Amazon related account suspension: why it happens and how to appeal

What does "related account" mean on Amazon?

Amazon's seller rules generally allow one Seller Central account per region unless you have a legitimate business reason for a second one. When Amazon's systems decide your account is connected to another account that has a problem, they can deactivate yours too, even if your own account had no issues. The notice usually says your account is related to another account that is not permitted to sell. It rarely names that other account.

What links two accounts together?

No single link always proves the accounts are run by the same people. A shared office building or a prep center used by hundreds of sellers has an innocent explanation. A shared bank account usually does not.

The first 48 hours

1. Do not open a new account to keep selling. It will almost always be linked and closed too.
2. Read the notice on the Account Health page and note the exact policy and deadline.
3. List every account you, your family, partners, staff or agencies have ever logged into or helped run. The "related" account is often an old one you forgot about, or one a freelancer or virtual assistant used from the same computer.
4. Check which of the link types above apply, and collect documents for each.

How to write the appeal

There are two kinds of appeal, depending on what you find.

• The accounts are not run by the same people. Start with who owns and controls each business, the bank accounts, the inventory and the decisions. Explain each shared detail and why it does not mean common control. Attach company records, bank letters, leases or utility bills, and contracts that show the businesses are separate.
• The accounts are connected. Say so plainly. Then fix the related account's problem (for example, with a Plan of Action for that account), or explain the legitimate business reason for having two accounts and ask for permission.

Add a short list of attachments that says what each document proves. Keep the tone calm and factual, and never deny something Amazon can check in its own records.

How to avoid a related account problem

• Use separate bank accounts, cards and tax IDs for separate businesses.
• Do not log into a client's or another brand's Seller Central from your own computer without using Amazon's user permissions.
• Give agencies and virtual assistants their own user login on your account instead of your password.
• If you need a second account, ask Amazon for permission first.

When to get help

Related account cases are harder than most suspensions because Amazon rarely says which account it means. Our account health service finds the likely link, collects the evidence and writes the appeal, from $300.