WASHINGTON — Automatic refunds for a $2.5 billion Amazon settlement have started going out this week, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Eligible customers will receive an email from Amazon with instructions on how to claim their payment through PayPal or Venmo. Payments of up to $51 started going out on Nov. 12 and will continue through Dec. 24. Customers must accept their refund within 15 days of receiving the notice.

Anyone who prefers a check, or who does not claim their digital refund in time, will automatically receive a paper check mailed to the default shipping address on their Prime account. Checks must be cashed within 60 days, the FTC said.

The payout marks the beginning of more than $1.5 billion scheduled to be distributed to consumers under the $2.5 billion settleme

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