Overview

Amazon sellers who believe they've been charged incorrect referral fees on their transactions can request a reimbursement through Seller Central. This process, governed by a policy updated in November 2021, requires specific documentation and follows a structured review process. Understanding the requirements upfront can save sellers time and increase the likelihood of a successful claim.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Documentation is mandatory — Every reimbursement request must include transaction dates, the specific transactions in question, the fees you were charged, and the amount you believe is correct along with your reasoning.
• One claim per fee charge — Amazon only allows a single claim per fee charge. Duplicate claims for the same charge will be automatically declined.
• Fee category guidelines matter — Your claim must align with the fee category guidelines that were in effect at the time of the original transaction, not current guidelines if they've since changed.
• Invalid claims carry consequences — Submitting a pattern of claims that Amazon's research confirms were accurately charged could result in future claims being refused entirely.
• Appeals are available but final — If you disagree with Amazon's investigation, you can request a second independent review, but that appeal determination is final.

How the Process Works

Before filing a reimbursement request, sellers need to do their homework. Start by downloading the relevant transaction data from your Seller Central reports for the period in question. Compare the referral fee you were charged against the rates listed on Amazon's fee schedule for your product's fee category. If you're unsure which category your product falls into, consult Amazon's fee category guidelines. For products not explicitly listed in those guidelines, you'll need to identify the category you believe applies and reference the corresponding rate from the fee schedule. Only proceed with a claim when you're confident the fee charged doesn't match what the guidelines indicate.

Required Documentation

Amazon requires a complete package of information to process any referral fee reimbursement request. Sellers must provide the exact date of the disputed transaction or transactions, the specific transaction identifiers showing the referral fees that were charged, and the referral fee amount they believe should have been applied instead. Critically, you also need to supply a rationale for why you believe a different fee category or rate applies, supported by references to Amazon's fee category guidelines. You'll also need to attach the downloaded transaction report from Seller Central covering the period in question. Claims submitted without sufficient documentation may be declined and closed without further review, so it's important to gather everything before reaching out.