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Amazon Account Suspended? How to Protect Your Rank & Recover Fast

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Your listings just vanished. Now what?

If your Amazon account just got suspended, you’re probably panicking. We get it — one click and your business hits a wall. But here’s the good news: Most suspensions are fixable.

This guide breaks down how to bounce back fast — and how to stay safe in the future.

How to Know If Amazon Has Suspended Your Account?

Amazon sends the bad news in two ways: Through your email inbox and your Seller Central dashboard. Keep a close eye on the Account Health part of Seller Central - it shows if you're suspended and what rules you broke.

Check your email and Seller Central often so you don't miss important account updates.

What Happens When Your Amazon Account Gets Suspended?

Amazon has four different levels of trouble you can get into. Most can be fixed by sending them a plan, but if you're banned, you're done for good. Amazon won't talk to you anymore, and you can't appeal.

The four levels are:

1. ASIN Suppression

2. Account Suspension

3. Denied

4. Banned

ASIN Suppression

Beyond complete account shutdowns, Amazon can block just one product from your store. This is called ASIN blocking.

When your product gets blocked, it still exists in Amazon's system. But you can't sell it anymore—even if you created it! The good news? Just like with full suspensions, you can ask Amazon to let you sell it again.

Want to get your product back on sale? Check out the 'Write a Plan of Action' section below to learn how.

Account Suspension

The first thing Amazon does when it kicks a seller off its platform is to suspend the account. It looks scary, but here's the good news: Suspension means you still have a chance to fight back.

If you're lucky, Amazon will explain why they suspended you in their message. They'll also tell you how long you have to appeal—most sellers get about a week.

When suspended, you must answer Amazon's concerns with a Plan of Action (POA) letter. It needs to shows exactly how you'll fix whatever problems they’ve found. Don't worry—we'll teach you how to write it later.

Denied

After you send Amazon your POA, they might say no. Don't worry! Getting denied isn't the end.

You can fix your plan and try again. The good thing is there's no limit on how many times you can appeal.

Many sellers say they've sent in several POAs before finding one that worked. Keep trying until you give Amazon what it wants to see!

Banned

When Amazon permanently bans you, it's like hitting a brick wall - they stop responding and won't review your POA. Though rare, some sellers have gotten back by escalating to Executive Seller Relations, pursuing legal mediation, or hiring specialized reinstatement experts. 

While a ban usually means your Amazon selling days are over, these approaches might offer a last chance if your business depends on it.

What We See Behind the Scenes

At Seller Candy, we’ve helped hundreds of sellers recover from suspensions. And we’ve noticed that most of the time, suspensions don’t come out of nowhere — they build up over time.


The top 3 mistakes we see are:

  • Submitting POAs that are too emotional and not specific

  • Not attaching proof (like invoices or screenshots)

  • Blaming Amazon instead of owning up to the issue

If you’re making these, you’re not just at risk of being suspended — you’re also hurting your chances of getting reinstated.

That’s why it’s critical to understand what led to the suspension before jumping into the recovery process.

What to do if Amazon Suspends or Blocks You

1. Think About Why it Happened

Amazon rarely tells you why they suspended you. Their messages can leave you scratching your head. If you're confused, look back at what you've done lately as a seller.

Remember: Sometimes, it's your mistake. Other times, it's completely beyond your control.

Things You Can Control: Your Seller Performance 

Look at your Account Health page in Seller Central. Amazon watches three main areas:

1. How happy your customers are. This includes bad reviews, refund claims, and payment issues. Keep problems under 1%, or you'll be in trouble.

2. Getting orders out on time. If you ship your own products, Amazon wants you to be nearly perfect. Keep late shipments under 4% and order cancellations under 2.5%, and make sure you add tracking numbers to at least 95% of your orders.

3. Playing by Amazon's rules. Break just one of these, and you could be kicked off:

  • Using other people's brands or ideas

  • Selling fake products

  • Breaking listing guidelines

  • Lying about product condition

  • Selling stuff that's not allowed

  • Selling unsafe products

  • Cheating the review system

FBA and Non-FBA Challenges

Different types of sellers may face unique challenges. For example:

  • FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) Sellers: Must ensure that products meet Amazon's storage and safety guidelines. Any non-compliance can result in product suppression or suspension.

  • FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) Sellers: Need to maintain high standards for shipping performance and tracking accuracy. Failing to meet Amazon’s expectations can lead to account health issues or suspension.

Things You Can’t Control: Policy Changes And Unethical Competitors 

Amazon suspensions can still happen even when you're doing everything by the book. One major headache for sellers is keeping up with Amazon's constantly changing rules. They update their policies all the time, and missing these changes can put your account in danger before you realize it.


It's frustrating when your products suddenly get flagged or removed without any warning. When this happens, try not to panic. Carefully read through any messages from Amazon, and don't hesitate to contact support to figure out what's going on.

Dealing with Competitor Sabotage

Another common problem comes from competitors who don't play fair. Some might:

  • Post fake negative reviews on your listings

  • Make false claims about you violating their intellectual property

  • Submit bogus reports about your performance to harm your account

To guard against these kinds of attacks, consider taking these steps:

1. Join Amazon's Brand Registry

This gives you better protection for your intellectual property and more control over your product listings.

2. Use the Transparency Program

This helps stop counterfeiters and makes customers feel more confident buying from you.

3. Set Up Monitoring Tools

Use services that alert you to changes in your reviews or feedback so you can quickly respond to anything suspicious.

Taking these precautions won't guarantee you'll never have problems, but they can significantly reduce your chances of falling victim to competitor attacks or getting caught off guard by policy changes.

2. Write a Plan of Action

Let's talk about getting back on Amazon after a suspension. When Amazon gives you a shot at appealing, you'll need to put together a solid Plan of Action (POA) right away. How well you craft this can make or break your chances of selling again.

First, figure out what went wrong. Amazon isn't always crystal clear about why they suspended you. Dig through your account health dashboard, check those performance notices, and look for policy violations.

For instance, you might realize: "I had a product with an ingredient Amazon doesn't allow, which breaks their safety policy."

Next, show what you've already fixed. Explain the steps you've taken before even submitting your appeal. Own up to what happened (yes, even if you think Amazon's being unfair), and back everything up with proof.

This proof might include things like:

  • Invoices showing your products are the real deal

  • Messages between you and customers addressing their complaints

  • Steps you've taken for quality control

  • Screenshots of your updated listings that fix whatever violations occurred

Then, explain how you'll prevent this from happening again. Amazon loves seeing that you're thinking ahead. Clearly lay out the changes you've made to your business.

This could mean:

  • Setting up regular quality checks for your products

  • Making sure your team knows Amazon's rules inside and out

  • Creating a system to watch customer feedback and jump on problems fast

When writing your POA:

  • Just be straight with them. Admit where things went sideways.

  • Get into the details—vague explanations won't cut it.

  • Attach any documents that strengthen your case.

  • Keep it professional, even when you're feeling frustrated.

Real Case: How One Seller Got Reinstated in 3 Days

Emma, a pet supply seller, got suspended after a sudden spike in returns. She reached out to us confused, thinking it was a competitor attack.


We helped her trace it to a mislabeled product batch and rewrote her POA with clear proof (lot numbers, supplier emails). Amazon reinstated her in under 72 hours.


Moral of the story? Always track your supply chain details and attach proof to your appeal.

3. Send Your Plan And Be Ready to Change It

After you've put together your POA, you'll need to submit it through Seller Central following Amazon's instructions. Just be ready - they might come back asking for more information or changes.

If Amazon rejects your POA (which happens pretty often the first time):

  • Take a close look at their feedback. They usually give you some clues about why they said no. Pay attention to what they're saying - sometimes, it's between the lines.

  • Revise your plan based on what they tell you. Focus specifically on addressing the issues they pointed out. You might need stronger documentation or clearer explanations about how you're fixing things.

  • If you're stuck in a cycle of rejections or just feeling overwhelmed, it might be worth talking to someone who specializes in Amazon reinstatements. These consultants deal with suspensions all day long and can spot issues in your POA that you might be missing.
    They're not cheap, but when your business is on the line, sometimes it's worth the investment to get expert eyes on your situation.

Common Reasons for Seller Account Suspension

Understanding why Amazon suspends sellers can help you avoid making the same mistakes. Here are the main reasons sellers get in trouble:

Seller Performance Issues

Amazon can suspend you if you perform poorly for too long.

They want you to keep problems low. Ship on time. Don't cancel orders. Avoid customer complaints. They watch all this in your Account Health dashboard.

Bad feedback hurts your score. Missing targets hurts your score. When your account health gets too low, Amazon might suspend you. It's that simple.

The scary part? This can happen faster than you think. One bad week can put you in the danger zone. Stay on top of your metrics, or you'll find yourself suddenly locked out of your seller account!

Product Quality Problems

If you sell high-quality items that match your descriptions and meet safety rules, you shouldn't have product policy issues. However, Amazon will suspend your account for:

  • Selling banned, fake, or low-quality products

  • Putting products in the wrong categories

  • Using descriptions that mislead buyers

  • Breaking Amazon's selling guidelines

Using Multiple Accounts Without Permission

Amazon only lets you have one seller account. If you want to run several accounts selling similar items, you need special approval first.

If you open extra accounts without getting Amazon's OK, they can suspend ALL your accounts—not just the new ones. Creating a new account after being suspended is also risky if you haven't fixed the original problem.

Always get Amazon's green light before starting additional accounts.

Breaking the Rules About Others' Ideas and Products

Using someone else's intellectual property, copyright, or trademark can get your account suspended. Selling fake goods or stealing others' content are major violations. Misusing trademark terms or logos or not following Amazon's advertising rules can lead to penalties.

Changing Your Bank Details

Updating your banking information can trigger Amazon’s fraud alerts and might lead to account suspension. To minimize the risk, make sure to update your bank details directly through Seller Central.

Follow these steps to stay on the safe side:

  • Update via Seller Central: Always use the official platform to make changes to your bank information.

  • Prepare for Re-Verification: Be ready to provide supporting documents, such as bank statements or utility bills, as Amazon may request additional verification.

  • Monitor Your Account: Keep an eye on your notifications and respond promptly if Amazon asks for more information.

How to Keep Amazon from Suspending Your Account

Stopping a suspension is much easier than fixing one. Here are key steps to keep your Amazon seller account safe:

Know Amazon's Rules Inside Out

This sounds simple, but many sellers miss it: Make sure to follow Amazon's selling rules at all times. Regularly check the Seller Code of Conduct, don't try to game the review system or rankings, keep competition fair, and respect others' intellectual property.

Pay Attention to Rule Changes

Amazon sends updates about their Terms of Service through email and Seller Central. This is why you shouldn't skip those boring-looking emails! Stay informed about policy changes that affect your products to ensure you stay on Amazon's good side.

Watch Your Inventory Score

Your Amazon Inventory Performance Index (IPI) measures your account health. Keep an eye on changes and fix any issues that make it drop. A good score can protect you from suspension and other penalties, especially those related to inventory management and storage space.

Amazon Suspensions Don't Have to Kill Your Business

The best protection is simple: Know the rules and follow them carefully.

Start with the Seller Code of Conduct and check your Account Health page regularly to spot issues early.

Even if you get targeted by bad actors (rare, but it happens), a clean track record makes all the difference.

In summary:

  • Monitor your account health closely

  • Stay updated on Amazon’s changing policies

  • Write clear, factual POAs with real proof

  • Don’t wait until it’s too late — act early

  • When in doubt, call in expert help

Amazon’s rules can be confusing, and figuring them out takes time—time you're probably already losing to account issues, case backlogs, and support tickets.

That's where we come in! Seller Candy takes care of all your Amazon headaches so you can focus on what matters: Growing your business.

Stop losing money to Amazon account suspensions: Claim your free audit and let our experts identify hidden issues before they become costly problems.

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