How to get a refund from the Amazon Prime FTC settlement

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I'm getting sick of cooperation taking advantage of people so I was glad to see the FTC claimed Amazon used “dark patterns,” or sneaky design tactics, to nudge people into signing up for Prime without fully realizing it. Canceling, meanwhile, was like navigating a digital obstacle course.

As part of the settlement $1.5 billion will be refunded to eligible Prime subscribers, with payments capped at $51 per person. Amazon agreed to make sign-ups and cancellations clearer and more straightforward, including a conspicuous “Decline Prime” button (instead of the old guilt-trippy “No, I don’t want Free Shipping”). An independent supervisor will monitor Amazon’s compliance to ensure refunds are distributed properly.

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson called the deal a “monumental win for millions of Americans who are tired of deceptive subscriptions that feel impossible to cancel.” Amazon, of course, isn’t admitting wrongdoing. The company maintains it has “always followed the law,” and says it has already implemented the very changes the FTC is now requiring. In other words: We fixed it before you told us to.

How to Know if You’re Eligible

If you signed up for Prime between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025, you could qualify for a refund. There are two groups of potential recipients:

Automatic Refund Group

• You enrolled through a “challenged enrollment flow” (think confusing sign-up pages) and used fewer than three Prime benefits.

• Amazon will refund all membership fees paid, up to $51, within 90 days. No forms, no hassle.

Claims Form Group

• You either signed up through one of those tricky flows or tried and failed to cancel during the five-year period.

• You used fewer than ten Prime benefits in any 12-month period.

• Amazon will email or mail a claims form within 30 days of finishing automatic payouts. You’ll then have 180 days to submit it by email, mail, or through a settlement website.

Check your email and keep an eye out for updates on the claims process. Whether you get $51 or just the satisfaction of seeing Big Tech held accountable, this is a rare moment when the little guy actually wins. Not to mention that's free money to buy more Hive!