Amazon's $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission continues to pay out. Of the total, $1 billion is a civil penalty and $1.5 billion is set aside for consumer redress, with the per-person cap raised from $51 to $200.
The FTC says eligible consumers need take no action: no claim to file, no notice to answer, no paperwork. Amazon will send payments automatically by mailed check, PayPal, or Venmo. The FTC states it directly: "No action is needed to receive a refund." The agency also warns that anyone contacting consumers about these refunds is a scammer and should be reported. The claim window closed on July 27, 2026, and all remaining payments go out automatically; those who missed the deadline do not lose eligibility if they qualify.
The FTC sued Amazon in 2023, alleging the company used "manipulative, coercive, or deceptive user-interface designs known as 'dark patterns'" to enroll consumers in Prime without their awareness and made cancellation unreasonably difficult. The parties settled in September 2025.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. Prime members who, between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025, enrolled through a challenged flow (such as a universal decision page, shipping selection screen, single-page checkout, or video sign-up prompt) or tried and failed to cancel online. They also must have used no more than 20 Prime benefits in any 12-month period after enrolling.
Starting October 1, 2026, Amazon began automatic payments to millions of additional customers who used between 11 and 20 Prime benefits in a one-year period. Those who already received refunds may qualify for an extra payment of up to $149, bringing the maximum to $200. Payments run through April 2027, and mailed checks or electronic payments expire 60 days after issue.
As of September 2026, Amazon had refunded more than $845 million to customers. On September 17, 2026, the FTC announced that a federal court had approved a joint motion by the agency and Amazon to accelerate and expand the payments. Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said the revised order will ensure more consumers harmed by Amazon's deceptive enrollment and cancellation practices benefit from the historic settlement.