CrowdStrike sent some teammates and partners $10 Uber Eats vouchers after its July 19, 2024 software outage. Some recipients reported that Uber Eats marked their codes canceled and invalid. CrowdStrike said Uber’s fraud controls had flagged the codes because of high usage; the company said the vouchers were for people helping customers, not customers or clients themselves.
What CrowdStrike sent—and who received it
In emails reported on July 24, 2024, CrowdStrike offered certain recipients a $10 Uber Eats voucher as a thank-you for the “additional work” caused by the outage. UK coverage described the value as about £7.75 at the time. The distribution was limited: CrowdStrike said it sent vouchers to teammates and partners who had been helping customers, and specifically told TechCrunch it had not sent them to customers or clients. It was not a general compensation program for everyone affected. TechCrunch · Engadget · The Guardian
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Why some vouchers did not work
Some recipients said the Uber Eats redemption page reported that a voucher had been canceled by the issuing party and was no longer valid. CrowdStrike spokesperson Kevin Benacci attributed the failures to Uber flagging the codes as potential fraud because of unusually high usage. That explanation describes a fraud-screening response; it does not establish that the codes were actually fraudulent or that CrowdStrike deliberately canceled every voucher. Not every recipient reported a problem. TechCrunch · Windows Central
Were the vouchers reinstated?
Scripps News later reported that vouchers may have been reinstated. The available reporting does not establish that every failed code was restored, that every recipient received a replacement, or that CrowdStrike offered a formal replacement policy. Scripps News
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- This card is redeemable via the Uber app within the U.S. in cities where Uber is available.
- Redemption: Mobile App
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
What caused the outage behind the apology?
The voucher problem was separate from the technical failure. On July 19, 2024, a faulty Rapid Response Content update for CrowdStrike’s Falcon Windows sensor caused affected Windows systems to crash. CrowdStrike’s preliminary review identified affected hosts running sensor version 7.11 or later that were online during the update window, 04:09–05:27 UTC. Mac and Linux hosts were not affected by this incident. CrowdStrike reverted the update at 05:27 UTC. The company said the outage was not a cyberattack. CrowdStrike’s preliminary incident review · CrowdStrike’s July 19 statement
Microsoft estimated that approximately 8.5 million Windows devices were affected—less than 1% of all Windows machines. The smaller share did not mean a minor disruption: the affected devices were concentrated in organizations and services where outages can have broad operational consequences. Microsoft
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- This card is redeemable via the Uber app within the U.S. in cities where Uber is available.
- Redemption: Mobile App
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
CrowdStrike’s later root-cause analysis said the sensor expected 20 input fields but the update supplied 21. That mismatch led to an out-of-bounds memory read and system crash. CrowdStrike’s root-cause analysis summary
Why the gesture drew criticism
The criticism was about the mismatch between the disruption and the gesture, not simply whether the voucher could be redeemed. A $10 food-delivery credit was modest beside the operational consequences of the outage, and delivery fees, taxes and tips can reduce what that amount buys. The vouchers also went to assisting partners and teammates rather than the customers who experienced the outage directly. When some codes failed, the attempted thank-you became an additional source of frustration. Commentators also compared the offer with other companies’ outage responses, but those comparisons are opinions, not a standard for compensation. The Guardian · TechCrunch
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- This card is redeemable via the Uber or Uber Eats app within the U.S. in cities where Uber or Uber Eats is available.
- Redemption: Mobile App
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
What to do if you received a failed or suspicious voucher
- Keep the original email and capture a screenshot of the error. Do not post the full code publicly.
- Check that your Uber or Uber Eats account country and currency match the voucher’s intended region.
- Contact the sender or your organization’s partner contact to ask whether the voucher was reinstated or reissued.
- If you need Uber’s help, use the official app or website rather than links in an unexpected email.
- Do not treat the voucher as proof that a business loss or other claim has been resolved.
Be cautious about messages that merely claim to be from CrowdStrike. The company warned that criminals were exploiting the outage with impersonation attempts, phishing and fake recovery tools. Verify unexpected communications through a known contact or official channel, and do not provide passwords or payment details in response. CrowdStrike’s threat-intelligence warning
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did accepting a voucher waive legal rights?
Coverage of the vouchers does not establish that accepting one automatically waived legal rights or settled claims. A goodwill voucher is not, by itself, proof of a settlement. The effect of any terms depends on the actual agreement and circumstances; anyone evaluating a business claim or contract should consult a qualified lawyer rather than rely on social-media claims.
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- This card is redeemable via the Uber or Uber Eats app within the U.S. in cities where Uber or Uber Eats is available.
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- This card is redeemable via the Uber app within the U.S. in cities where Uber is available.
- Redemption: Mobile App
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
