Amazon Prime is once again in the spotlight, but not for its fast deliveries. After a historic decision by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the company was condemned for using processes deemed deceptive to push consumers to subscribe to its Prime service or to remain subscribed against their will. This affair, which extends over several years, could well allow many customers to obtain a refund before December 24. A welcome boost as holiday spending approaches.
At the heart of the case, the FTC accuses Amazon of having used interfaces called “dark patterns“. These techniques consist of directing users towards a Prime subscription, sometimes without them fully realizing it, or of making cancellation intentionally difficult. For some, termination required multiple steps which discouraged any attempt to leave, even though the subscription continued to be billed automatically. American justice estimated that Amazon had crossed the red line by manipulating its customers, thus forcing the company to pay the equivalent of 2.5 billion euros, including 1.5 billion directly intended for injured consumers.
Amazon defends itself
Amazon, for its part, assures that it has never acted in bad faith and claims to regularly improve the fluidity of registration and termination, but the authorities have not been convinced. For them, the fraudulent practices were well in place, and the compensation should be commensurate with the damage suffered. As a result, by Christmas, millions of dollars will be redistributed to affected users, and some customers have already received an email telling them that they will be given a refund.
One question remains: how do you know if you are one of the eligible people? The refund concerns those who have subscribed to Amazon Prime between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025 via a registration process identified as misleading or who have attempted unsuccessfully to cancel their subscription. Consumers who have used very few Prime benefits (three or fewer over a twelve-month period) will be automatically refunded in the coming weeks. Others will have to file a complaint, particularly if they believe that their termination attempt was made deliberately complicated.
For the subscribers concerned, the amount can reach up to $51 per person, paid by December 24. If you’ve received a message from Amazon in the last few days, there’s a good chance you’re part of the refund program. One thing is certain, this case reminds us of the importance of monitoring your online subscriptions and regularly checking the cancellation options.
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