Instacart: Low shopper rating 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

Your rolling average (last ~100 deliveries) fell below the ~4.5+ band. Low-star deliveries drop off over time, so it self-heals.

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

  • Ratings-trend screenshots
  • Notes on bad batches (out-of-stocks, store/customer issues outside your control)
  • Long clean-history stats

What actually works

Show the low ratings came from things you couldn't control (out-of-stock items, store delays, customers rating the store's problems). Point to how many orders you've done and your rating before the dip, and say what you've changed. One of the easier ones to win.

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

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