Amazon Account Suspended: What to Do (POA Guide)

Short answer: if your Amazon account is suspended, first read the reason in the Account Health dashboard in Seller Central and in the notification you received. Then find the root cause, gather any documents requested, and appeal through the route shown in the notification with a Plan of Action (POA) covering the root cause, the corrective steps and the preventive steps. Don't try to open a new seller account while the case is open.

A suspension can stop revenue overnight, and rushed, emotional appeals drag cases out. Here's the calm, correctly ordered playbook.

First: why were you suspended?

Per Amazon, policy violations may result in account deactivation, loss of Featured Offer eligibility and withholding of funds. The notification states the reason. The main causes named on Amazon's own pages:

• Performance metrics: Amazon's seller-policies page recommends keeping Order Defect Rate (ODR) under 1%, Late Shipment Rate (LSR) on seller-fulfilled orders ideally under 4%, and cancellation rate below 2.5%
• Code of conduct violations: providing inaccurate information, manipulating sales rankings or reviews, listing counterfeit products
• Restricted products: items that can't be sold or that require approval before listing
• Verification: problems with the government ID and proof of address requested at registration

An appeal written without diagnosing the reason is a punch thrown blindfolded. If the notification lists more than one issue, answer each one separately.

The Account Health dashboard and rating

Amazon shows an Account Health Rating in the Account Health dashboard in Seller Central: a color-coded score from 0 to 1,000 that Amazon describes as a snapshot of your account's risk of deactivation. It's the first place to look, because it shows which policy you were flagged under and where to appeal.

To see how close your metrics are to the thresholds, use our account health risk simulator.

How to write the Plan of Action

The structure sellers commonly use, and the one that works in our own practice, is an action plan, not an apology letter. Three sections, short and bulleted:

• 1. Root cause: state honestly, with ownership, why it happened. Restating the notice isn't enough; explain how the problem arose in your processes.
• 2. Corrective actions: what you have done (past tense): refunded orders, updated listings, removed products. Give concrete details such as dates and ASINs.
• 3. Preventive actions: permanent process changes that stop recurrence: a supplier-verification process, stock buffers, regular metric checks, a named owner.

Describe process, not emotion. If documents are requested (supplier invoices, for example), attach them complete and legible, and make sure names and addresses are consistent with your account details. In some cases Amazon may ask for documents or proof of compliance rather than a written plan; read the notification for what's required.

What to avoid

• Firing off an angry appeal without reading the notice: note any deadline or condition it states, but don't rush the first submission
• Resending a rejected text unchanged: read the rejection and revise the plan
• Opening a new account while suspended: Amazon ties seller accounts to its own policies; a second account doesn't solve the problem and can create a new violation
• Big upfront payments to "guaranteed reinstatement" consultants: only Amazon decides, and nobody can guarantee the outcome

Realistic expectations

Timing depends on the type of case. Amazon's public pages don't publish a general resolution time for appeals. Sales stop in the meantime, so plan cash flow accordingly.

The best strategy: never get suspended

Watch the Account Health dashboard regularly, keep a buffer below the thresholds Amazon recommends, archive supplier documents from day one and track restricted-product lists. On our own stores the account-health check is part of the weekly operations routine, and we do the same for clients under Amazon consulting.

FAQ

My Amazon account was suspended. What should I do first? Open the Account Health dashboard and the notification in Seller Central, and read the reason and any documents requested. Appeal through the route shown, with a plan covering root cause, corrective and preventive actions.

What is a Plan of Action (POA)? An action plan that explains the root cause of the problem that led to the suspension, what you've done to fix it, and the permanent processes you've put in place to prevent it recurring.

What metric thresholds does Amazon recommend? Per Amazon's seller-policies page: Order Defect Rate under 1%, Late Shipment Rate on seller-fulfilled orders ideally under 4%, and cancellation rate below 2.5%.

Can I open a new account while suspended? We don't recommend it. Amazon ties accounts to its own policies; a second account doesn't solve the existing problem and can make it worse. Read the rules in Seller Central's policy pages.

What is the Account Health Rating? A color-coded score from 0 to 1,000 that Amazon uses to summarize your account's risk of deactivation.

The takeaway

Suspension isn't the end; it can be reversed with a correct diagnosis and a mature action plan. Process over panic: read the reason, gather evidence, write the three-part plan, and send the appeal at full strength.

If your account is suspended now and you want a second pair of eyes on the case, get in touch; the first assessment call is free.

Sources and scope

• Amazon, Amazon seller policies: ODR, LSR and cancellation-rate thresholds, Account Health Rating (0–1,000), code-of-conduct violation examples and possible consequences, restricted products
• Amazon, Sell on Amazon FAQ: ID and address documents requested at registration

Amazon's detailed help pages on the Plan of Action and the appeal flow require a Seller Central login; those sections rely on common practice. This article is general information, not legal advice. Amazon's policies and thresholds can change; rely on your own notification and the current policies in Seller Central. Information checked on October 14, 2026.