Well Lyft, You've Really Disappointed

I became a Lyft Driver in November 2014. It was a good side gig that i did about 4-5 nights a month.

A few weeks ago I got an email saying that there was an issue with my background check. I thought this to be strange because nothing happened that would show up on my background check in the last two years. That email also said Lyft would notify me if they were to officially decide to deactivate me later. But I was deactivated from that moment.

So first I looked at my background check provided by Sterling Infosystems. The only thing on there was a driving under restraint [suspended license] in 2010. And it was dismissed because my license was erroneously suspended due to a clerical error by the state. Besides, Lyft already had approved me as a driver when I originally applied with that same dismissed charge on my record.

Next I emailed Lyft and after 2 or 3 canned responses I was told I needed to contact Sterling. I did and they told me they see the dismissed charge, but it was up to Lyft if they wanted to approve me. So back to Lyft I went and told them. The rep said she would have the Trust and Safety team review my situation. Then a new rep jumped in and said that they are unable to make any exceptions to a background check, and also that background checks are confidential so they couldn't even review the specifics/detail of my background check. Hmm?

This tango of me asking prodding questions, asking if the Trust and Safety team actually looked at mt account, and getting canned/unhelpful responses has been going on for 3 weeks and nothing has changed. To date I have reached out to: Lyft email support, @askLyft on Twitter, u\Lyft on Reddit, and even the Denver Lyft general manager on LinkedIn.

I was told numerous times by Lyft that I could review the background check guidelines online, which of course I did. Here they are:

You are ineligible to drive on the Lyft platform if any of the below are found on your driving record:

-More than three moving violations in the past three years (e.g. accidents, traffic light violations)

-A major moving violation in the past three years (e.g., driving on a suspended license, reckless driving)A DUI or other drug-related driving violation in the last seven years

-Any driving-related convictions in the last seven years (e.g. hit-and-run, felonies involving a vehicle)

I pointed this out to Lyft and repeatedly stated that I do indeed meet all requirements, but they don't seem to care.

Lyft boasts how well they treat their drivers, yet they treat me like a low life. I've safely completed over 700 rides. I have never had a safety issue as a driver. I have referred a handful of drivers and dozens of passengers, and cosistently promoted Lyft over Uber, but they don't care.

I've had a suspicion that Lyft is trying to push out older drivers who keep a higher percentage of the fare, but that's all it is, a suspicion.

I remember a post I read about a year ago where a recently deactivated driver said, deactivation is not a matter of if, but when. And I thought to myself, "No way, not me. I take pride in my car and the service I provide." I guess I was just being naive.

I don't know what I hope to acheive from this post. Maybe Andrew will read this and his heart will grow three sizes. Maybe pornymcgee will comiserate with me. Either way, I just wanted to share this with the community.