2015 misdemeanor charges in Iowa.

    I was arrested for batting 2020 but dismissed after a video showed that I was defending myself.

    In 2021 my marriage went sour and had a fight over my then husband closing out joint checking leaner with no money and it turned physical. I went through court mandates to keep this off record.

    Do I have a chance in ever being able to get housing and a job thru apps? None was a felony

  • Steve S

    It’s several situations going on WITH UBER EATS, UBER, LYFT AND CHECKR! And it’s ridiculous, so I came up with, they background check you, and you think you came back clear they allow you to work, and you believing your doing your best, but all the odds against you, anything a client say or don’t agree with you and report negative on you! They go back to the background check, and use it against you, even if it was a 100 years ago! Also if you became a five star and get promotions they pay a little more! And you want more, so you might not accept small jobs that you think it’s not worth it! So they go back to the background and bring up what they didn’t tell you from the beginning or make something up and deactivate you even if it was a 100 years ago! They have no service to represent the drivers, so they use their partner CHECKR against you! When you contact Checkr, they say it’s not on them contact Uber!!! when you contact Uber they say they have nothing to do with the background check, they tell you to dispute it with CHECR! So therefore Uber Lyft owns some shares or part owners of CHECKR they also the only ones who uses this cheap company, That’s why they switch to them, they were cheaper then first company and they work together on deactivating you or anybody they want at anytime, or won’t let you start because a existing driver referred you, they supposed to pay if you referred someone, they deny the referred person they don’t have to pay you! The referred person applies later with out a referral and get hired, it’s lot of bad things going on in these good companies, drivers have no representation no spokesman for the driver!

  • RlC

    *Stars are for the above legal group, obviously not uber!
    I was wrongly arrested for forgery of registration, a felony, released 24 hours later on my own recognizance and given a number to call about court. I called that morning and all the 7 bogus charges had been dropped. Rightfully so- my temp plates came from the Infinity dealership where I had recently bought my car!- ugh I could go on… the day after this I was due for my annual background check which resulted in my account being deactivated. I contacted Chekr who said I had to go to court and pay for a copy of the report to get proof that the charges were dropped and contact uber, they couldn’t do anything. Shouldn’t that the charges were dropped show in the background check? (I understand there may be a delay while information is updated). That was Sept. 2022, I opened the app and the background check permission form popped up the other month so I submitted it again, almost a year later, and was denied again for the same info.
    What the heck? I thought there are laws om place and that San francisco even has extras about using an arrest without a conviction against a prospective employee!?!

  • Yasin

    I worked for Uber for almost 7 years but one rider just complained and they deactivated my account and the Uber agent called me to investigate. This all just happened but I was in the traffic that time and my English is not good too so I just said yes and no to the agent. After this call they deactivated my account and now they aren’t helping me to do what I need to do. I can’t go into the app which is locked and I can’t work with any other transportation company.

  • Jay

    My kid had a domestic violence charge against him which was dismissed but it’s still on his chekr report as an arrest. How does this get corrected to who it was dismissed. He just wants to get this corrected so he can get past the check.

  • omar

    I have G full L but the history for my license 2 years and the background check comes with not eligible cause I have not 3 years history, is there any way to get approved with this license?

  • Stacey D

    I drove a week for Uber then I was suspended because my background check came back with a pending charge, not mine. I called the courthouse. She verified it wasn’t me but there was nothing they could do to help me. I haven’t had a single charge in over 10 yrs. I have an attorney and I’m suing both Checkr and Uber.

  • Steven

    Yeah looks like Checkr did the above mentioned running two background checks on me thing too just now. I’ve been working for Uber Eats a couple days and pass my background check and everything and then after the couple days of working another result report of a background check came back however it was displaying a attempted possession of marijuana charge from 2012. I’m in Washington State it is legal statewide and it was 11 years ago. My account is currently restricted I have not been deactivated but it’s basically not allowing me to do orders now. I hope I don’t get deactivated and this is like the third or fourth thing I’ve had to call customer service for so I’m getting pretty frustrated with the functioning of their app in general.

  • Ray C

    I have been driving for Uber for over 6 1/2 years. I had a problem with my background check in 2022, but I got that corrected and started driving back with them in April 2022. The big event in Jacksonville Fl was the PGA Tour, and I missed about $1,500 that week. This happened again on 20 February 2023, when my driver’s license was suspended. I proved them wrong and had Checkr reinvestigated. Today Checkr gave me a clean on my driving record. I sent a screenshot of my new report that clears me. Now Uber is saying I have a criminal record and have never been arrested. The only thing on my record was a speeding ticket that happened over 32 years ago when I was 18 years old. I only had to pay the $55.00 court cost, which I did that day. Next week start, the PGA Tour event is again, and I will be missing out on another 1,500.00 pay week for this event over a bogus background check. This was also on my 2022 investigation and I work in 2022 with that on my background check.

  • Joseph B

    I worked for Uber for one year….and just recently wasn’t able to use the driver app…I was told I had failed the background check…which is impossible because I don’t have any new charges and I passed the background check which allows me to work for Uber for one year…I’m not understanding because I do have a record…but it’s 21 years old which Uber states and by law it goes back 7 years

    If I was to fail that I should’ve never was appeal to work Uber for one year. Can you please give me more information concerning this matter?

  • Jessica W

    I drove for Uber last year with the same informed on my background as this year. The charges are 7 years old but nothing has changed and they have deactivated my account after driving a whole year for them with a 5 star ratings

  • Jessica M

    Uber ran a background check, two actually, through Checkr. Both times it showed charges THAT ARE NOT ON MY BACKGROUND FROM ANY STATE AGENCY. It only shows up on Checkr. I am seeking legal remedy with Uber and with Checkr. This background check through Checkr has caused me to be denied employment with Uber twice in 2022, and once with Postmates in 2019. Postmates actually hired me and allowed me to drive for them, but fired me when they got the background report from Checker. I have actually called the agencies that my background report shows charges for, and the county has absolutely zero record of me ever being charged.

  • MP

    Been with Uber 1 year and 2 months. I was deactivated September 16 2022 because of my background 14+years ago. I’m confused because 1 year ago it wasn’t a issue I’ve done over 1400+ rides I’ve had over 700 5 stars after all this time I’m looked at as not good enough now . Punish me for something I’ve done 1-7 year ago not 14+ years. To interfere with my livelihood/ people livelihood in these hard times it’s mind blowing. Hopefully something can be done I’m crossing my fingers

  • Christine K

    WOW! After reading these comments I am beginning to see the problem I drove for Uber in 2018 and 2019 before COVID. I tried to reactivate my account and SUDDENLY I am told I failed the background check! I also drive for Lyft and worked at a department store both of which had background checks that I passed! what gives? it’s ridiculous!

  • Chris

    i was CLEARED to drive after background report came back and showing a PREVIOUS CONVICTION… However 2 weeks later ANOTHER CHECK was ran but THEY DIDN’T USE CHECKR and used a different company and after that REPORT came back, CONSISTING the SAME INFORMATION as checkr did, my ACCOUNT was DEACTIVATED and now unable to Drive. Can they knowingly approve me w a previous conviction but then turn around after using another background check company to provide the same information they already received with checkr and deactivate my account?

  • Ariel

    Uber ran a background check and it cleared and after one delivery my account was deactivated due to my background check showing a 20 year old speeding ticket from a previous drivers license that is no longer active. I have tried questioning why was this would affect my being able to drive for Uber but they keep giving me the run around with checkr and vice versa.

  • Dan

    When i was aware that my background check needed attention i contacted them immediately.First i was told i did not show 1yr. driving experience in United States wich i had already provided them with both a letter stating my license was issued in 1992 and my ten yr driving history but that 1yr experience was not necessary and i would be approved. Twelve hrs later my account still needed attention now i was told that i needed to send my documents again followed by 5 more requests to send the same documents all while i kept requesting to speak with a supervisor .Everytime i would just be transferred to another dept. and when i was told i was being transferred to a supervisor i wasnt ,the whole thing has been a nightmare .

  • Angel

    Uber won’t allow me to work after accident at no fault. They claim background check results came negative but I contacted checkr and nothing is wrong with my drivers license.

  • VICKIE L

    my legal concern is one day on the 3/18 i was cleared to delivery with uber and the next say 3/19 my account was deactivated after they cleared and updated background check

  • Fabian

    I wanted to join uber driver last year l had to do my backgrnd check n it shows tt they are ok bt the problem is tt my documents are not yet approved l talk to 1 of the agents n l was told tt l didnt meet the requirements for backgrnd check

  • Gregg

    I applied to Uber eats was denied for a misdemeanor for driving on suspended plates over 7 years ago ,( (expired registration t hen I applied to Uber driver and had a clean record (like it should be) Anyways now because of this I can’t get into Lyft either because of checker , I really need this job ps the disposition was 12/15/21 and the charge was 10/18/21

  • Howard t

    Uber used checkr for my background check and came back that I surrender my license which is false. I moved from New York to Georgia and I had to by law switch my license over to Georgia state which is valid,I tried 5 times to resolve this with uber and checkr both deny to help with the false information they deem is correct

  • Johnathon d

    I worked for uber for two years. I drove cab fot five years. I had my class a for three years. We moved to California and had to do a new background check. I failed after doing over a thousand trips for them. I had an accident that was not my fault it was vehicle error. I got a failure to control vehicle ticket and paid fine not knowing the severity of it. Also did not know vehicle malfunction was not driver error. Trying to get ticket expunged and get back to work.

  • Gabriel

    I used to work for Uber and Lyft and because of my background check they terminated me I try to apply again and they denied me because of my background check

  • Jeremy

    On my background check it said no DL for the reason I wasn’t hired. I currently hold a valid DL and I cant get threw to talk to anyone. I have been out of work for a while now and I’m just trying to make some money like everyone else. Thanks

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