Amazon to Pay $2.5 Billion Settlement — How Prime Customers Can Claim Their $51 Reimbursement
Amazon agrees to a $2.5 billion FTC settlement over Prime subscription practices. Eligible customers can claim a $51 payout — here’s how to check and apply.
Amazon to Pay $2.5 Billion Settlement — How Prime Customers Can Claim Their $51 Reimbursement
Amazon to Pay $2.5 Billion Settlement — How to Claim Your $51 Reimbursement
Amazon is set to reimburse millions of Prime customers after agreeing to a massive $2.5 billion settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over allegations of misleading subscription practices.
Out of the $2.5 billion total, $1 billion will go toward fines paid to the FTC, while $1.5 billion will be distributed among affected customers. Despite agreeing to the payout, Amazon has not admitted any wrongdoing, according to Reuters.
Why Was Amazon Fined?
The FTC accused Amazon of “duping” customers into subscribing to Prime and making cancellations “extremely difficult.” The antitrust lawsuit, launched in 2023, claimed that Amazon used manipulative design tactics — also known as dark patterns — to keep customers locked into recurring payments.
Who Is Eligible for the $51 Settlement Payout?
According to court documents, approximately 35 million U.S. Prime customers who subscribed between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025 are eligible for compensation. Each affected customer will automatically receive $51.
Customers who used their Prime benefits fewer than three times in a 12-month period will automatically get their payout by December 24, 2025. Others can file claims by January 23, 2026, with submissions accepted until July 23, 2026.
How to Claim Your Settlement
The reimbursements will be processed by a third-party claims administrator and paid in cash, not Amazon gift cards. Once automatic payments are issued, additional instructions for manual claims will be shared via email and the FTC website.
Amazon and FTC Reactions
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson called the ruling a “monumental win for millions of Americans tired of deceptive subscriptions.” However, experts note that for Amazon — which earns $2.5 billion every 33 hours — the financial hit is minimal.
In a statement, Amazon said, “We work hard to make Prime enrollment and cancellation transparent, and we’re committed to improving our customer experience.”
As part of the agreement, Amazon will add a “Decline Prime” button to make opting out easier and improve subscription disclosures during checkout.