Amazon begins claims process in $2.5 billion settlement with Comissão Federal of Comércio (FTC) for practices related to the Prime service. The second phase of payments began in January 2026, allowing eligible customers who did not receive automatic refunds to submit forms to receive amounts up to $51. The settlement, reached in September 2025, involves $1.5 billion earmarked for consumer refunds and $1 billion in civil penalties. The FTC accused the company of signing up millions of users for subscriptions without clear consent and making it difficult to cancel.
The claims process opened on January 5, 2026 and remains open for 180 days from receipt of individual notification. Clientes receive instructions by email or post until January 23, 2026. Payment is made by check, PayPal or Venmo, depending on the choice on the form.
Eligibility for claim submission
Customers must have signed up to Prime between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025. Esses flows include specific pages such as Prime universal decision, shipping option selection, one-time checkout, or sign-up via Prime Video.
Limited use of the service also counts as criteria in some cases. Quem used 10 or fewer Prime benefits in any 12-month period during enrollment may qualify for this phase. Amazon analyzes account data to confirm eligibility without the need for additional proof from the user.
Anyone who has already received an automatic refund between November and December 2025 does not need to submit a claim at this stage.
Details about the settlement and FTC charges
The FTC alleged that Amazon used manipulative user interfaces to unwittingly enroll consumers. The cancellation process was complex and designed to retain subscribers. The company denied irregularities and stated that it had always followed the law, highlighting efforts to simplify registration and cancellation.
The agreement requires changes to the Prime system. Inclui clear buttons to decline subscription and removal of confusing options like “I don’t want free shipping.” Amazon has implemented changes for greater cost transparency, automatic renewal and cancellation procedures.
How to submit the claim form
Customers receive notification with specific instructions. The form is available on the agreement’s official website. Submissão occurs online, by email or post with postage within 180 days.
The refunded amount corresponds to the fees paid by Prime, limited to US$51 per person. In cases of trials or smaller fees, the amount may be lower. Amazon processes each claim within 30 days of receipt.
Precautions against fraud in the process
The FTC warns that it does not directly contact consumers to offer refunds. Qualquer request for advance payment or personal data indicates a scam. Apenas official channels of the agreement distribute information.
Customers should only access the official website to avoid fake websites. Legitimate Pagamentos arrive at no additional charge.
Main case chronology
The legal process began in 2023 with the FTC action. In September 2025, the agreement approved by the court of Distrito Oeste of Washington came out. The first wave of automatic payments occurred between November 12th and December 24th, 2025.
The current claims phase continues until mid-2026, with payments expected by the end of the year. The settlement represents one of the FTC’s largest consumer protection actions.
Next steps for those affected
Anyone who believes they qualify should check their email or mail in the next few days. The agreement website provides updates and support via a dedicated email address. Amazon keeps in touch for clarifications about the form.
The focus remains on distributing funds and correcting practices. Milhões of users in Estados Unidos can benefit from the process.