Earlier this year, the US Federal Trade Commission ruled that Amazon used deceptive practices with its Amazon Prime subscriptions: people were unintentionally signed up, and they also couldn't easily unsubscribe. As part of the settlement, Amazon agreed to refund US Amazon Prime members who meet certain criteria.
This part is good news for consumers. Less great are the scammers who will take advantage of this opportunity to steal money from you.
Forewarned is forearmed, here's what you need to know settlement– who is eligible, what amount to expect, how it will be paid, important dates, possible scams and much more.
Who is eligible for an Amazon Prime refund?
Eligible customers fall into two different camps: those who will automatically receive a refund and those who are eligible for a refund after filing a claim.
The automatic refund notice began on November 12, 2025 and will continue until December 24, 2025.
Claims can be filed starting December 24, 2025 via Amazon Prime Checkout Website. Individuals eligible for a refund based on the claims criteria will receive notification of their status by January 23, 2026.
You will receive automatic refund if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You signed up for Amazon Prime between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025.
- You signed up for Amazon Prime through the “complex registration process” (defined as “universal Prime decision page, delivery selection page, one-page checkout or Prime Video sign-up process“)
- You have used no more than three Amazon Prime benefits in a 12-month period (EX: Prime Video, Prime Music, etc.).
You have the right to file a claim for a refund if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You signed up for Amazon Prime between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025.
- You accidentally registered through a “disputed registration process” or tried to cancel your registration through the online cancellation flow but were unable to do so.
- You used more than three but fewer than 10 Amazon Prime benefits during the 12-month period from June 23, 2019 to June 23, 2025 (EX: Prime Video, Prime Music, etc.)
Detailed information about the calculation and its conditions can be found on the page official settlement website.
What should I do if I'm not sure if I'm eligible for a refund?
Official settlement website Frequently Asked Questions explains the call registration flows in a bit more detail, but more importantly, it also confirms that you don't have to figure out on your own whether you've used the call registration flow or not.
So, if you know you're within the required deadline, but you're not sure if you have the right to file a claim, file it anyway. The worst that can happen is that you are denied eligibility.
Who will contact you about a refund?
Although the Federal Trade Commission has published information As for returns, Amazon handles the distribution of payments.
A company obligated to pay compensation usually hires an administrator to handle claims and payments. Accordingly, communication should come from official settlement website or directly from Amazon.
To avoid scammers, double check all messages regarding refunds: Thanks to artificial intelligence tools, it is now much easier for scammers to create polished, clean messages that sound official. Please review website addresses (URLs) carefully before clicking on links.
How refunds will be paid to eligible US consumers
Those eligible for an automatic refund will receive an email from Amazon between November 12, 2025 and December 24, 2025. This email will ask you to provide your PayPal or Venmo information to receive your refund.
Before clicking on any links, please make sure the email is from Amazon or official settlement website directly.
You have 15 days to accept this digital payment. If you miss this window, it will be canceled and the check will be automatically sent to the address on your Amazon Prime account.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends cashing return checks within 60 days of receipt.
How big is Amazon Prime's refund rate?
Eligible Amazon Prime subscribers are eligible to receive up to $51. The exact amount varies depending on your situation.
For example, if you previously received any refunds or credits (or issued a chargeback through your credit card company), they will be deducted from your eligible amount.
The total amount paid could also be lower than $51, for example if you only paid a small (or even nominal) amount for an Amazon Prime trial.
What are the signs of an Amazon Prime refund scam?
Scams have become more sophisticated over the past year, making them more difficult to detect. But armed with all the information above, you can still look for clues that will give them away.
- The message does not arrive by email.
- The sender of the email is not Amazon or the official checkout site. (Check the domain of the email address and compare it with official URLs.)
- The link in the email does not take you to Amazon's page or the official settlement site.
- The message asks for money. (For example, you must first pay off your past due balance on your Amazon Prime subscription, or renew it for the next year in advance, etc.) You get a refund—you don't have to pay anything!
- The sender of the message claims to be from the Federal Trade Commission or another US government agency.
- The message asks for personal information (name, address, phone number, payment information, etc.) that is not required to send a payment through PayPal or Venmo.
- You visit a web page to file a claim, but the URL does not match the official settlement site URL.
- Someone contacts you and claims they can help you get a better refund.
This list does not cover all scenarios, only the most likely ones. Basically, if the information you receive or the request you receive sounds a little unusual or, on the other hand, too good to be true, proceed with caution.
