Here’s the scenario: Something went wrong with your DoorDash order, and now you want your money back. Maybe your food never arrived, or you ordered McDonald’s and received Five Guys.
You might assume that if you report the issue to DoorDash customer support, you’ll get a refund or a redelivery. But that’s not always the case!
DoorDash can deny your refund, even if you believe that you have solid proof that you are entitled to one. After requesting a refund, you might see a message declining a refund that says, “We’re sorry, but your order isn’t eligible for a credit or refund.”
Here’s an example from a real user who ordered Arby’s but got cough syrup from 7/11. DoorDash declined to refund the order even though the proof is in the photo!

A 7/11 bag for an Arby’s order, but the refund was declined? What’s going on?
Losing out on a refund request can be an enraging experience, but it’s not always the end of the story. Sometimes, asking for a refund a second time can change the result, and calling a real human at DoorDash could help you get your money back.
And if all else fails, should you do a chargeback? It’s true that you can dispute the payment with your cardholder and potentially get your money back, but there are consequences!
DoorDash denied your refund? Steps to get your money back
- Request a review if DoorDash says the order isn’t eligible for a refund
- Contact DoorDash and ask again! Report the problem a second time. Stay persistent.
- Call DoorDash customer service: 855-431-0459. Getting a real human on the line can change the outcome
- Contact @DoorDash_Help on X (Twitter)
- Request a chargeback with your cardholder or bank
- Warning! Your account or payment method may be restricted if you issue a chargeback
Chargebacks: You can get your money back, but there are consequences
When you run out of other refund options, a chargeback might be the only way to get your money back. A chargeback is when you dispute a transaction with your cardholder and request that the payment be returned to you.
But there are consequences to initiating a chargeback: DoorDash can prevent you from placing new orders or block your payment method after you request a chargeback.
Here’s why: Chargebacks are expensive and time-consuming for merchants. In addition to giving your money back, merchants must also pay a fee for chargebacks. The process also involves paperwork and communication between multiple parties, which is a logistical hassle for both DoorDash and merchants.
And chargebacks don’t always work: The investigation may not go in your favor. You can lose a chargeback and still face consequences!
You might be able to get your money back with a chargeback, but DoorDash might not want to do business with you anymore.
A chargeback can still be worth it if you stand to lose a lot of money and don’t mind losing your DoorDash account. But if it was a small order, you might not want to risk your account or card for a chargeback.
How to initiate a chargeback for a DoorDash order
Contact your cardholder to dispute a DoorDash charge and request a chargeback. The steps may be different for each cardholder.
“Your order isn’t eligible for a credit or refund” – Request a review
When DoorDash denies your refund, you’ll see a message that says “We’re sorry, but your order isn’t eligible for a credit or refund. We aren’t able to provide any compensation for this order due to our Credit and Refund Policies.”
On that same screen, there will be an option to Request Review. Tap the button and enter any relevant details and wait for a decision. You will get a message when DoorDash completes the review.
Request a review if DoorDash says your order isn’t eligible for refund
Who pays for refunds?
Who pays the bill when you get a refund? It depends on the situation. The merchant pays for the refund if there was an issue with the food, like a missing or incorrectly prepared item. If there was an issue with the delivery, DoorDash pays.
Most refund requests are for orders that never arrived and receiving the wrong order. Because those are delivery issues, the cost would fall on DoorDash.
Why does DoorDash deny refund requests?
DoorDash can limit your refunds if you have several refunds in the past. Your first refund request will typically be accepted without any issue, but DoorDash may not give you your money back after you get multiple refunds.
Why? To prevent fraud. Some customers abuse the system by fraudulently requesting refunds they don’t deserve. DoorDash doesn’t always have a way to know who is telling the truth, so they decide to cut their losses after issuing too many refunds to one customer.
DoorDash does not say if there is maximum number of refunds that you can receive, but the more you ask for, the less likely you are to get more in the future.
It’s an unpredictable system. Some users get refunds all the time, but others are denied on their first request.
Practical advice for refunds
It might seem counterintuitive—or even go against your principles—to not ask for a refund when you deserve one.
But it’s a fact that DoorDash limits refunds, so you might want to save your complaints and refund requests for larger orders or high-cost items.
Consider holding off on reporting a missing drink or other inexpensive items—Too many small refunds for missing items might limit your ability to get a refund in the future.
Let the small stuff go so you can get a full refund when you get the wrong order, or your driver drops it off at the wrong location.
And only issue a chargeback if you’re prepared to lose access to DoorDash.
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