October 22, 2025

Amazon Prime fans, listen up! A big drama just happened in the shopping world. Amazon agreed to pay a whopping $2.5 billion after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the company fooled many customers into joining Prime. Plus, it was tough to cancel the subscription once signed up. This $2.5 billion includes a $1 billion fine – the highest ever for such a case – and another $1.5 billion to pay back customers who joined Prime by mistake or struggled to cancel. Some lucky Prime members can get up to $51 back automatically! This sweet refund covers those who joined Prime through the "Single Page Checkout" or similar links from June 23, 2019, to June 23, 2025. Amazon will start sending these refunds within 90 days after the settlement was announced in late September. But that’s not all. More than 30 million customers who faced other issues in canceling or signing up for Prime will also get a chance to claim refunds through a special process Amazon has to set up. What’s all the fuss about? Amazon Prime costs $139 a year or $14.99 a month and offers fast shipping, video streaming, and Whole Foods discounts. It’s a huge part of Amazon’s business, with over 200 million members! In July, Amazon reported $12 billion revenue just from subscription services like Prime, music, and e-books – a 12% jump from last year. The FTC explained that Amazon made it hard to buy things without accidentally signing up for Prime. Sometimes, a checkout button didn’t clearly say it would enroll customers in Prime. And quitting Prime was no walk in the park. The FTC said Amazon bosses slowed or ignored fixes to make canceling easier. Here’s a quick FAQ for you: Q1: Who gets Amazon Prime refunds? A1: Customers who signed up through the "Single Page Checkout" or similar links between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025, could get up to $51 back automatically. Q2: When will refunds come? A2: Within 90 days after the settlement was announced in late September. So, if you shopped on Amazon and got tangled in Prime’s tricky net, this is your chance to get some money back! Keep your eyes peeled for refund details coming soon.

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Tags: Amazon prime, Ftc settlement, Subscription refund, Consumer rights, Prime membership, Online shopping,