Guide · 5 min read
FTC refunds: how to check if you are owed money
When the Federal Trade Commission sues a company for cheating customers, the money it recovers often goes back to those customers as refunds. These are different from class action settlements: there is usually no claim to file, payments come from a government-supervised program, and the full list of active programs is public. Here is how to check whether one owes you money.
How FTC refunds differ from class actions
| Who runs it | The FTC, usually through one of five contracted administrators: Analytics Consulting, Epiq Systems, JND Legal Administration, Rust Consulting, or Simpluris |
|---|---|
| Do you file a claim? | Usually not. The FTC typically gets a customer list from the company and pays people directly |
| How you get paid | Check, prepaid debit card, PayPal, or Zelle |
| Where to verify | ftc.gov/refunds, the official list of every active FTC refund program |
| Cost to you | Nothing. The FTC never asks for fees, your SSN, or bank account details |
Class action settlements work the other way around: you usually have to find them and file a claim before a deadline. If you want those too, start with how to find out if you are owed a settlement or the list of open settlements.
How to check if you are owed an FTC refund
- Open ftc.gov/refunds. Type the address yourself rather than clicking a link in a text or email.
- Scan the list for companies you paid. Each program page says who is eligible, how payments are sent, and the administrator's phone number.
- If a program uses a claims process, the program page explains how to apply. Most do not need one.
- Watch your mail and email. For PayPal refunds, the FTC first emails you from an address ending in .gov.
- Cash checks and accept electronic payments quickly. If a check expired, call the program's number; it may be reissued if money remains.
Programs the FTC listed in October 2026 include Walmart, AdvoCare, Cleo AI, Avast, and GOAT refunds. The list changes often, so check it directly.
The Amazon Prime refund
The best-known current program comes from the FTC's $2.5 billion settlement with Amazon over Prime enrollment and cancellation. Amazon must pay $1.5 billion in refunds plus a $1 billion civil penalty. According to the FTC Amazon refunds page, you are eligible if all three apply:
- You are an Amazon Prime customer in the United States.
- Between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025 you signed up for Prime through a "challenged enrollment flow" (the universal Prime decision page, shipping selection page, single page checkout, or Prime Video enrollment flow), or you tried to cancel online but could not.
- You used no more than 20 Prime benefits in any 12-month period after enrolling.
No action is needed. You do not file a claim or fill out forms. Amazon sends payments automatically by mailed check, PayPal, or Venmo, and eligible customers get their refund by April 2027. Earlier payments were capped at $51, and under the revised order Amazon may send up to $149 more, for a maximum of $200 in total. Payments expire 60 days after they are issued, so accept them quickly. By September 2026 Amazon had issued over $845 million in refunds.
The FTC says it is not contacting people about Amazon refunds, so a call claiming to be the FTC is a scam. For help with a payment, the FTC directs people to Amazon at admin@SubscriptionMembershipSettlement.com.
How much FTC refunds pay
When there is not enough money to repay everyone in full, the FTC usually pays pro rata, so each person gets the same percentage of what they lost. If money is left after the first round, it may send a second round, generally only to people who cashed the first payment, and it generally does not mail checks under $10. Leftover money goes to the US Treasury. The FTC says none of the money goes to the FTC or its attorneys, and its goal is to pay within six months of getting the data and money needed. More detail: how the FTC provides refunds.
Spotting FTC refund scams
- The FTC never charges a fee to get a refund and never asks for your SSN or bank account number.
- No one from the FTC will threaten you, ask you to move money, or promise a prize.
- Do not pay anyone who promises special access or a guaranteed refund.
- Report impersonators at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Our guide to fake settlement texts covers the same tricks, and lost or expired settlement checks explains what to do if you missed a payment.
Sources: FTC refund programs list, FTC Amazon refunds page, FTC refund FAQ, and How the FTC Provides Refunds, read October 19, 2026. Not legal or tax advice.
Open settlements you can claim now
- Concora Credit: Unwanted Calls $250 - $650 · by Oct 19
- VSL Pharmaceuticals: Probiotics $20 Per Unit · by Oct 20
- Altrua Ministries: Unwanted Calls Up to $700 · by Oct 20
- Lands’ End: Data Breach $60 - $5,000 · by Oct 22
- Equinox: Data Breach $100 - $5,000 · by Oct 23
- TED Foundation: Data Privacy $5 · by Oct 26
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to file a claim to get an FTC refund?
Usually not. The FTC says most of its cases do not require a claim, because court orders typically make the company hand over a customer list with contact details and amounts paid. When that data is missing, the FTC runs a claims process and posts how to apply at ftc.gov/refunds.
How do I know an FTC refund is real?
A real payment or claim form explains the case, and the case is listed at ftc.gov/refunds with the company handling payments and a phone number. The FTC never asks for upfront fees, your Social Security number, or bank account information.
How is the FTC sending refunds?
By check, prepaid debit card, PayPal, or Zelle. For PayPal refunds the FTC first emails recipients from an address ending in .gov, then PayPal emails you when the payment is sent.
Do I need to file a claim for the Amazon Prime refund?
No. The FTC says eligible Prime customers do not have to file a claim, respond to a notice, or fill out forms. Amazon sends payments automatically by check, PayPal, or Venmo through April 2027, up to $200 in total per eligible customer.
My FTC refund check expired. Can I get a new one?
If money is still left in the fund, the FTC may reissue it. Call the number for that refund program, listed at ftc.gov/refunds. Reissues are generally processed once a month.
Are FTC refunds taxable?
The FTC says it generally does not issue 1099s. If it must report a payment to the IRS, it includes a 1099 with your check, and you should report that payment as income. Ask a tax advisor about your situation.