Quick answer: After a suspension, the mistakes that hurt most are the ones that add new violations or weaken your appeal. Do not open a new seller account, edit or create documents, contact customers outside Buyer-Seller Messaging, offer customers anything to change feedback or reviews, submit a rushed or emotional appeal, or ignore requests from Amazon. Amazon’s policies treat altered documents, multiple accounts without a legitimate business need, and review manipulation as serious violations, and any of them can turn a recoverable suspension into a permanent one.
A suspension notice creates pressure to act fast. Acting fast is good; acting carelessly is not. This guide lists the moves that commonly make things worse and explains, using Amazon’s own policies, why each one is a problem.
Mistakes and Why They Backfire
| Do not | Why, according to Amazon’s policies |
|---|---|
| Open a new seller account to keep selling | You may only have one account per region without a legitimate business need, and Amazon may deactivate all your accounts if any are not in good standing |
| Edit invoices or other documents | Documents must be authentic and unaltered; only pricing may be removed |
| Submit pro forma invoices, quotes, or self-issued invoices | Amazon states these are not accepted for review |
| Contact customers by email, phone, or social media | All communication must go through Buyer-Seller Messaging |
| Offer customers refunds or gifts to remove feedback or reviews | Incentives in exchange for removing or changing feedback or reviews are prohibited |
| Request feedback removal outside Feedback Manager | Amazon warns other channels may lead to account deactivation |
| Ignore the notice or miss a deadline | A Critical violation gives three days before deactivation |
Do Not Open Another Account
It is tempting to start over under a new name. Amazon’s Seller Code of Conduct allows one Seller Central account per region unless you have a legitimate business need and all of your accounts are in good standing. It adds that if any of your accounts are not in good standing, Amazon may deactivate all of them. A new account opened to get around a suspension is not a legitimate business need, and it gives Amazon a second violation to act on. For when multiple accounts are allowed, see can you have multiple Amazon seller accounts.
Do Not Alter Documents
Amazon’s invoice requirements say any document you provide must be authentic and unaltered. You may remove pricing; nothing else may change. Amazon also says it may contact your supplier to verify the information. Edited dates, quantities, or product names can lead to a separate violation for forged or manipulated documentation, which is harder to recover from than the original issue. Read our guide to forged or manipulated documentation suspensions.
Do Not Contact Customers Outside Amazon
Some sellers try to resolve the complaints behind a suspension by reaching customers directly. Amazon’s code of conduct and communication policy require all contact to go through Buyer-Seller Messaging, and you may use customer information only to fulfill orders. Messages sent elsewhere, or messages that ask customers to change a review, add violations.
Do Not Try to Buy Your Way Out of Feedback or Reviews
Amazon prohibits paying for or offering incentives such as coupons or free products in exchange for providing or removing feedback or reviews, and asking customers to remove or change a review. Amazon rates review solicitation as a Critical violation. Feedback removal requests must go through Feedback Manager within 90 days, and Amazon warns that requesting removal through other channels may lead to deactivation.
Do Not Rush or Pad the Appeal
Amazon’s appeal guidance asks you to be clear, concise, factual, and direct, and to avoid emotive language. It also asks you to:
- Explain every issue and its root cause
- List specific actions taken, with dates
- Provide evidence for every ASIN under review
- Use documents within the requested timeframe, which for some products is 365 days
An appeal that blames Amazon, the customer, or a competitor, or that promises to “do better” without specifics, usually leads to a request for more information and more waiting.
Do Not Ignore Amazon or Your Remaining Customers
Watch your email and the Account Health page for requests, and respond within the stated timelines. If you still have open orders or returns, keep handling them; your obligations to customers do not stop because your listings are down. If Amazon is holding funds, its funds disbursement policy explains when and how you can appeal for them.
What to Do Instead
- Read the full notice and list every policy and ASIN it names.
- Find the root cause before writing anything.
- Gather invoices and records that meet Amazon’s requirements.
- Write one complete appeal and submit it from the Account Health page.
- Professional sellers can use Contact us on the Account Health page to ask Account Health Support what the violation requires.
Our Amazon suspension and reinstatement team handles this process every day. For the full picture, see what to do when your Amazon account is suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a new Amazon account after being suspended?
Amazon allows one account per region without a legitimate business need, and may deactivate all of a seller’s accounts if any are not in good standing. Opening one to get around a suspension risks both.
Can I edit my invoices before sending them?
You may remove pricing. Amazon requires everything else to be authentic and unaltered.
Should I contact customers who complained?
Only through Buyer-Seller Messaging and only for permitted purposes. You may not ask them to remove or change reviews.
Is it bad to appeal right away?
Speed matters, especially with a three-day window, but an incomplete appeal leads to more review rounds. Find the root cause and gather evidence first.
Will Amazon keep my money while I am suspended?
Amazon may withhold funds after a deactivation. If you are reinstated, funds are released on your normal schedule; otherwise you can appeal for them after 60 days.
Get Help Before You Act
Submit your case for a free assessment, or book a consultation.
Sources
- Amazon Seller Central, Selling policies and seller code of conduct
- Amazon Seller Central, Invoice requirements for appealing a policy violation
- Amazon Seller Central, Complete an appeal questionnaire to reinstate selling privileges
- Amazon Seller Central, Communication program policy
- Amazon Seller Central, Can Amazon remove buyer feedback?
- Amazon Seller Central, Account Health Rating: Frequently Asked Questions
- Amazon Seller Central, Funds disbursement eligibility policy
