by NYCNews | 2026-01-07 21:41:54+00:00
By Staff Reporter
Manhattan Voice
January 7, 2026

NEW YORK — Millions of Amazon customers are now receiving settlement refunds after a historic Federal Trade Commissionaction over deceptive Amazon Prime enrollment and cancellation practices, and New York officials are weighing in on broader consumer protection concerns tied to subscription traps and junk fees.

Under the $2.5 billion FTC settlement with Amazon, eligible Prime members started getting automatic refunds of up to $51in late 2025 — a move aimed at reimbursing customers who were unintentionally enrolled in Amazon Primethrough confusing online processes or blocked from canceling their membership.

Those refunds were issued between November and December 2025, and as of early January 2026, eligible customers who did not receive automatic payments can now file settlement claimsdirectly through the official settlement administrator.

What the FTC Said: Deceptive Enrollment and Cancellation Practices

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Amazon in 2023 for allegedly using “dark pattern” user interfaces that nudged customers into Prime subscriptions without clear consent and made it overly difficult to cancel those memberships — in violation of online consumer protections including the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.

Under the settlement:

* Amazon must stop deceptive enrollment and cancellation practices.

* $1.5 billion will go toward refunds for eligible Prime customers.

* $1 billion will be paid as a civil penalty.

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson framed the deal as a “record-breaking, monumental win” for consumers tired of deceptive subscription practices that feel impossible to cancel,” and stressed that customers would get money back without having to jump through hoops.

Who Qualifies for Amazon Prime FTC Settlement Refunds

To qualify for automatic Amazon Prime FTC settlement refunds, consumers generally must:

* Have been enrolled in Amazon Prime in the U.S. between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025.

* Have signed up through what the FTC calls a “challenged enrollment flow” — such as through a single-page checkout or Prime Video prompt.

* Have used no more than three Prime benefits in any 12-month periodafter enrollment.

If you didn’t get an automatic refund — but meet similar criteria or tried (unsuccessfully) to cancel — you can now file a claim in early 2026. Eligible customers will be contacted by mail or email with instructions on how to claim up to $51.

New York City Officials Weigh In on Subscription Traps

While the Amazon refunds mark a win for affected customers, New York officials are pushing for broader action against subscription traps and hidden junk feesthat affect many residents.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose administration has launched a consumer protection agenda in New York City, signed executive orders cracking down on junk fees and deceptive subscription practices— moves clearly aligned with the spirit of the Amazon case.

At a January 2026 press conference, Mamdani said deceptive subscription “traps” — like those alleged in the Amazon Prime settlement — harm working families and drain household budgets, especially in the midst of a broader affordability crisis.

“New Yorkers deserve to know exactly what they are paying… and not be blindsided by ongoing charges they didn’t knowingly agree to,” Mamdani said in remarks summarizing the executive orders.

City officials — including Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Sam Levine and Attorney General Letitia James— emphasized that the new policies will target subscription traps and hidden add-on fees that trap customers in recurring charges or block them from canceling services.

Federal Voices Echo Concerns Over Subscription Misleading Practices