How to get paid from Amazon’s FTC settlement for Prime customers

Who gets paid?

• The refunds are intended for US customers who signed up for Prime through subscription flows that the FTC deemed misleading, such as some payment screens and promotional screens that pushed Prime as the default option.
• Tens of millions of people could qualify, with individual refunds generally tied to Prime membership fees and up to $51, organizers said.

Why is this important?

• The $2.5 billion package ranks among the largest enforcement actions in the agency’s history, combining money for consumer redress with a significant penalty aimed at deterring similar tactics across the subscription economy.
• The case also fits into a broader regulatory push against so-called “dark patterns,” which are design choices that can lead users to charge recurring fees. It’s a crackdown that could reshape how tech and media companies offer free trials and cancellations

What customers should know

• Eligible consumers may get paid in different ways: Some will get paper checks mailed to the address associated with their Amazon account, while others will receive refunds through digital payment services, in amounts that reflect the disputed Prime charges.
• The FTC encourages people to act immediately once payment arrives, since checks typically carry a limited window before they expire. Digital transfers may need to be accepted by a specific deadline. The regulator also warns that it does not call or text consumers to request fees or personal data to release funds, so don’t trust bots or scams that say otherwise.

When to expect checks

• The rollout of refunds began in late 2025 and continues until early 2026, meaning many customers are now only seeing envelopes or notices associated with the principal settlement.
• Consumers who believe they were affected but have not received money will have another chance through a formal claims process, which the agency said will open later in 2026, with additional waves of payments to follow after that window closes.

​For this story, luck Journalists have used generative AI as a research tool. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publication.