Ask HN: Take AWS to small claims court?

#1

Post by zalebz » Wed, Sep 06, 2023, 1:17 PM UTC

Has any one of you ever taken Amazon to small claims court?

I've been trying to get a very obvious mistaken charge reversed from my account and I've lost patience at this point.

I'm strongly considering dying on a hillside to prove a point but frankly I'm not sure I care enough and may just dispute it with my CC company. Although I'm sure that will have extremely annoying repercussions as well. Any of you had to do a CC dispute with Amazon?

Advice in general on how to actually deal with AWS customer service? I feel like the rep is trying to get me to provide some sort of "coded language" that I need to use in order for them to actually address my billing issue.

Re: Ask HN: Take AWS to small claims court?

#2

Post by 2rsf » Wed, Sep 06, 2023, 1:26 PM UTC

Amazon in this case: https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/seller-forums/discus...

Re: Ask HN: Take AWS to small claims court?

#3

Post by brudgers » Wed, Sep 06, 2023, 2:28 PM UTC

There is a good chance your terms of service require arbitration.

Have your lawyer look into it.

Conversely, write the charge off as a cost of doing business and move on.

Re: Ask HN: Take AWS to small claims court?

#4

Post by giantg2 » Wed, Sep 06, 2023, 3:10 PM UTC

I had a mistaken charge with Amazon (not AWS). Took multiple calls and multiple months until they fixed it. The biggest thing that moved the resolution along was a complaint with the BBB. Seems like complaints through the BBB hit a different queue than your typical customer complaints and get better attention.

Re: Ask HN: Take AWS to small claims court?

#5

Post by ksherlock » Wed, Sep 06, 2023, 7:11 PM UTC

You can also file a complaint with your state attorney general (consumer protection division). Then an intern will print out your complaint on stationary that says ATTTORNEY GENERAL and mail it in an envelope that says ATTORNEY GENERAL so the company will take it more seriously.

Re: Ask HN: Take AWS to small claims court?

#6

Post by idontwantthis » Thu, Sep 07, 2023, 2:34 AM UTC

brudgers wrote: post #3

There is a good chance your terms of service require arbitration. Have your lawyer look into it. Conversely, write the charge off as a cost of doing business and move on.

If they aren’t responding to communications, and you sue them, wouldn’t they have to show up and say arbitration is required to the judge?

Re: Ask HN: Take AWS to small claims court?

#7

Post by tothrowaway » Thu, Sep 07, 2023, 7:44 PM UTC

ksherlock wrote: post #5

You can also file a complaint with your state attorney general (consumer protection division). Then an intern will print out your complaint on stationary that says ATTTORNEY GENERAL and mail it in an envelope that says ATTORNEY GENERAL so the company will take it more seriously.

I've done this a few times, and was pleasantly surprised it actually worked. It's a lot easier than going to court.

Re: Ask HN: Take AWS to small claims court?

#8

Post by zalebz » Fri, Sep 08, 2023, 3:22 PM UTC

Thanks everyone for the advice.

No one has chimed in about some "magic words/phrasing" I need to use.

Like I mentioned, it seems like the rep will escalate it to another refund department if I say something in a particular way.

Re: Ask HN: Take AWS to small claims court?

#9

Post by brudgers » Fri, Sep 08, 2023, 8:12 PM UTC

idontwantthis wrote: post #6

brudgers wrote: post #3

There is a good chance your terms of service require arbitration. Have your lawyer look into it. Conversely, write the charge off as a cost of doing business and move on.

If they aren’t responding to communications, and you sue them, wouldn’t they have to show up and say arbitration is required to the judge?

Ask your lawyer.