Time is running out for a large group of Amazon Prime members to claim their share of one of the biggest consumer settlements in years. The window to file a claim in the Federal Trade Commission’s $2.5 billion settlement with Amazon closes on July 27, 2026 — and eligible members who file can receive a refund of their Prime fees up to $51.
What the settlement is about
On September 25, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington entered a $2.5 billion settlement in Federal Trade Commission v. Amazon.com, Inc. The FTC had alleged that Amazon enrolled millions of consumers in Prime subscriptions without their clear consent and then made the subscriptions difficult to cancel, in violation of the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA).
Under the order, Amazon agreed to pay a $1 billion civil penalty and provide $1.5 billion in refunds to consumers harmed by its Prime enrollment and cancellation practices. Amazon settled without admitting wrongdoing.
Two groups of refunds
The FTC structured the refunds in two stages:
- Automatic Payment Group. Eligible members in this group did not have to do anything — Amazon sent automatic payments in November and December 2025.
- Claims Process Group. Members who did not receive an automatic payment were sent claim notices beginning in January 2026, with instructions on how to file. This is the group facing the July 27, 2026 deadline.
Who is eligible to claim
According to the FTC and the official settlement website, you may be eligible for a claims-process payment if you are a U.S. consumer who:
- Signed up for Amazon Prime between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025; and
- Either unintentionally enrolled through a “challenged enrollment flow,” or tried to cancel through the online cancellation flow but were unable to do so.
Eligibility criteria — including how many Prime benefits you used — are defined precisely in the court order, so check the notice you received and the official settlement site to confirm your status.
How to file before the deadline
- Look for the claim notice Amazon sent you by email or mail in early 2026.
- Follow the instructions in your notice to file on the official settlement website.
- File before July 27, 2026 — miss it, and you typically forfeit the payment.
- Remember: the FTC will never ask you to pay a fee to receive a refund. Ignore anyone who promises to speed up your payment for a charge.