If you have ever returned something to Amazon and your refund never arrived, arrived late, arrived short, or was taken back again after you got it — you may be owed money. Amazon has agreed to pay $309.5 million into a settlement fund to resolve a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of failing to give full refunds on returned products for almost nine years. Some people will be paid automatically. Others must file a claim — and the deadline is 1 December 2026, less than a month away. This page explains who qualifies, which group you are in, exactly how to claim, and how to avoid the scams that always follow a big settlement.
What the settlement is about
The case is In re: Amazon Return Policy Litigation, case number 2:23-cv-01372, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. It was filed in 2023 and accused Amazon of routinely failing to give customers full refunds within 30 days when they returned products — refunds that were denied, delayed, paid in the wrong amount, or reversed after the return had been accepted. Amazon denies doing anything wrong, but agreed to settle: $309.5 million into a non-reversionary common fund — meaning the money goes to class members, not back to Amazon. A judge granted preliminary approval on 18 August 2026, and the final approval hearing is set for 16 March 2027 at 10 a.m.
The $309.5 million is part of a much bigger picture. The broader settlement topped $1 billion, including roughly $600 million in refunds that Amazon has already issued to customers. The new fund covers the people whose refunds were still missing or wrong when the settlement was agreed.
Who qualifies
You may be a class member if all of these are true:
- You bought a physical product through Amazon.com and received it in the United States.
- Your purchase was between 5 September 2017 and 12 February 2026.
- You started a return or asked for a refund for that product.
- And one of these happened: you did not receive a refund, you received it late, you received the wrong amount, or you received a refund and were then wrongly charged again for the returned item.
Digital products do not count — this is about physical products only. If you returned something and were refunded in full and on time, you are not owed anything under this settlement.
Two groups: which one are you in?
The settlement splits class members into two groups, and the difference decides whether you need to do anything at all.
| Group | Who it is | What you must do |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass A | People Amazon has already identified as being owed a refund — the majority of the fund goes to this group. | Nothing. Payment is automatic: your unpaid refund amount plus interest. You only need to choose a payment method on the settlement website within 105 days after final approval. |
| Subclass B | People who must prove they are owed a refund — for example, Amazon has no record of the problem, or the refund was denied for a reason you dispute. | You MUST file a claim — online or by mail, submitted or postmarked by 1 December 2026 — with proof. Miss the deadline and you lose the payment. Subclass B shares 7.3% of the net settlement fund. |
How do you know which group you are in? If you qualify, you should have received a notice by email — to the address on your Amazon account, or a backup address if the first one failed — or by post. The notice tells you your group and gives you a Notice ID and PIN. If you did not get a notice, check your spam folder first. If it is still not there, contact the settlement administrator (details below) to find out whether a notice was sent to you.
How to file a claim (Subclass B)
File at the official settlement website, ReturnSettlement.com. You need your Notice ID and PIN from the notice you received. If you did not receive one, the website explains how to check whether you can identify yourself, or contact the administrator.
- Go to ReturnSettlement.com — the only official website. Do not use any other site that claims to file for you.
- Enter your Notice ID and PIN, or follow the site's steps if you have no notice.
- Give the details of your claim: the order number, the product, the date you asked for a refund, the amount refunded (if any), and why Amazon said it could not be refunded.
- Attach proof — such as order and refund records, account screenshots, receipts or bank statements showing the missing or reversed refund.
- Submit online, or download the paper form from the website and mail it, postmarked by 1 December 2026.
If you cannot file online, you can ask for a form by calling the administrator on 1-888-553-4246, emailing info@ReturnSettlement.com, or writing to Amazon Return Policy Litigation, Attn: Claim Request, PO Box 59, East Brunswick, NJ 08816-9998. Include your Notice ID. The settlement administrator is the Angeion Group, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
How much will you get, and when?
Your payment is based on the refund you were owed, plus interest. Subclass A members are paid automatically for the amount Amazon's records show they are owed. Subclass B members are paid from their share of the fund, based on the claims they file and prove. No one can tell you an exact dollar figure in advance — it depends on your own refund and on how many valid claims are filed.
And do not expect money soon. No payments will be sent until the court grants final approval at the hearing on 16 March 2027, and until any appeals are resolved after that. If you are in Subclass A, the step that matters is choosing your payment method on the settlement website within 105 days after final approval. If you are in Subclass B, the step that matters is filing by 1 December 2026 — that deadline is the one that cannot be fixed later.
Watch out for scams
Every big settlement attracts scammers. Protect yourself with three rules:
- Only use ReturnSettlement.com. Amazon will not call you, text you, or message you on social media about this settlement. Any call or message asking for your bank details, password or a "processing fee" to release your payment is a scam.
- Never pay to file. Filing a claim is free. No one legitimate will charge you to submit your claim or "unlock" your payment.
- Check the sender. The real notice comes from the settlement administrator, not from a random email address. If a message looks wrong, go to ReturnSettlement.com yourself by typing the address — do not click a link in the message.
What to do today
- Search your email for "Amazon Return Policy" or "ReturnSettlement" — including spam — to find your notice and your group.
- Subclass A: nothing to file. Mark your calendar to choose a payment method after final approval in March 2027, and keep your contact details up to date on the settlement website.
- Subclass B: gather your order and refund records now and file at ReturnSettlement.com before 1 December 2026.
- No notice at all: if you returned Amazon products between September 2017 and February 2026 and had refund trouble, call 1-888-553-4246 or email info@ReturnSettlement.com to check whether you are a class member.
🔗 See also
Frequently asked questions
Am I eligible for the Amazon $309.5 million settlement?
You may qualify if you returned a physical product bought on Amazon.com and received in the US between 5 September 2017 and 12 February 2026, and your refund was denied, late, wrong, or reversed after you received it.
How much money will I get?
Your payment is based on the refund you were owed, plus interest. Subclass A members are paid the amount Amazon's records show; Subclass B members are paid from their share of the fund based on proven claims. No exact figure can be given in advance.
Do I need to file a claim?
Only if you are in Subclass B. Subclass A members — the people Amazon has already identified as owed a refund — are paid automatically and do not file. Your notice tells you which group you are in.
What is the deadline to file?
Subclass B claims must be submitted online or postmarked by 1 December 2026. Subclass A members must choose a payment method on the settlement website within 105 days after final approval.
What proof do I need for a Subclass B claim?
You need the order number, the product, the date you asked for a refund, the amount refunded if any, and why Amazon said it could not refund you — with records such as order confirmations, account screenshots, receipts or bank statements.
When will I be paid?
Not until after the final approval hearing on 16 March 2027, and after any appeals are resolved. The court has not yet granted final approval.
I did not get a notice — what should I do?
Check your spam folder first. If it is still not there, contact the settlement administrator on 1-888-553-4246 or info@ReturnSettlement.com, or go to ReturnSettlement.com, to check whether a notice was sent to you.
Is this settlement a scam?
No — it is a real court settlement, In re: Amazon Return Policy Litigation, No. 2:23-cv-01372 (W.D. Wash.). But scammers imitate it: only use ReturnSettlement.com, never pay to file, and never give bank details to anyone who calls about it.
Sources
- ReturnSettlement.com — official settlement website
- Class Action Tracker — Amazon Return Policy $309.5 Million Settlement
- Moneywise — Amazon customers could be part of $309.5M payout
- SettleSignal — Amazon Return Policy Settlement 2026
- Legal World Hub — Amazon Return Settlement: Claim Your Share of $309.5M
Facts are from the official settlement website ReturnSettlement.com and settlement-notice summaries checked against it on 1–7 November 2026. The court has not yet granted final approval; the final hearing is 16 March 2027. This page is general information, not legal advice.