URGENT UPDATE: Amazon has begun issuing automatic refunds to millions of Prime subscribers following a groundbreaking $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The refunds are a result of a lawsuit alleging that Amazon enrolled customers in Prime subscriptions without their consent and made cancellations challenging.
The settlement, finalized under the Trump-Vance FTC, mandates Amazon to pay $1.5 billion directly to customers and a $1 billion civil penalty. This historic agreement requires the company to halt its disputed enrollment and cancellation practices immediately.
Eligible Prime members can expect refunds of up to $51. The first wave of payments is set to begin on November 12, 2023, and will continue through December 24, 2023. Customers will receive these refunds automatically via PayPal or Venmo. Those who prefer receiving a mailed check should simply ignore the digital payment; a check will be sent to their default shipping address.
Consumers are urged to act quickly as refunds not claimed through check must be cashed within 60 days. A second refund stage is planned for 2026, allowing customers who did not receive an automatic refund to submit claims.
The FTC has issued a stern warning about potential scams during this refund process. Officials will not reach out to customers demanding payments or threatening legal action regarding the refunds. Any suspicious calls or messages should be reported immediately.
Eligible customers include U.S. Prime subscribers who signed up through specific enrollment flows—like the universal Prime decision page or the Prime Video enrollment flow—between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2023. To qualify, these users must have utilized no more than three Prime benefits within the 12 months following their enrollment.
For further details, customers are encouraged to visit www.SubscriptionMembershipSettlement.com or bookmark ftc.gov/Amazon for ongoing updates.
This major refund initiative marks a significant shift in how Amazon manages its Prime subscription service, impacting millions of subscribers across the United States. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops!
