Millions of Amazon Prime customers who were out of the first refund rounds can now receive money without filing a claim. New payments will begin on October 1 and, under the revised rules of the agreement with the FTC, the total compensation for some users could reach $200.
The multi-billion dollar deal between Amazon and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has just entered a new phase that significantly expands the number of customers that could receive money.
A federal court has approved changes to the refund program that will allow to incorporate millions of additional consumers who had not been included in the first payment rounds.
The main difference is that these customers will not have to file a complaint or complete forms. If they meet the requirements set, Amazon will automatically send the money from October 1, 2026, according to the FTC.
In addition, the total limit that a consumer can eventually receive increased from $51 to $200.
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The most significant change affects consumers who used more Amazon Prime benefits than allowed in the early stages of the agreement. Until now, one of the program’s conditions limited refunds to certain customers who had used less than 10 Prime benefits over a 12-month period.
Customers who have used between 11 and 20 Amazon Prime benefits in any 12-month period after their subscription can now be eligible.
That group had been left out of the early stages of the program, but Amazon will start sending you payments automatically from October 1.
According to the FTC’s updated official page, to be eligible a person must be a customer of Amazon Prime in the United States and have contracted membership through any of the registration processes questioned by the body, or have attempted to cancel Prime through the online process without being able to do so, between 23 June 2019 and 23 June 2025.
You must also have used a maximum of 20 Prime benefits during any 12-month period following your registration. These benefits include, for example, certain Prime Video or Prime Music products included with the membership.
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This is one of the points that can generate more confusion among customers.In July the deadline for filing claims corresponding to an earlier phase of the agreement had expired.
The new decision changes the situation for consumers who now join the program. They will not have to fill out a form, respond to a notice or submit a new complaint.
Amazon will be responsible for identifying eligible customers and sending them money automatically.
Refunds can be obtained in three ways: through PayPal, Venmo or through a check sent by post.
The FTC warns that payments expire 60 days after they are issued, so it is important to accept them or deposit them on time.
The agency also notes that eligible consumers will have to receive the money for this phase of the program before April 2027.
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Another important feature is the amount. The first rounds set a maximum of $51 per eligible consumer. With the change approved by the court, the total amount a person may eventually receive rises to $200.
The FTC explains that if by February 2027 the payments actually accepted by consumers did not reach the amount required by the agreement, Amazon will have to conduct an additional round.
Consumers who have already accepted refunds can then receive up to $149 extra, so the cumulative compensation could reach $200. That last round would begin as early as April 2027 and will also be automatic.
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The refunds are part of the $2.5 billion deal reached between Amazon and the FTC in September 2025. Of the total, $1.5 billion was allocated to compensate consumers, while another $1 billion corresponded to a civil penalty.
By September 2026, Amazon had already distributed more than $845 million among eligible Prime customers.
The FTC had accused the company of registering millions of people in Prime without proper consent and of hindering the cancellation of certain memberships. Amazonined in reaching the agreement that the company and its executives had always complied with the law and said it works to make both Prime’s subscription and cancellation process clear and easy for its customers.
The FTC has made a specific warning: the agency is not contacting consumers to deliver these refunds.
Amazon will also not ask for money to release a payment. Therefore, any call, message or email requesting to make a payment, transfer money or deliver sensitive information with the promise of obtaining a refund should be considered suspicious.
Consumers with doubts about a payment can directly consult the official website of the refund program or contact the contract administrator.
