Amazon Prime customers in Oregon and nationwide have started receiving payments of as much as $51 as part of a record $2.5 billion settlement that ended a lawsuit claiming the world’s largest online retailer used deceptive practices to enroll customers in the expedited shipping program and then made it difficult to cancel.

The Federal Trade Commission announced that the first of “millions” of customers began receiving emails last week, notifying them that they could claim their payments via Venmo or Paypal.

The emails will continue to be sent through Dec. 24. Those who don’t claim their payments through those electronic payment platforms will eventually be mailed a check.

Who is getting the money?

The FTC earlier estimated 35 million customers were eligible for a refund, but the actual number may be less because this month, the agency listed tighter criteria.

In order to receive settlement money, customers must be located in the U.S.; have enrolled in Amazon Prime from June 23, 2019 to June 23, 2025 in one of several ways (including a “Shipping Option Select Page” or “Single Page Checkout”); and have used their Prime benefits no more than three times in any one-year period.

What do I need to do to get paid?

If you’re eligible, you likely don’t need to do anything. Amazon will automatically issue payments to customers who are due a slice of the settlement, according to the FTC.

Anyone who doesn’t receive a payment email by Dec. 24 will be able to make a claim in 2026, but the FTC hasn’t laid out the process for doing so yet.

How much could I get?

Amazon must pay $1 billion of the $2.5 billion to the government as a civil penalty. The remaining $1.5 billion will go to customers.

Court documents that outline the settlement agreement say qualifying customers will receive a maximum of $51 each. Already, social media users say they’ve been receiving emails asking them to accept $51 payments through their Venmo or PayPal accounts.

Some said they’d received smaller amounts, such as $31.

Why am I getting paid?

A Seattle judge approved the settlement in September, more than two years after the FTC sued Amazon for what it claimed was trickery in building Prime memberships. The memberships cost as much as $139 per year and allowed users to receive same-day, one-day and two-day shipping at no additional charge.

As part of the settlement, the company must provide a “clear and conspicuous button” that allows customers to decline Prime enrollment. Amazon also must provide easy ways for members to cancel if they already are enrolled.

Prime had an estimated 197 million members in the U.S, as of earlier this year.

In response to the settlement, Amazon said the following in a September statement:

“Amazon and our executives have always followed the law and this settlement allows us to move forward and focus on innovating for customers. We work incredibly hard to make it clear and simple for customers to both sign up or cancel their Prime membership, and to offer substantial value for our many millions of loyal Prime members around the world.”