A PYMNTS Company

Coalition Tells FTC Amazon Makes It Too Hard to Cancel Prime

By  |  January 14, 2021

A coalition of public interest advocates is asking US regulators to investigate whether Amazon violates consumer protection laws with its process for canceling Prime subscriptions, reported Bloomberg.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday, January 14, a group led by Public Citizen wrote that the steps required to cancel Prime “are designed to unfairly and deceptively undermine the will of the consumer,” and may violate both FTC rules as well as other consumer protection laws. 

    The letter draws on a complaint by Norway’s consumer protection agency, which on Thursday asked Norwegian regulators to determine whether Amazon violated local law.

    A spokesperson for the FTC didn’t immediately comment and Amazon didn’t reply to an email seeking comment. Prime, which costs US$119 a year in the US, offers quick shipping, video streaming, and other perks, and has been a major catalyst for Amazon’s growth into the world’s largest online retailer.

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.