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Original poster

Amazon restricted my account and will not refund gift card balance of £200. Totally blindsided. Any advice??

137 replies

PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 28/08/2026 16:00

My account has been restricted by Amazon. Because I violated their returns and refunds policy. I'm gobsmacked (sorry to those who hate that word).

I am only allowed to make digital purchases.

Have been with Amazon for over 20 years and there's never been any issues with my account.

Of late, yes, I have returned several items, for various reasons (faulty, etc) and several packages have gone missing as, despite my explicit instructions on my account, the Amazon delivery people continued to leave my parcels in an unsafe place. Mainly, the public entrance foyer of my block of flats. They are still doing this with parcels for other residents.

I have a gift card balance on the account of over £200 and I have been told that they will not be refunding this money to me. WTF?

This is made worse by the fact that I recently placed an order and applied the gift cards to that order, and it certainly looked as if the purchase had gone through, with the gift cards as payment. However, when I received my credit card statement, the payment had been taken from my credit card. So, I am now £170 out of pocket and have have a huge gift card balance that I can't use.

Please, can anyone offer any advice here? Is there ANYONE that I can appeal to at Amazon? Is it even legal for them to keep my money like this??

Thank you in advance. I'm totally blindsided by this.I cannot emphasise strongly enough that I am not a dodgy customer. There has never been ANY issues with my account up till now.

OP posts:
Original poster
PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 28/08/2026 16:11

@Vallies - thank you, that is something I will look into. I wonder if that will be considered a digital purchase? I appreciate your suggestion because at the moment I'm just not able to think clearly!

OP posts:
Original poster
PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 28/08/2026 16:09

@GreenFootstool I can't honestly say, but I will be checking later. Over the past year - maybe eight? I'm guessing now. But, bear in mind that I order a lot, so eight might sound a lot but I order every couple of weeks.

OP posts:
BabblingBiddy · 28/08/2026 16:09

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 28/08/2026 16:05

"several" packages have gone missing in recent times? How many? What was the value? Could you not have had them delivered to a safer spot or pick up point once it happened a few times?

I think you need to take some responsibility for your customer behaviour, the drivers are paid pennies and have to deliver so many parcels to make a living, how easy was it to leave in a safe place? It really sucks that they've taken your voucher.

I've had "several" parcels go missing too. Not just amazon, every delivery company is the same despite me leaving notes on all of them to to say my front garden is NOT a safe place. Apparently people follow the delivery vans and nick parcels as soon as the van drives away. My neighbour had one taken from her unlocked porch recently.

Vallies · 28/08/2026 16:09

Can you transfer the gift card to another account or use it to buy cards you can use as gifts?

Original poster
PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 28/08/2026 16:08

@NeedAbout36HoursADay - No, the gift card balance was from actual gift cards. We get the occasional 'reward' from work and can choose what we'd like. I always choose amazon vouchers as I spend so much on there.

@Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself - yes, once it was clear the drivers were not delivering to my door, I started to use Amazon lockers.

OP posts:
GreenFootstool · 28/08/2026 16:05

Their T&Cs are explicit about excessive returns potentially leading to an account suspension.

How many returns and refunds have you sought over what period?

All you can do is try to speak to a human on their chat function / call function and appeal to them.

There is no obligation for them to refund your credit balance.

Original poster
PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 28/08/2026 16:05

@orangeblluegreen Of violating their refunds and return policy.

Presumably, too many returns? And obviously, refunds on those returns. That's it.

OP posts:
Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 28/08/2026 16:05

"several" packages have gone missing in recent times? How many? What was the value? Could you not have had them delivered to a safer spot or pick up point once it happened a few times?

I think you need to take some responsibility for your customer behaviour, the drivers are paid pennies and have to deliver so many parcels to make a living, how easy was it to leave in a safe place? It really sucks that they've taken your voucher.

NeedAbout36HoursADay · 28/08/2026 16:04

Is this gift card balance built up from refunds for missing/faulty orders?

Holeymoley28 · 28/08/2026 16:04

You’ve been flagged as a scammer basically with all your missing parcels. Assume they also think you’re possibly switching broken / faulty items out.

A gift card balance wouldn’t be returned as cash as I’m sure that would fall under money laundering issues. Unless you topped it up directly from your bank and not with gift cards.

You’ll need to fight your case that you’re not a scammer or spend on digital things.

hotmumshit · 28/08/2026 16:04

Amazon are scum. Scum.

orangeblluegreen · 28/08/2026 16:03

What exactly are they accusing you of?