How to Cancel an Uber Eats Order Step-by-Step in 2024
As an experienced Uber Eats user, I often change my mind shortly after placing an order. Maybe you ordered something unavailable. Or decided you no longer want to spend the money. If this happens, you need to know how to properly cancel an Uber Eats order.
When Can You Cancel an Uber Eats Order?
According to Uber‘s 2023 order cancelation policy, you can cancel free of charge if:
- The restaurant has not accepted the order yet
- Food preparation has not started
If cooking has started, you can still attempt to cancel but may be charged a small fee – usually around $3 based on my experience.
Once a delivery driver is on the way, cancelling is no longer possible. Here is a detailed breakdown:
| Order Status | Can Cancel? | Fees or Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Submitted by you | Yes | None – full refund |
| Accepted by restaurant | Yes | None – full refund |
| Being prepared | Sometimes | Possible small cancel fee |
| Out for delivery | No | Charged fully for order |
So timing is critical if you hope to cancel without any fees.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cancel an Uber Eats Order
Follow these exact steps to cancel an Uber Eats order from your phone:
- Open the Uber Eats app
- Tap profile icon > Orders
- Select your pending order
- Choose "Cancel Order"
- Confirm cancellation
Once you confirm, you will see if a refund is being processed based on the current order status.
Key Tip: Do this quickly, before the restaurant accepts and starts cooking to avoid cancellation fees.
What Happens After You Cancel an Uber Eats Order
When you cancel an order on Uber Eats, here is what you can expect:
- Before restaurant acceptance: Your card will not be charged. You get a full refund within 5-7 business days. It is like the order never happened.
- After acceptance but before preparing: Most likely will also not be charged and receive full refund. At their discretion, the restaurant may start cooking.
- After preparation begins: Your card will likely be charged a small $3 cancellation fee. The restaurant will dispose the food, unable to sell an order made for you.
So it is less disruptive to cancel early, but even if cooking the restaurant takes on minimal waste from a cancellation.
Troubleshooting – Cannot Cancel Uber Eats Order?
If you are unable to cancel an Uber Eats order through the mobile app, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Restart the app – fixes most tech issues
- Update to the latest Uber Eats version
- Contact 24/7 Uber support for cancellation assistance
- Request refund after delivery if unable to cancel
I once had an issue where the cancel button disappeared. After contacting support, they quickly processed a cancellation and refund for me.
Conclusion
Cancelling an Uber Eats order is simple if done quickly, before restaurants invest significant time and money into preparing your items. Just open your orders, select the pending one, and tap to cancel. You can view Uber‘s full order cancelation policies here. Reach out to their responsive customer service when you run into problems.
