Some Amazon Prime customers in the United States can now claim a cash refund as part of Amazon’s $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The settlement relates to allegations that Amazon enrolled customers into Prime without clear consent and made cancellation difficult. Amazon denied wrongdoing but agreed to pay $1.5 billion in refunds and a $1 billion civil penalty.
Here is everything you need to know.
How Much Money Can You Get?
Eligible customers can receive up to $51.
Calculate Your 2026 COLA Increase →The exact amount depends on:
- How long you paid for Prime
- How much you paid in membership fees
Some people may receive less than $1. The refund is based only on the fees you paid.
Who Is Eligible for a Refund?
You may be eligible if all the following apply to you:
1. Sign-up period
You signed up for Amazon Prime between:
June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2026
2. Enrollment or cancellation issue
You must have:
- Unintentionally enrolled in Prime through Amazon’s “challenged enrollment flow”, or
- Tried to cancel Prime and were unable to do so easily
The “challenged enrollment flow” includes sign-ups through:
- The Universal Prime Decision Page
- Shipping option checkout page
- Prime Video sign-up page
- Single-page checkout
3. Prime usage limits
There are two groups:
Automatic refund group (already paid):
- Used Prime benefits 3 times or fewer in a 12-month period
Claim-based refund group (must file a claim):
- Used Prime benefits more than 3 but fewer than 10 times in a 12-month period
If you qualify for the claims group, you must submit a claim form to get paid.
You do not need to prove eligibility yourself. Amazon and the FTC are notifying qualifying customers directly.
How to File a Claim
If you are eligible, you will receive a notice by email or mail with:
- A Claim ID
- A PIN
- Instructions on how to file
Steps to claim:
- Open the notice you received.
- Go to the settlement website listed in the notice.
- Enter your Claim ID and PIN.
- Select your payment method (PayPal, Venmo, or check).
- Submit the form.
Important:
- You do not need to pay any fee.
- You do not need to enter your Amazon login or Social Security number.
Claim Deadline
The claim window is open for 180 days.
Depending on your notice, the deadline falls around:
July 21–23, 2026
Your exact deadline will be stated in your notice.
Amazon has 30 days to review your claim after submission. Payment is issued shortly after approval.
How Will You Get Paid?
You can choose:
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Mailed check
If you previously qualified for automatic payment and did not accept it digitally, Amazon mailed a check to the address linked to your Prime account.
When Were Automatic Payments Sent?
The first wave of automatic payments was sent between:
November 12 and December 24, 2026
Only low-usage customers (3 uses or fewer) were paid automatically.
Everyone else must file a claim.
Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum refund | Up to $51 |
| Who qualifies | U.S. Prime members 2019–2026 with enrollment/cancellation issues |
| Usage limit | Fewer than 10 Prime uses per year |
| Deadline | Around July 2026 |
| How to claim | Use Claim ID & PIN from notice |
| Payment methods | PayPal, Venmo, or check |
Final Notes
- Only people contacted by Amazon or the FTC can submit a claim.
- If you did not receive a notice, you are likely not eligible.
- Filing a claim is optional.
If you received a notice, submit your claim before the deadline to avoid losing your refund.
