Amazon Returns and Refunds Class Action Settlement
Amazon Returns and Refunds Class Action Settlement
Amazon agreed to a $309.5 million non-reversionary settlement over allegations that customers who returned items bought on Amazon.com, or asked for a refund, did not get a refund, got a late or incorrect refund, or were later charged again for the returned item. The class covers returns and refund requests for products received in the United States between September 5, 2017 and February 12, 2026. Subclass A members are paid automatically based on Amazon's records. Subclass B members must file a claim with proof of return by December 1, 2026.
Settlement fund
$309.5M
Non-reversionary common fund
Payment
Refund owed + interest
Subclass A automatic, Subclass B pro rata by claim
Claim deadline
Dec 1, 2026
64 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Dec 1, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You initiated a return or requested a refund for a physical product bought through Amazon.com and received in the United States.
- The return or refund request was made between September 5, 2017 and February 12, 2026.
- You did not receive a refund, received a late or incorrect refund, or received a refund and were later charged again for the returned product.
- Excluded: Amazon and its employees, the judges assigned to the case and their immediate families, counsel of record, and the U.S. government.
- Excluded: Purchases from Amazon affiliates or subsidiaries, unless the item was sold on Amazon.com and the return was handled by Amazon, and anyone who opts out by December 1, 2026.
Not sure if you qualify or which subclass you are in? Your notice should say. You can also call the Settlement Administrator at 1-888-553-4246, email info@ReturnSettlement.com, or visit ReturnSettlement.com.
What happened
The plaintiffs allege that Amazon's return and refund policies and practices violated Washington consumer protection law and other laws. According to the lawsuit, some customers who sent items back or asked for refunds were never refunded, were refunded late or for the wrong amount, or were refunded and then charged again (a "retrocharge") for the same returned item. The consolidated case is pending in federal court in Seattle.
Amazon denies the allegations and denies any wrongdoing, and the Court has not decided who is right. Amazon agreed to settle to avoid the burden and expense of further litigation. Separate from the cash fund, Amazon agreed to business practice changes for 12 to 24 months, including monitoring return processing, reprocessing refunds that fail because of payment issues, notifying customers when refunds are approved or denied, and automatically refunding certain returns that are not graded within 90 days.
How to file a claim
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1. Check which subclass you are in
The settlement has two groups. Subclass A covers transactions that Amazon's own records show were unpaid, and those members do not file a claim. Subclass B covers the other transactions in the class, where Amazon's records alone do not show an unpaid refund, and those members must file a claim to be paid. Your notice should tell you which group you are in. If you are unsure, call the Settlement Administrator at 1-888-553-4246.
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2. Subclass A: choose how to be paid
Subclass A members are paid automatically, but should select a preferred payment method on the settlement website within 105 days after the Court grants final approval. Each Subclass A payment is based on the unpaid transaction amount plus a proportional share for potential prejudgment interest, paid from the Subclass A fund, which is 92.7% of the net settlement fund. If you are in both subclasses, you can be paid from both.
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3. Subclass B: file a claim with proof of return
Subclass B members must file a Claim Form online at returnsettlement.com or by mail, postmarked by December 1, 2026, to: Amazon Return Policy Litigation, Attn: Claim Forms, PO Box 10, East Brunswick, NJ 08816-9998. The form asks for the Notice ID from your notice, the order number, product description, refund request date, refund amount requested, and proof that you sent the item back showing the date, and you sign a certification under penalty of perjury. Payment options include Amazon gift card, check, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or a virtual prepaid card. Notice documents and the Settlement Agreement are posted at ReturnSettlement.com.
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4. Receive your payment
Payments are issued after the Court grants final approval at the March 16, 2027 Final Approval Hearing and any appeals are resolved. Subclass B payments are a pro rata share of the Subclass B fund, which is 7.3% of the net settlement fund, based on approved claim amounts, so the final amount depends on how many valid claims are filed.
Key dates
- Dec 1, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Upcoming
- Dec 1, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Mar 16, 2027 Final Fairness Hearing (10:00 a.m. PT) Upcoming
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. PT before the Honorable Jamal N. Whitehead at the United States Courthouse, 700 Stewart Street, Seattle, WA 98101. The Court will also consider Class Counsel's request for up to $100,000,000 in attorneys' fees, up to $1,000,000 in costs, and service awards of up to $7,500 for each of the 10 Class Representatives. Claims, opt-outs, and objections are all due December 1, 2026. The Court may move the hearing, so check ReturnSettlement.com for updates before traveling.
Where the money is going
Amazon will pay $309.5 million into a non-reversionary common fund. Court-approved attorneys' fees and costs, service awards, and notice and administration costs come out first. The remaining net fund is split 92.7% to Subclass A and 7.3% to Subclass B. Amazon also agreed to pay certain unpaid refunds outside the fund, including refunds that failed because of payment processing issues.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval at the Final Approval Hearing. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. Individual payments are not fixed and are estimated based on unpaid transaction amounts, with Subclass B payments made on a pro rata basis.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
There is no flat amount. Subclass A members receive the unpaid transaction amount shown in Amazon's records plus a proportional share for potential prejudgment interest. Subclass B members who file approved claims share the Subclass B fund pro rata based on their unpaid transaction amounts, so the amount depends on how many valid claims are filed. Payments are not guaranteed until the Court grants final approval.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
It depends on your subclass. Subclass A members do not file a claim or provide proof. Subclass B members must show that it is more likely than not they belong to the class, which means providing the order number, a description of the returned item, the refund amount requested, and proof that the item was sent back showing the date, along with a signed certification under penalty of perjury.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
Notice is scheduled to go out by October 2, 2026. If you believe you had a return or refund problem with Amazon.com between September 5, 2017 and February 12, 2026 but did not receive a notice or cannot find your Notice ID, contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-888-553-4246 or info@ReturnSettlement.com before the December 1, 2026 deadline.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
If you stay in the settlement, you give up the right to sue Amazon and the other released parties over claims related to Amazon's return, refund, and retrocharge practices that are resolved by this settlement, whether or not you file a claim. Subclass B members who do nothing receive no payment but are still bound. To keep your rights, you must opt out by December 1, 2026.
When will payments be sent out?
Payments are issued after the Court grants final approval at the March 16, 2027 hearing and after any appeals are resolved. An appeal can add a year or more to that timeline. Money left over after distribution may be redistributed to class members if feasible, or otherwise paid to a cy pres recipient approved by the Court.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
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This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Amazon.com, Inc., Angeion Group (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Aaron M. Zigler of Zigler Law Group, LLC and Andrew H. Schapiro of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. The case is In re: Amazon Return Policy Litigation, Case No. 2:23-cv-01372-JNW, pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington before the Honorable Jamal N. Whitehead. Class representatives are Laura Abbott, Jill Cappel, Michelle Estep, Maria Khangi, Joshua Soto Lopez, Melissa Urbancic, Heriberto Valiente, Katherine Vojtko, Vince Vojtko, and Dianne Walton-Williams. Amazon denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.