Leaving your livelihood in the hands of a system that regularly gets it wrong doesn’t seem very fair, does it? We agree.
You applied. You waited. Maybe you even started picturing how that extra income from driving for Uber or delivering for Uber Eats would help cover rent, bills, or give your family some breathing room.
But then you get an email saying there’s an issue with your Uber background check. Or worse, you’re deactivated from Uber after months or years of loyal driving.
This happens to far too many people. What should be a simple process often becomes confusing and frustrating, especially when the Uber background check report is wrong.
If you’ve received a denial, delay, or deactivation notice from Uber based on a background check report, and you know the information is inaccurate, misleading, or false, you need to file an Uber background check dispute ASAP.
Here’s the catch- Uber doesn’t run its own background checks. A third-party company called Checkr performs them. So an Uber background check dispute is actually filed and processed through Checkr.
Beyond understanding the relationship between Uber and Checkr, understanding your legal rights when it comes to Uber background check disputes is critical.
Learn more below and check out our background check errors practice page for more.
Quick Links
1. Uber Doesn’t Do Its Own Background Checks
Contrary to what many applicants and drivers assume, Uber does not perform its own background checks.
Instead, Uber uses the services of background check companies and primarily uses a company called Checkr, which handles the screening process for new and existing drivers.
If you’re applying as an Uber Eats driver or trying to drive for Uber, your personal information, including your address, work history, and Social Security number, is submitted to Checkr for a detailed background review.
Understanding that Uber background check disputes are with Checkr, not Uber itself, is crucial. Uber acts on the report it receives but doesn’t do the actual data pull or investigation itself.
This means that if there’s an error, the Uber background check dispute must go through Checkr – the source of the report.
2. An Uber Background Check Typically Takes 3 to 10 business days
When you apply as a driver with Uber, one of the first questions is always how long does an Uber background check take?
Most drivers find that the process takes between 3 to 10 business days, but that’s not guaranteed. The timeline can vary depending on your location, the depth of your records, and how quickly external agencies respond.
Common causes of delays include:
- out-of-date personal information
- multiple residences across states
- incomplete documentation
- incorrect personal information (inputting the wrong info)
Unfortunately, Uber can’t speed up the process because they don’t run the background checks themselves – Checkr does.
Similarly, anyone applying to deliver through Uber Eats also wonders how long does an Uber Eats background check take?
Uber Eats typically follows the same process and timeline as the one for rideshare drivers. This is because whether you’re driving passengers or delivering food, Checkr is the background screening company handling your review and they tend to complete the process in 3 to 10 business days.
But if you’re wondering how long does it take Uber to do a background check from when the application process begins, until you’re notified, it will include more time.
Uber receives the background check report from Checkr once it’s completed. After that, Uber makes a final decision, which could add a short delay before you hear back. To avoid unnecessary slowdowns, make sure your application is accurate and complete.
If you find errors, you should file an Uber background check dispute sooner rather than later.
3. You File an Uber Background Check Dispute Directly with Checkr
If your Uber background check dispute involves errors like a criminal record that doesn’t belong to you, outdated charges, or identity confusion, don’t waste time arguing with Uber directly.
The first step is to contact Checkr and file a formal Uber background check dispute with them.
Because Checkr (and all background check companies) is a consumer reporting agency, it is legally required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to investigate any inaccuracies within 30 days.
If you dispute data with Checkr and it’is found to be incorrect, Checkr must fix or delete it and send you a revised background check report.
You can visit Uber’s help page here to monitor your background check status.
4. Uber Background Check Errors Are Shockingly Frequent
Even though background checks are meant to promote passenger safety and protect Uber from liability, they’re not perfect.
Common background check errors include:
- Misleading info about arrests that never led to charges
- Expunged or sealed records being reported
- Incorrect or mixed-up identities pulling in the wrong data
- Duplicate or outdated convictions
- Driving records with false violations
These errors are more common than you might think, especially when third-party databases pull from outdated or mismatched records.
For example, a driver who applied to Uber Eats was rejected because his report included a felony charge from someone with a similar name and birth year – a completely different person!
If you know the info is wrong, you have grounds for an Uber background check dispute, and potentially a lawsuit depending on other factors.
5. You Have Legal Rights Under the FCRA
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that protects consumers from unfair or inaccurate background checks, credit reports, and other consumer reports.
The FCRA requires companies like Checkr to ensure the information they report is accurate, up to date, and used fairly, especially when that information is used to make decisions about your job.
When you’re flagged or rejected based on your Uber background check, your FCRA rights are activated immediately. The FCRA provides protections that make the dispute process not only possible but enforceable.
Your rights under the FCRA include:
- The right to receive a free copy of your Uber background check report
- The right to receive notice that an adverse action is going to be taken against you
- The right to know that info in your Uber background check report was used against you
- The right to file an Uber background check dispute inaccurate, outdated, unreportable, or unverifiable information
- The right to receive the results of the investigation within 30 days
- The right to sue for damages if your rights are violated, including having your Uber background check dispute ignored, having errors remain unfixed, or suffering harm like lost opportunities, financial hardship, and emotional stress.
6. “Adverse Action” Triggers Important Deadlines
If Uber plans to reject or deactivate you based on the background check report, they must first provide you with a pre-adverse action notice. This gives you a short window of time (usually five business days) to dispute the findings before a final decision is made.
Once Uber takes final action, called adverse action, they are required to send you a second notice confirming that decision. If they don’t, or if they move too fast without giving you the chance to correct errors, they have likely violated your rights under federal law.
This is often where a qualified background check lawyer can help. At Consumer Justice Law Firm, we’ve seen too many drivers miss this window simply because they didn’t know what to look for.
7. Uber’s Decision Is Final – But Not Always Permanent
It’s true that Uber’s hiring decision is final, and they’re not required by law to change it, even if the background check is corrected. This may seem unfair, but the law recognizes that Uber isn’t doing anything wrong by making hiring and firing decisions based on background checks by performed by third-party companies.
However, even though they aren’t legally obligated to, they may choose to reconsider your application or reactivation.
That’s why it’s important to handle your Uber background check dispute quickly and with documentation. If you receive a corrected background check report from Checkr, you can submit it back to Uber through your Uber login and request that they review it.
While Uber doesn’t guarantee re-hiring, we’ve worked with clients whose applications were reconsidered after a successful dispute – especially when a lawyer was involved in the communication.
8. You Don’t Just Get One Background Check
Many people assume you’re only screened once, but Uber performs ongoing background checks – meaning you can pass initially and still be deactivated months or years later.
Each recheck is essentially a new report, and each one brings a new opportunity for mistakes, outdated charges, or even mistaken identity. If you’ve driven with Uber or Uber Eats for a while and were recently deactivated after an updated background check, make sure errors and wrong information weren’t the cause.
The good news? You have the right to dispute every single background check, not just the first one. If a newer report includes false information, you still have all of the same legal rights to file another Uber background check dispute.
9. Legal Help For An Uber Background Check Dispute Costs $0 Upfront
One of the biggest barriers to legal help for Uber drivers (and everyone else!) is cost.
But here’s the truth: legal help from Consumer Justice Law Firm costs you absolutely nothing upfront and nothing out-of-pocket.
We offer a free consultation, and you never pay out of pocket. We only get paid by the companies we sue when we win! No Justice, No Fee.
This means you can speak to a background check attorney without worrying about cost. We’ll tell you whether you have a strong claim and what to do next.
Even if your goal isn’t to sue, having a legal team in your corner can strengthen your dispute with Checkr and Uber. And, unfortunately, many Uber applicants and drivers dealing with an Uber background check dispute learn the hard way that there is nothing streamlined or easy about getting real results.
10. You May Be Eligible for Compensation
If your rights were violated – for example, if you were denied a job without proper notice, or if you lost income due to incorrect information, you could be entitled to financial compensation.
Many drivers don’t realize that a successful Uber background check dispute isn’t just about getting cleared. It can also be about getting compensation for lost earnings, emotional distress, and even reputational damage.
Even if Uber won’t rehire you, legal compensation can help you move forward.
A Background Check Lawyer Gets Real Results
When you’re dealing with an incorrect Uber background check – especially one that threatens your income, having legal support can make all the difference.
Uber background check disputes aren’t always straightforward, especially when companies like Checkr insist their report is accurate despite clear documentation proving otherwise.
This is where working with an experienced background check lawyer makes a huge difference. A lawyer will review your report, identify violations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and hold companies accountable when they fail to correct misinformation.
If you’ve lost income, missed work opportunities, or suffered emotional distress because of a background check error, your background check lawyer will fight to get you justice with corrections and money.
Our legal team at Consumer Justice Law Firm has helped Uber drivers like you get their records corrected and, in some cases, recover damages for the harm done. We understand the laws that protect you, and we’re not afraid to push back when Checkr, or any background check company – gets it wrong.
Many drivers think they have to go it alone or that nothing can be done. But legal help is often the key to resolving Uber background check disputes quickly and thoroughly. And when your ability to earn a living is at stake, it’s worth having someone in your corner who knows how to fight…and win.
Get Justice! Get Fixes and Money
If you believe your Uber background check contains false, incomplete, misleading, or unfair information, don’t wait. Your FCRA rights are time-sensitive, and acting early can make the difference between staying off the road and getting back to work.
At Consumer Justice Law Firm, we understand how frustrating and financially devastating Uber background check errors can be, especially when they cost you a job opportunity you worked hard to get or desperately need. Whether you’re driving to support your family or looking for flexible income, we’re here to make sure one bad report doesn’t define your future.
Get your free consultation today. We’ll get you started on your path to an Uber background check dispute, and possibly an Uber background check lawsuit to fight for the money, corrections, and justice you deserve.
FREE Consultations! We only get paid when we win, and the companies we sue pay our bills. No Justice, No Fee.