Prime made joining easy. Leaving became a case file.

The US Federal Trade Commission says Amazon’s settlement over Prime enrolment and cancellation practices totals US$2.5 billion: US$1.5 billion for refunds and a US$1 billion civil penalty. The agency says Amazon began sending claim notices to eligible US customers in January 2026, after automatic refunds were sent to some people in late 2025.

According to the FTC, the challenged conduct involved enrolling tens of millions of customers into Prime without their knowledge or consent and making online cancellation difficult. The settlement also requires Amazon to stop unlawful enrolment and cancellation practices. The refund process is limited to eligible US customers and specified time periods; it is not a universal Prime refund.

Convenience is not consent

Prime is the classic platform bundle: shipping, video, music and other benefits reinforce one another until the recurring payment becomes part of the background. That convenience is precisely why the joining and leaving screens matter. A customer who cannot tell whether a click starts the bundle, or cannot easily end it, is not making a recurring choice on equal terms.

If you are a US customer who received a genuine claim notice, use the official settlement route named in it; do not pay anyone who offers to unlock a refund. More broadly, keep membership confirmations and cancellation records. A recurring product should leave a clear trail showing when the customer agreed, what was included and when billing was meant to end.