Amazon faces legal setback in Germany over Prime price hikes

The German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has ruled that Amazon's 2022 Prime membership price increase in Germany was invalid. The court found that the terms and conditions used to implement the hike from 69 to 89.90 euros annually were insufficiently transparent. Specifically, the clauses did not clearly inform customers of their rights, such as whether they could reject the increase while maintaining their subscription or if they were forced to cancel entirely.

This ruling follows legal action initiated by the Consumer Association of North Rhine-Westphalia. As a result, long-term customers may be eligible to claim refunds for overpaid fees. Amazon has since updated its terms and conditions regarding price adjustments.

Separately, Amazon is promoting its Amazon Visa in Germany, offering a sign-up bonus of up to 50 euros for eligible Prime members through October 2026. The credit card provides cashback on purchases—1 percent within the Amazon ecosystem and 0.5 percent elsewhere—and carries no annual fee, though it does feature an effective annual interest rate of 18.25 percent for partial payments.