There are a lot of possible reasons why your Uber Eats order is taking too long to be delivered or is delivered late. As much as most Uber Eats drivers want to get your order to you on time, sometimes it just doesn’t happen for reasons out of their control.
Keep reading to find out why your Uber Eats order is taking too long, how long you should wait before checking in, what to do when it’s late, whether you’re eligible for a refund, and more.
In some cases, Uber Eats orders take longer than expected because the restaurant was busy or an order took a while to make. Other possible reasons for late delivery are unsafe driving conditions, heavy traffic, transportation problems, or the driver getting lost.
Late deliveries are typically out of a driver’s control, and most want to deliver within the estimated time frames as much as you want your order on time.
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What Should I Do if My Uber Eats Order Is Late?
The first thing you should do if your order seems to be taking too long is to check the two estimated delivery times, which are “Estimated Time of Delivery” and “Latest Arrival by Time” – both of which are continually updated. These timeframes are only the best estimates and don’t guarantee your order will be delivered exactly as shown. However, if your order is close to the Latest Arrival by Time or past it, you should check its status.
You can check your order status in the Uber Eats app. It should be updated throughout the fulfilling and delivering process and should tell you whether it’s been picked up or is still at the restaurant. When the driver has picked up the order, their location will be tracked within the Uber Eats in-app map.
If you want to contact the driver about the status of your order, you can do so through the app, as well. If you’ve placed multiple orders through different driving partners, you’ll need to contact each one separately.
From there, you can decide if you want to wait for your order or cancel it and request a refund or another resolution from UberEats. You’ll need to use this forum to contact Uber Eats.
Can I Cancel or Get a Refund If Uber Eats Takes Too Long to Deliver?
You can cancel your order at any point through the app. Whether you can receive a refund or not depends on factors like how late your order is or if it’s been delivered at all. Some people claim that you may be able to get a refund if your food is cold or spoiled because of the time it took to be delivered, as well.
In either case, you’ll need to contact Uber Eats customer support to discuss the issue and request a refund. Even if you don’t receive a refund, you may be able to get credit for your next order.
What Happens When an Uber Eats Driver Doesn’t Deliver on Time?
Unless you cancel the order, nothing happens and the driver will simply deliver the order late. However, if you cancel your order, the driver is instructed to contact Uber Eats about the cancellation and then dispose of the food appropriately.
How Long Should I Wait for My Uber Eats Order to Be Delivered?
You should at least wait until the Latest Arrival by Time, which can be updated at any point during the process. If you want to cancel before or after that timeframe, you’re able to do so through the app.
Just note that Uber Eats states that they don’t issue you a refund if you cancel within that window of time. You may be eligible for a refund if you cancel after the Latest Arrival by Time has passed and you contact Uber Eats support within 48 hours.
My Uber Eats Delivery Is Late
Uber Eats orders are usually late due to external factors such as a busy restaurant, a large order that takes a while to process, busy traffic, or unsafe driving conditions. It’s also possible that the UberEats driver got lost on their route or had vehicle problems that delayed your delivery.
In most cases, the delivery driver is trying to get your order to you on time but can’t due to things out of their control. Of course, there are some drivers that don’t take their deliveries seriously, but they’re not the norm.
When your Uber Eats delivery is late or taking longer than expected, you are allowed to cancel it at any point. However, you are encouraged to first track its status and contact the driver for additional updates – both of which you can do through the app. It’s also important to note that you are not eligible for a refund if you cancel within the two estimated delivery windows, and you should always contact Uber Eats support for questions, complaints, or refund requests.