Across the country Deliveroo couriers have had their contracts terminated.

Well over 100 riders in cities from Leicester to Sheffield and Glasgow have seen themselves blocked from working in the run up to Christmas – with many claiming they had no notice.

Deliveroo counters that they have been terminated for repeatedly picking up food, taking the fee, and then just not delivering it.

Chris Fear, from the IWW Couriers Network union, said: "This mass termination of couriers just days before Christmas is completely heartless.

"Hundreds of people across the country have lost their jobs, all receiving exactly the same template email."

Deliveroo responded to the accusations, with a spokesman telling Mirror Money: "Anyone who falsely claims to have delivered food to customers denies people the food they have paid for and the great service they rightly expect.

"We are proud of the amazing work our riders do and will not allow this to be undermined by a tiny number of riders who have committed fraud.”

What Deliveroo said happened

The company doesn’t deny terminating courier contracts – but rejects that it did it for no reason.

The firm says it’s seen riders mark hundreds of pounds worth of food as delivered "only a few seconds" after collecting the meals from the restaurants.

It added others claim to have made a delivery despite not travelling near a customer’s address.

Others were said to have caused dozens of customer complaints over a short period over meals not being delivered.

"The public, expecting hot food to arrive on time, would not expect us to allow this to continue," Deliveroo told Mirror Money.

The Deliveroo spokesman added: “Deliveroo will always tackle fraud head on to protect our customers and the vast majority of hardworking riders. We will not work with riders who commit fraud."

What terminated riders are saying

Many of the couriers vehemently deny wrong-doing, adding they’ve been left unable to make money just days before Christmas.

Jamie Johnson, a courier from Sheffield terminated by Deliveroo, told the IWW union he’d been left in a state of "disbelief".

"Without any form of contact or warning throughout my time as a rider or any chance to defend my position, my account has been terminated effective immediately, leaving me in financial difficulty over the festive period," he said.

Alex, another courier terminated, told the union he felt cheated.

"Much like the 100s of others in Leicester and thousands all over the country, I feel cheated by an ’employer’ who can’t give me a reason why," he said.

"Now I have to find another way to pay my rent as this was my main source of income. Something has to be done."

The IWW Couriers Network is demanding Deliveroo immediately reinstate all affected riders, that evidence of fraudulent activity be confirmed and produced in each case.

The union added that if couriers aren’t reinstated with a full apology and recompensed for loss of earnings, it will consider further action to draw attention to Deliveroo’s appalling treatment of its workers.

Deliveroo told Mirror Money that it individually reviewed cases before terminating people, but that affected couriers can speak to rider support to have their cases looked at again if they feel a mistake has been made.

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