You are an independent contractor working on Uber’s rideshare or delivery platform to book clients who are paying for your services. As the intermediary Uber has the legal right to block your access if something is no longer complying with their policy. 

However it is not always caused by reports or bad reviews from customers. There are several underlying factors that may cause temporary deactivation of your profile causing you to lose access to your driver/rider account. 

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Here are the most common reasons why Uber may block access to your account:

Expired Documents 

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Some documents, including licence, ABN and ANZSIC details need to be regularly updated or renewed, especially if you are trying to drive in a different region other than the area you had initially registered from. 

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You have to be on top of your sole trader ID details and update yourself with the latest news on government reforms to avoid these kinds of scenarios. 

Failed Background Check 

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Although this rarely happens with experienced drivers, if you have signed up recently and your account has been deactivated without any notice you might want to run down any issues with your background check. 

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For example, if you have not disclosed any past convictions to felonies in the last 7 years and Uber finds out about it, you will be blocked unless the circumstances are fully investigated and they decide to re-activate your account. 

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Misconduct or discrimination 

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An Uber customer is entitled to report any behaviour that they might have found discriminatory, humiliating or disagreeable. Uber is committed to first limit your access temporarily and then investigate the report or complaint. 

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This calls for several legalities and you will be informed every step of the way. But these cases often lead to permanent termination of your account and you would need to sign up again after a period of 6 months and go through the same process of background checks as the first time. 

Please bear in mind

Paperworks, including applying for or updating your ABN, licence or other identification documents, should be taken very seriously. If you have second thoughts about something please seek the help of senior drivers or contact Uber to clarify. 

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You can find more information about Uber’s review and access policies on their official page. They have an internal team in charge of investigating cases and assisting both drivers/riders and customers to resolve matters at the soonest. 

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They also take into account that you might lose out on income due to deactivation of your account and give you prior warning especially in cases relating to inadequate documentation or expired documents. 

Will I lose money if my account is deactivated?

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Drivers/riders usually do not lose any money that Uber owes them in terms of regular payout even if their account has been deactivated, they are entitled to the earnings from already completed trips or deliveries. 

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But you will lose money when - 

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• You can no longer access your account to accept new trips or deliveries which means you will lose out prospective income. On an average, full-time Uber drivers make up to $6000 a month while UberEats riders make up to $2000 every month. If you work the gigs full time that is the approximate amount you would have to pass on. 
• If a customer has raised a complaint reporting fraudulent behaviour you will have to lose out on that payment if the investigation confirms the same. Uber is entitled to urge you to pay for the loss. 
• If reports pursue legal action then fines may be involved and you will have to pay them off in case the felony is proven to be true in court. 

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There are several other instances where you may have to pay for loss or lose payment money depending on the case at hand. Usually simple deactivation does not lead to any additional expense. 

Having an emergency fund is now easier than ever!

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Deactivation of your account for any cause will lead to losing income opportunities. It is important to have a clear picture of your earnings that solely come from your driving or delivery gig. As a financially responsible gig worker, you  should always be a step ahead of your business expenses and essential savings that will create a ‘safety net’ for you. 

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MyGigsters is here to help you with that. We urge you to be a responsible driver but also understand that some situations are not always in your control. We have a community of experienced rideshare drivers and delivery drivers who can support you in challenging times. As well as a product that will help you with saving money. 

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