How UK Amazon Sellers Can Handle Lost Stock, Damaged Items, and Reimbursement Claims

To recover money for lost or damaged stock, check your Inventory Ledger and Reimbursements report every month, match missing units against what Amazon has already paid, and file any gap as a claim with proof before the window closes. Most manual Amazon FBA reimbursement claims must be filed within 60 days. If you cannot spare the time, an Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers trust, such as Refunzo, can run the whole process for you.

Amazon loses and damages a small share of the stock it handles, and UK sellers on Amazon.co.uk pay for it unless they claim. Amazon now pays for many warehouse losses automatically, but not all of them, and the manual deadlines are short. This guide explains what Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement covers, what an Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire can recover, how much you can expect, and what to do step by step. It also sets out the Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers must follow.

What Is an Amazon FBA Reimbursement Service in the UK?

An Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers use is a team or tool that audits your Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) account, finds lost or damaged stock Amazon has not paid for, and files the claims for you. A good Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire works on Amazon.co.uk accounts and recovers money Amazon owes you.

Amazon FBA reimbursement claims are requests for money (or a replacement unit) when Amazon loses or damages your stock inside its own network. An Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire does the checking, proof gathering and filing, so you do not have to. Amazon reimbursement services that UK sellers hire are most useful where deadlines are short and the reports are hard to read. The best Amazon reimbursement services that UK sellers use also explain every Amazon FBA reimbursement claim they file. Not sure whether you need software or people? Read this comparison of Amazon reimbursement software vs service.

What Is Amazon FBA Inventory Reimbursement and What Does It Cover?

Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement is the money Amazon pays when it loses or damages FBA stock it was responsible for. It applies to FBA stock only, not to items you ship yourself.

Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement usually covers four situations, and each one can be claimed as an Amazon FBA lost inventory reimbursement or an Amazon FBA damaged inventory reimbursement:

• Units lost or misplaced in a fulfilment centre.
• Units damaged by Amazon staff, equipment or an Amazon-run carrier.
• Customer refunds where the item never came back to Amazon.
• Inbound shipments or removal orders that arrived short or damaged.

It does not cover stock lost through your own errors, such as wrong labels, items that break FBA rules, or products a customer damaged. Your account must also be in normal status when you file. Any Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement request outside these cases is likely to fail.

What Is the Amazon FBA Reimbursement Policy in the UK?

The Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers must follow gives most manual claims a 60-day window, with a longer window for inbound shipments. Each claim type has its own deadline, so the table below is worth saving.

Amazon FBA reimbursement policy UK: claim windows at a glance

Before 2025, UK sellers had far longer to claim. Amazon shortened the manual windows from January 2025 and started reimbursing most warehouse losses and refund-without-return cases automatically. Some guides still quote an 18-month window. Treat those as out of date, because the current Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers follow is much stricter. Any Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire must work to these current windows, and every Amazon FBA reimbursement claim must fit inside them. The Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers rely on is set by Amazon, so check it each quarter.

How to Get Reimbursed for Lost FBA Inventory?

To get reimbursed for lost FBA inventory, find the units Amazon marked as lost, check whether Amazon has already paid for them, and file a claim with proof for any gap inside the deadline. The steps differ slightly depending on where the stock went missing.

Amazon FBA lost inventory reimbursement follows the same logic every time: find the loss, prove you own the stock, and claim before the clock runs out. An Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire follows these same steps. Here is how Amazon FBA lost inventory reimbursement works in the four most common cases.

How do you claim for stock lost inside a fulfilment centre?

Check the Inventory Ledger for units marked as misplaced, compare them with the Reimbursements report, and claim any unpaid units within 60 days. Amazon pays many of these automatically, so only claim what is genuinely missing.

1. Download the Inventory Ledger for the last 60 days and filter by FNSKU.
2. Look for lines such as “misplaced” or “damaged at fulfilment centre”.
3. Match them against the Reimbursements report.
4. Claim any unit that is lost, unpaid and not still “Researching”.

Units under investigation show as “Researching” for up to 60 days before Amazon either finds them or pays you. Do not file Amazon FBA reimbursement claims for these early. Amazon warns that premature requests can slow down your support.

How do you claim for an inbound shipment that arrived short?

Wait until the shipment is Closed, open the Contents tab, and request research within six months of delivery, with a supplier invoice and proof of delivery. Amazon accepts only one claim per shipment, so gather everything first.

Amazon usually reconciles a shipment within 2 to 30 days, and sometimes up to 60. Pro forma invoices and editable files are not accepted. If a line says the contents were “counted and confirmed”, Amazon physically counted the units on arrival, and a claim is unlikely to succeed.

How do you claim for a lost removal order?

Wait at least 15 days after the last confirmed movement, then claim with the shipment ID and tracking details, no later than day 74 after the order was created. For damaged or wrong items, you have 60 days from delivery.

Photograph every removal box as you open it. Most of the proof Amazon asks for can only be captured on the day it arrives.

How do you claim when a customer was refunded but never returned the item?

Amazon reimburses these automatically if the item does not come back within 45 days. If a payment is missing, you can claim between day 45 and day 105 after the refund. The value is based on the refund amount, minus fees and VAT.

Amazon does not pay for returns damaged by the customer, defective items, recalled items, or refunds you issued yourself.

How Does Amazon FBA Damaged Inventory Reimbursement Work?

Amazon FBA damaged inventory reimbursement applies when Amazon, its warehouse equipment or an Amazon-run carrier damaged your stock, and you file within the deadline with evidence. It does not apply to units that were already defective or that a customer broke.

Damage is harder to prove than loss, so evidence matters more. Use this approach:

• In a fulfilment centre: the Inventory Ledger shows units marked as damaged. Claim within 60 days of the date reported.
• On a removal order: photograph the box and the product when it arrives, and keep the shipping label.
• On a customer return you disagree with: first order the unit back with a removal order, then claim within 60 days of delivery.

For every Amazon FBA damaged inventory reimbursement request, keep the photos, the FNSKU and the dates together in one folder. A strong Amazon FBA damaged inventory reimbursement claim is mostly good evidence. An Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire will ask for the same material.

How Much Will Amazon Reimburse You?

Before a customer orders an item, Amazon pays your sourcing cost, up to £2,000 per unit. After an order, it pays the refund or replacement value minus applicable fees and VAT. Sourcing cost means what you paid your supplier or manufacturer. It leaves out shipping, handling and customs duty.

If you have not entered a sourcing cost in Seller Central, Amazon uses its own estimate, which is often lower. Here is a simple example:

• You sell a product at £19.99 with a sourcing cost of £5.50 and a landed cost of £7.10.
• Amazon loses 30 units.
• With your cost entered, Amazon pays 30 × £5.50 = £165.
• If the cost was blank and Amazon estimated £4.00, it pays 30 × £4.00 = £120. You lose £45.
• Either way, the £1.60 per unit of freight and duty is never repaid: 30 × £1.60 = £48.

So keep your sourcing costs up to date on the Manage Your Sourcing Cost page, and store supplier invoices so you can support the figure if Amazon questions it. Amazon can also reverse a payment if the unit later turns up in your inventory. This valuation rule is part of the Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers often overlook, and it affects every Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement payment you receive.

What Should Be on an FBA Reimbursement Checklist?

A good FBA reimbursement checklist covers seven checks every month: sourcing costs, warehouse losses, refunds without returns, inbound shipments, removals, proof and a log of results. Run it monthly and you will stay inside the 60-day windows. An Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire runs this same checklist on your behalf.

Use this checklist for your Amazon FBA reimbursement claims:

1. Update sourcing costs for every new or repriced SKU, with the invoice ready.
2. Review warehouse losses in the Inventory Ledger for the last 60 days.
3. Compare with the Reimbursements report and the “Eligible for claim” tab of the Inventory Defect and Reimbursement portal.
4. Check customer refunds aged 45 to 105 days. Each one should be returned to stock or reimbursed.
5. Reconcile every closed inbound shipment on the Contents tab, one claim per shipment.
6. Check removal orders in the Removal Shipment Detail and Removal Order Detail reports.
7. Log the outcome: what you claimed, what was paid, what was refused and why. This log shows which Amazon FBA lost inventory reimbursement and Amazon FBA damaged inventory reimbursement cases keep repeating.

What proof do you need for each claim?

Which Amazon Reports Show Lost or Damaged Stock?

The Inventory Ledger, the Reimbursements report and the Inventory Defect and Reimbursement portal show most lost and damaged stock. Together they let you see what went missing and what Amazon has already paid.

• Inventory Ledger: movement history for each FNSKU, with up to 18 months of data.
• Reimbursements report: payments Amazon has already made.
• Inventory Defect and Reimbursement portal: units Amazon already flags as eligible to claim.
• Removal Order Detail and Removal Shipment Detail: the status of units you asked Amazon to send back.
• Shipping Queue (Contents tab): the shortfall on each inbound shipment.

Reimbursements usually take four to five business days to appear after approval. These reports are also where an Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire starts its audit, because they hold the data behind every Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement claim.

Why Do Amazon FBA Reimbursement Claims Get Rejected?

Most Amazon FBA reimbursement claims are rejected for four reasons: they were filed late, the proof was weak, Amazon had already paid or counted the units, or the claim was filed too early. Each of these is avoidable. A careful Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire checks all four before it files, and so should you.

• The claim window had already closed.
• The invoice was a pro forma or an editable file.
• A second claim was filed for the same inbound shipment.
• The units were still “Researching”.
• Contents were “counted and confirmed” on arrival.
• The account was not in normal status.

If Amazon rejects a valid claim, reopen the case with clearer evidence rather than filing a duplicate. Large numbers of weak requests in a short time can lead to monitoring. The Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers must follow says the same: file complete, well-researched cases, not bulk guesses.

What Do UK Sellers Need to Watch That Other Guides Skip?

UK sellers need to watch three things: VAT, landed cost and outdated deadlines. Most generic guides ignore all three. A UK-focused Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire will account for each one, and so will Amazon reimbursement services that UK sellers who know the Amazon.co.uk rules.

• VAT: customer return reimbursements are calculated after VAT is removed. Speak to your accountant about how reimbursement income is recorded in your VAT and company accounts.
• Landed cost: sourcing cost excludes freight and import duty. If you import from overseas, a reimbursed unit still costs you money.
• Old deadlines: the 18-month window is gone. Check the date on any guide you follow, and check it against the current Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers can read in Seller Central.

Do You Need an Amazon FBA Reimbursement Service That UK Sellers Can Rely On?

You need an Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK businesses can rely on when the monthly check keeps slipping, you sell many SKUs, or you ship large inbound volumes. Small sellers with a few products can often do the work by hand. Larger sellers often find that Amazon reimbursement services that UK sellers hire pay for themselves in recovered Amazon FBA reimbursement claims.

Because Amazon now pays many warehouse losses on its own, the money left to recover sits mainly in inbound shortfalls, removal orders and wrong valuations. These need document work and deadlines tracked across several reports, which is where a specialist helps.

Amazon reimbursement services that UK sellers hire usually do four things: audit your reports, spot unpaid units, prepare the proof and file or follow up each case. The best ones also tell you why the same losses keep happening, so you can fix prep or packing.

What Should You Look for in an Amazon FBA Reimbursement Service That UK Sellers Can Trust?

Look for clear fees, UK marketplace experience, read-only account access, current knowledge of the 60-day windows and monthly reporting. A reliable Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK businesses use will explain each of these before you sign. The same checks apply to all Amazon reimbursement services that UK sellers consider.

Use this Amazon FBA reimbursement service UK checklist when you compare providers. Ask these questions:

1. Do you work to the Amazon.co.uk windows and the current policy, not the old 18-month rule?
2. How do you charge, and what happens to claims that fail?
3. Do you need full account access, or only reporting access?
4. Will I see every claim, its status and its outcome?
5. Do you handle inbound, removal and customer-return claims, or only warehouse losses?

To compare providers side by side, see this top Amazon FBA refund services comparison.

Amazon FBA Reimbursement Service UK: How Does Refunzo Help?

Refunzo is an Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers can use to audit an FBA account, find unpaid lost and damaged stock, and file the claims. Our page on Refunzo’s Amazon reimbursement services that UK sellers can book explains how this works for Amazon.co.uk accounts.

Instead of running the monthly checklist yourself, Refunzo checks your reports, matches losses to payments, gathers proof and tracks each claim to a result. That keeps your Amazon FBA lost inventory reimbursement and Amazon FBA damaged inventory reimbursement claims inside Amazon’s short windows while you focus on stock, ads and growth. Refunzo works to the current Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers must follow. To see how it works for your account, visit the Amazon FBA reimbursement service UK page.

Final Thoughts: Choosing an Amazon FBA Reimbursement Service That UK Sellers Can Use

The fastest way to recover lost money is a monthly routine: check, compare, prove and claim inside 60 days. Whether you do it yourself or use an Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers already trust, the routine stays the same.

Use the table of claim windows, the checklist and the proof list in this guide to build your own process. If the work is too much, Refunzo can take over your Amazon FBA reimbursement claims, from Amazon FBA lost inventory reimbursement to Amazon FBA damaged inventory reimbursement, so your lost stock does not stay lost. Refunzo is an Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers can start using today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file an Amazon FBA reimbursement claim in the UK?

Most manual claims have 60 days. Warehouse losses are 60 days from the date reported. Customer returns run from 45 to 105 days after the refund. Inbound shipments allow up to six months from verified delivery. Removal orders have their own windows, so check the table above.

Does Amazon reimburse lost FBA inventory automatically?

Often, yes. Since January 2025 Amazon has reimbursed most warehouse losses and refund-without-return cases without a claim. It does not cover inbound shortfalls or removal orders, and automation can still miss units, so you should still check monthly. This is the core of the Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers need to understand.

How much does Amazon pay for lost inventory?

Before a customer orders it, Amazon pays your sourcing cost, up to £2,000 per unit. After an order, it pays the refund value minus fees and VAT. Keep your sourcing costs current in Seller Central.

Can I claim for damaged inventory?

Yes, if Amazon, its equipment or an Amazon-run carrier caused the damage. Amazon FBA damaged inventory reimbursement does not cover customer-damaged items or products that were already defective. Keep photos and use the 60-day window.

Is an Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire worth it for a small business?

It depends on your volume and time. If you sell a handful of SKUs and can follow the monthly checklist, you may not need one. If you ship large inbound volumes or sell many products, an Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire can recover claims you would otherwise miss.

What happens if Amazon rejects my claim?

Read the reason, add the missing proof and reopen the case. Do not file a duplicate. An Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire can prepare the stronger case for you. If the problem was a missed deadline, the claim is usually lost, which is why monthly checks matter.

What is the best Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers can choose?

There is no single best option. The right Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers choose should know the Amazon FBA reimbursement policy that UK sellers follow, explain its fees, cover inbound, removal and customer-return claims, and report every claim clearly.

What do Amazon reimbursement services that UK sellers hire actually do?

Amazon reimbursement services that UK sellers hire audit your FBA reports, find unpaid lost and damaged units, prepare proof and file or follow up each Amazon FBA reimbursement claim. A good Amazon FBA reimbursement service that UK sellers hire also explains why losses repeat.

Do reimbursements affect my VAT?

Customer return reimbursements are calculated after VAT is deducted, and reimbursement income needs to be recorded properly. Speak to your accountant for advice on your own accounts.