Washington, DC's attorney general is suing Amazon in district court, claiming the retailer deceived local Prime subscribers in ZIP codes where packages took longer to get delivered.
The suit (PDF) alleges Amazon secretly excluded two ZIP codes in southeast DC, 20019 and 20020, due to driver-safety issues, resulting in packages taking more days to arrive for Prime subscribers than in other areas.Â
Amazon, which is also the subject of a separate antitrust suit from the district related to its dealings with sellers, is said to have used third-party delivery services for the ZIP codes, resulting in delays for customers in those areas.
"We want to be able to deliver as fast as we possibly can to every zip code across the country," Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said in a statement. "However, at the same time we must put the safety of delivery drivers first."
Nantel went on to say that Amazon "will proceed in the process and demonstrate that providing fast and accurate delivery times and prioritizing the safety of customers and delivery partners are not mutually exclusive."Â
The attorney general, Brian Schwalb, said in a release about the delivery lawsuit, "Amazon is charging tens of thousands of hard-working Ward 7 and 8 residents for an expedited delivery service it promises but does not provide. We're suing to stop this deceptive conduct and make sure District residents get what they're paying for."
The retail giant has also been the target of a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission related to its Prime service. In that suit, Amazon is accused of deceiving people into signing up for its Prime delivery service and then making it difficult for them to cancel.Â