Amazon is issuing refunds to customers for returns made years ago — in some cases as far back as 2018 — that were never properly processed.
“Following a recent internal review, we identified a very small subset of returns where we issued a refund without the payment completing, or where we could not verify that the correct item had been sent back to us so no refund was issued,” Amazon spokesperson Maxine Tagay told The Verge. “There is no action required from customers to receive the refunds, and we have fixed the payment issue and made process changes to more promptly contact customers about unresolved returns going forward.”
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Emails Acknowledge Delayed Payments
According to Bloomberg, Amazon emailed a similar message to affected customers. “We could have notified these customers more clearly (and earlier) to better understand the status and help us resolve the return,” the email said. “Given the time elapsed, we’ve decided to err on the side of customers and just complete refunds for these returns.”
$1.1 Billion Charge Tied to Historical Returns
Hints of this large-scale refund appeared during Amazon’s May 1st earnings call. CFO Brian Olsavsky stated that the company was reporting a one-time charge of $1.1 billion, “partly attributable to some historical customer returns,” as well as costs linked to stockpiling inventory ahead of Trump’s tariffs.
Customers Share Surprising Refunds Online
Reports of these unexpected refunds have surfaced across Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn. One user claimed they received nearly $1,800 this week for a TV they returned in 2018. Others mentioned receiving unexplained refunds — including money for items they say they never returned in the first place.
Legal Pressure Mounts with Class Action Lawsuit
These refunds arrive while Amazon is embroiled in a potential class action lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleges that the company “systematically failed to issue refunds to customers, or reversed refunds that had been issued.” In April 2025, a judge denied Amazon’s attempt to dismiss the case. It now awaits certification before additional customers can join the class action. Refunds for Long-Overdue Returns
Update
Amazon is issuing refunds to customers for returns dating as far back as 2018, acknowledging that in some cases refunds were either not processed correctly or not issued at all. An internal review revealed a small subset where refund payments failed or the returned item could not be verified. The company has now fixed the issue and updated its processes to ensure better communication and faster resolution. Affected customers received emails from Amazon admitting the delay and that refunds are being completed without requiring any action on their part. The Verge
Legal Developments in Refund-Related Class Action
A federal judge in Washington has denied Amazon’s motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit filed in September 2023 by four customers who allege the company recharged them for items they had returned. The plaintiffs claim that although Amazon confirmed receipt of the returned items, they were still billed again for those products. The lawsuit, which seeks to represent affected Amazon customers nationwide, accuses Amazon of breach of contract among other allegations. While the case is still ongoing, with both sides having submitted a joint status report on May 5, class certification has not yet occurred—meaning customers cannot yet officially join the lawsuit. If the case is certified, it could become an opt-out class action, where affected individuals will automatically be considered part of the lawsuit unless they choose otherwise. Consumers potentially eligible for compensation may monitor developments via websites like Top Class Actions or PACER.gov. While eligibility criteria and potential payouts are not yet available, those interested should stay informed to submit claims if a settlement is eventually reached. Houston Chronicle
