Time Is Running Out to Cash In on Amazon's $2.5 Billion Settlement - Here's How to Claim Yours

If you were an Amazon customer between 2019 and 2025, a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settlement could put extra cash in your pocket, but only if you act quickly. Amazon's $2.5 billion settlement over deceptive Prime enrollment and cancellation practices includes payments for affected customers, and the deadline to file a claim is approaching. 

Learn how to tell if you might be eligible, how to file a claim, and what to expect from this settlement.

Amazon's $2.5 billion FTC settlement

Last year, Amazon settled a lawsuit brought by the FTC, alleging it tricked customers into signing up for an Amazon Prime membership. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleged that Amazon used manipulative or deceptive interface designs called "dark patterns" to trick customers into signing up for Prime subscriptions that automatically renewed.

The lawsuit also alleged that Amazon made the cancellation process highly complicated for Prime subscribers. Allegedly, Amazon did so knowingly and designed the cancellation process to stop customers from cancelling.

Amazon denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the $2.5 billion settlement.

What the settlement means for Amazon customers

The settlement requires Amazon to pay a $1 billion civil penalty. The retailer must also distribute $1.5 billion to affected customers.

Through that distribution, eligible customers should receive a refund equivalent to the Prime membership fees that they paid. Any refunds, credits, or chargebacks the customers received would be deducted from the payment, and individual refunds are capped at $51.

The two-phase payout structure

Amazon is issuing the payments in a two-phase structure. Initial payments are automatically refunded to eligible Prime customers; those payments were sent in November and December of 2025.

Amazon is also holding a claims process for eligible Prime customers who didn't receive an automatic refund. A mailing date for that second round of payments hasn't been announced, but Amazon is expected to send those payments in late 2026. This group must file a claim to receive a payment, and refunds for this group of customers are not automatic.

Who may be eligible

Many eligible Amazon customers already received their automatic payments, but you may be able to apply for a refund if you meet three specific requirements.

You must be an Amazon Prime customer in the United States.

You must have signed up for an Amazon Prime subscription using a "challenged enrollment flow" like the universal Prime decision page, shipping selection page, single page checkout, or Prime Video enrollment flow. Alternatively, you must have unsuccessfully tried to cancel using the online cancellation flow between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025.

You must not have used more than three credits for Amazon Prime in a 12-month period after enrolling. 

How to apply for a payout

You may have already received a mailed or emailed notice from Amazon. These notices started going out in January 2026, and they were sent to eligible Amazon customers who didn't receive an automatic refund in late 2025. The notices include instructions on how to file a claim and feature your claim ID and number.

You may file a claim online by using the settlement website, SubscriptionMembershipSettlement.com. When filing a claim, you may need to submit your claim ID and number or the personal information linked to your Amazon account, like your email address or phone number.

If you need help with the claim form, you may email admin@subscriptionmembershipsettlement.com. Payment claims are due by July 27, 2026.

Where to look for your payment

When you file a claim, you may choose to receive your payment by check, PayPal, or Venmo. Amazon then has 30 days to review each claim. Payments may be for amounts up to $51.

Protect yourself during the filing process

Scammers often try to pose as settlement administrators in an effort to capture personal information or demand money. The FTC emphasizes that the organization isn't contacting people about the Amazon settlement, and if you receive communication from someone claiming to be from the FTC, it's a scam. If you file a claim, do so only through the official settlement site linked through the FTC to avoid any scam look-alike sites. Filing is free; legitimate claims don't require a Social Security number, bank login, or payment to file.

If you suspect you've received communication from a scammer, report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Bottom line

If you're part of the group that hasn't received an automatic payment, you must file a claim to receive a refund. The July 27, 2026 deadline to file a claim is quickly approaching, so be sure to file a claim promptly rather than risk encountering a last-minute technical issue that prevents you from filing.

Filing a claim is a relatively simple process that might help you keep more cash in your wallet, so if you believe you qualify, make sure you meet the deadline.

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