If you ever initiated a return on Amazon or requested a refund for an item between Sept. 5, 2017, and Feb. 12, 2026, you may be owed money.
The e-commerce giant has agreed to pay a $309.5 million class action settlement to resolve allegations that consumers were not properly refunded for returns.
Why is there a settlement?
According to plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Amazon’s return policies and practices allegedly violated consumer protection laws.
Amazon admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to the financial payout to resolve the legal claims.
Under the new agreement, Amazon will also implement temporary changes to its refund practices for the next one to two years.
This includes notifying customers when refunds are approved or denied and actively monitoring returns to ensure they are processed within standard 90-day timelines.
Who qualifies for a payout?
You are eligible for the settlement if you returned a physical product purchased on Amazon.com during the eligibility window and experienced any of the following:
- You did not receive a refund.
- You received an incorrect or late refund.
- You received a refund but were later incorrectly charged for the returned product.
How to submit a claim
The settlement divides affected shoppers into two specific groups, known as Subclass A and Subclass B.
- Subclass A: These are shoppers whose transactions Amazon has already identified as involving unpaid refunds. If you fall into this group, you do not need to submit a claim form. Your restitution will be processed automatically.
- Subclass B: These are shoppers who believe they were shortchanged but are not automatically identified in Amazon’s records. Class members must submit a claim by Dec. 1, 2026. You should provide supporting documentation to prove your purchase and the return issue.
Payout amounts have not yet been determined and will depend on how many valid claims are filed. The final approval hearing for the settlement will take place on March 16, 2027.
