Quick answer: Do not appeal right away and do not open a new account. First read the notice and your Account Health page to identify every violation and ASIN involved, check what happened to your listings, inventory, and funds, and collect the documents Amazon asked for. Then submit one complete appeal through Account Health. Amazon says to expect a reply within two days, so a rushed, incomplete first appeal costs you more time, not less.
The hours after a suspension notice are when most sellers make the mistakes that keep them suspended. This guide is a first-response plan: what to check, what to gather, what to avoid, and when to submit. For the full appeal process, see our guide on how to get a suspended Amazon account back. The rules below come from Amazon’s Seller Central help pages.
Step One: Read the Notice and Account Health Page
Your suspension notice and the Account Health page in Seller Central tell you why the account was deactivated and what Amazon wants. Amazon describes the Account Health page as giving visibility into issues that may affect your ability to sell, and it is where the appeal starts.
Write down every violation
Amazon notes that some deactivations come from a combination of issues. List each violation, the policy it falls under, and the date.
Find the ASINs under review
Amazon says the list of products under review is at the bottom of the original notification. Your appeal needs evidence for all of them.
Check the timeframe on documents
Amazon reminds sellers to check the timeframe requested for documents. Some products require invoices from the last 365 days.
Your First Response Plan
| When | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Read the notice and Account Health page. List every violation and ASIN. | Amazon asks you to explain all issues and cover every product under review. |
| Day 1 | Check listings, open orders, and FBA inventory. Keep shipping open seller-fulfilled orders if you can. | Performance problems on open orders can add new defects. |
| Day 1 to 2 | Find the root cause of each violation inside your own operation. | Amazon asks for root causes, such as unverifiable suppliers or quality control gaps. |
| Day 2 to 3 | Collect invoices, authorization letters, order IDs, or other documents the notice requests. Highlight the ASINs and supplier details. | Amazon asks for supporting evidence for all items and suggests highlighting key details. |
| Day 3 | Submit one complete appeal through Account Health. | Amazon expects a reply within two days and may ask for more information. |
What Not to Do After a Suspension
Do not open a new seller account
Amazon’s code of conduct allows more than one selling account only with a legitimate business need and only when all accounts are in good standing. If any account is not in good standing, Amazon may deactivate all of them.
Do not edit your documents
Amazon allows you to remove pricing from invoices. Any other edit, or a misleading document, violates the Anti-Counterfeiting Policy and leads to enforcement against your account.
Do not send an emotional or vague appeal
Amazon asks for appeals that are clear, concise, factual, and free of emotive language, focused on the events that caused the issue rather than introducing your business.
Do not contact customers outside Amazon
Amazon’s code of conduct requires that you contact customers only through Buyer-Seller Messaging. Reaching out by other means to ask for changed feedback or reviews creates new violations.
What Happens to Your Funds
Funds depend on the type of violation. Amazon’s Anti-Counterfeiting Policy states that Amazon may withhold payments if it determines an account was used to sell inauthentic goods, commit fraud, or engage in other illegal activity. Its Restricted Products policy lists permanent withholding of payments among possible actions. For other deactivations, the outcome of the appeal decides what happens next, so resolving the suspension is the priority.
Where to Get Answers From Amazon
Professional sellers can reach Amazon’s Account Health Support team from the Contact us or Call me now button on the Account Health page. Amazon says specialists can explain your metrics and violations and help you submit the information required to reinstate a deactivated account. The team is available 7 days a week.
If the notice is unclear, involves several violation types, or a first appeal has already been rejected, our Amazon suspension and reinstatement team can build the appeal with you. If funds or inventory are tied up, our Amazon inventory reconciliation service tracks what Amazon owes you. If you run more than one business, read about our secondary accounts service before taking any step on another account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first when my Amazon account is suspended?
Read the notice and your Account Health page, list every violation and ASIN involved, and gather the documents Amazon asked for before submitting an appeal.
How fast should I appeal an Amazon suspension?
Promptly, but completely. Amazon expects a reply within two days of an appeal and may ask for more information, so one complete appeal is faster than several partial ones.
Can I keep selling on another account while suspended?
Amazon may deactivate all of your selling accounts if any of them is not in good standing, and allows multiple accounts only with a legitimate business need.
Will Amazon keep my money if I am suspended?
It depends on the violation. Amazon’s policies allow it to withhold payments in cases such as inauthentic goods, fraud, or restricted products. The appeal outcome determines what happens to the account.
Can I call Amazon about my suspension?
Professional sellers can request a call from Account Health Support using the Contact us or Call me now button on the Account Health page.
Start With a Clear Plan
The first appeal is your best chance. Submit your case for a free assessment of your notice, or book a consultation before you appeal.
Sources
- Amazon Seller Central, Appeal an account deactivation or listing removal
- Amazon Seller Central, Complete an appeal questionnaire to reinstate selling privileges
- Amazon Seller Central, Account health FAQ
- Amazon Seller Central, Account health support FAQ
- Amazon Seller Central, Selling policies and seller code of conduct
- Amazon Seller Central, Amazon Anti-Counterfeiting policy
- Amazon Seller Central, Restricted products
