Instacart: Identity / selfie verification failure deactivation appeal

Independent self-help tool. We are not Instacart, not affiliated with Instacart, and we never ask for your Instacart password.

Check my Instacart notice freeFree check first. The full written appeal is $34 flat, with a free rewrite if it's denied.

What this deactivation means

The app's selfie or ID re-check failed and locked or deactivated the account. Frequently a technology failure: bad lighting, camera glitches, an outdated reference photo, or a submission the system misread. Distinct from a background-check problem.

Where and when to appeal

Channel

Reply to the deactivation email, or in-app Help (the ? icon, then the headset icon). Criminal-record cases: the Shopper Mitigation form. Background-check data errors: dispute with Checkr/Sterling first.

Deadline

No universal deadline; FCRA disputes run 30 days; Seattle/NYC give 90 days. Appeal immediately.

Decision time

Quoted ~48 hours but realistically 7-27 days. Don't open a new account while waiting; it reads as fraud evasion.

The evidence that moves this reason

A fresh, well-lit selfie matching your government ID
Front and back ID photos
A short note on the glitch (device, lighting, app version)
Your shopper history under the same identity

What actually works

Treat it as a photo problem, not an accusation. Ask for a person to recheck your identity, send a clear new selfie with your ID, and point to your long history on the account as proof it's really you.

Good news on the odds: this is one of the reasons people win most often, when they bring the right proof.

Write my Instacart appeal

Denied, or planning the next move? The full guide (re-appeals, report disputes, arbitration) is on the Instacart appeal page.