Blocked Ride-Hailing Drivers Resort to Hiring Accounts as Unions Urge Bolt to Review Performance Rating Systems

Faced with sudden account bans, many blocked commercial drivers on popular ride-hailing platform Bolt have begun renting or hiring third-party profiles to continue earning a daily living.

The growing underground practice and worker appeals came to public attention following recent industry reports published on November 3, 2026, highlighting mounting pressure on digital transport management.

Under this informal and risky arrangement, drivers who have been locked out of the application due to low customer ratings, customer disputes, or failed security checks pay account owners a weekly fee to log in and accept passenger trips using someone else’s verified identity.

Driver associations and transport union representatives have raised urgent concerns over the trend, explaining that strict performance rating systems often penalize hardworking drivers unfairly without giving them a proper chance to defend themselves.

When a driver’s rating drops below required company thresholds following difficult passenger interactions, the system automatically blocks their profile.

Because driving is their primary source of income, desperate operators turn to rented accounts to feed their families, bypassing vital security checks meant to protect passengers.

Keeping digital transport platforms safe while ensuring fair treatment for hardworking drivers is very important for everyday commuters, commercial operators, and working families across Africa.

In bustling cities, millions of urban residents rely daily on ride-hailing apps to commute safely to their offices, markets, and schools.

When drivers get blocked unfairly by rigid automated rating systems, it creates widespread frustration and pushes desperate workers toward unsafe account-sharing practices that threaten passenger safety.

Fair performance reviews and open communication channels help protect riders while ensuring that honest drivers can maintain steady livelihoods.

Explaining how rigid platform rules and automated rating suspensions force vulnerable drivers into difficult survival choices, union representatives shared critical observations on the situation.

Highlighting the urgent need for management to reevaluate how driver performance and account blocks are handled, local transport leaders noted that “blocked drivers now hire accounts to work, and the company must review its performance rating framework”.

Emphasizing that platform operators need to balance passenger security with fair administrative support for registered drivers, industry stakeholders urged collaborative discussions.

Pointing out the dangers of unverified account rentals, transport advocates added that “improving driver welfare and creating transparent appeal processes will stop illegal account sharing and make rides safer for everyone”.

Transport unions are engaging management for better policy adjustments. As discussions continue across major urban hubs, ride-hailing drivers and passengers across the region look forward to fairer standards and improved security protocols.