Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most from suspended and deactivated Amazon sellers.
How long does Amazon reinstatement take?
It depends heavily on violation type. Verification issues can resolve in one to two weeks once correct documents are submitted. Related account cases and repeat rejections typically take far longer. See every violation type for specifics.
Can Amazon keep my money after suspension?
Amazon can hold funds during and after a suspension, but held funds are not automatically forfeited. A separate appeal, on its own 60-day clock, applies. Read how funds disbursement works.
What is Amazon arbitration?
Arbitration is a contractual dispute process specified in the Business Solutions Agreement, used when Seller Central will not resolve a dispute — typically over larger held funds. It is a legal process, not an appeal. Read the full arbitration guide.
Can I sue Amazon for holding my funds?
Generally, no — not through the courts. The Business Solutions Agreement’s arbitration clause routes most seller-Amazon disputes to arbitration rather than litigation. UK sellers have an additional regulatory route through the Financial Ombudsman Service that does not exist in the US. Read about the UK route.
Does Amazon ever reinstate accounts?
Yes, regularly — including accounts rejected multiple times, where the root cause was correctly identified and addressed on a later attempt. Read what to do after a rejection.
How do I know which violation type I have been suspended for?
Your Performance Notification names a policy, but the named policy is often a category rather than a diagnosis. Send us your notice and we will tell you what we think actually triggered it, free.
Didn’t find your answer here?
Looking at Frequently Asked Questions more closely, the outcome usually hinges on how well the response matches Amazon’s specific stated reason rather than a general explanation.
When it comes to Frequently Asked Questions, sellers frequently underestimate how much documentation Amazon expects before a case is even reviewed. Reviewers typically look for a clear root-cause explanation, supporting evidence such as invoices or shipping records, and a forward-looking plan that shows the same issue will not recur. None of this replaces reading the specific notice Amazon sent, since wording and required evidence can vary case by case.
Many sellers reach out about Frequently Asked Questions only after their first attempt has already been rejected, which makes the second attempt far more important to get right. Account health metrics from the 60 to 90 days before the issue are usually part of the picture reviewers consider, even if they are not mentioned explicitly in the notice. Timelines quoted by other sellers online are not guarantees — plan for the process to take longer than expected.