Drizly Tip Theft: $4M to Stolen Wages

NEW YORK – The booze flowed, the orders came in, and the tips…vanished. New York Attorney General Letitia James is finally cutting checks to delivery drivers swindled out of their hard-earned money by the now-defunct alcohol delivery service, Drizly, owned by Uber. A $4 million settlement, secured after an investigation by James’ office, is now available to those who were stiffed on tips between January 1, 2018, and August 31, 2023. It’s a small victory in a system that routinely exploits gig workers, but it’s money these drivers deserve.

The Attorney General’s office found Drizly actively encouraged customers to tip their drivers, leading them to believe that 100% of those gratuities would go directly to the person hauling their six-pack. That was a lie. Instead, the tips were funneled to store owners, with no guarantee the money actually reached the drivers. James called it a deliberate scheme to pad store profits at the expense of the workers doing the actual deliveries. “Delivery workers are essential to our communities and deserve to be compensated fairly,” James stated. “I was proud to secure this settlement to ensure that those who were shortchanged by Drizly’s practices would receive the tips they rightfully earned.”

The claim portal opened this week, and eligible drivers have until July 15, 2025, to submit their claims. The OAG has partnered with Simpluris, a third-party administrator, to handle the distribution of funds. Don’t expect a quick payout; processing these claims will take time. But for drivers who relied on those tips to make ends meet, it’s a lifeline. Those who worked for stores using Drizly during the specified period are urged to file a claim, even if they didn’t receive a direct notice from the Attorney General’s office. Notices began going out April 7, 2025, via mail, email, and text.

But beware: with any payout comes the vultures. Attorney General James is warning drivers to be on high alert for scams. Anyone offering to “help” file a claim in exchange for personal or financial information is likely a fraudster. The OAG is directing all inquiries and assistance requests directly to Simpluris. Don’t hand over your bank details to anyone promising a faster payout. The official channels are your only safe bet.

If you believe you’re owed money, head to www.NYDrizlySettlement.com to file a claim. You can also contact Simpluris directly: Phone: 1-866-675-2754 (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET) or Email: info@NYDrizlySettlement.com. This isn’t just about $4 million; it’s about holding companies accountable for exploiting workers and ensuring that those who provide a service are fairly compensated for their labor.

This settlement follows a pattern of crackdowns on gig economy companies that routinely misclassify workers and deprive them of basic protections. While $4 million is a decent chunk of change, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the billions in wages stolen from workers nationwide. James’ office is continuing to investigate other companies with similar practices, promising more action to come. The fight for fair wages for gig workers is far from over.