Alternative Dispute Resolution

Alternative dispute resolution is available to all consumers. These are official bodies to help them resolve, or guide, any conflict. The Online Dispute Resolution website is an official website run by the European Commission dedicated to helping consumers and traders resolve their disputes out of court: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/odr/main/index.cfm?event=main.home.chooseLanguage

Clients who are defined as consumers by Law 144/2015 and who have entered into purchase and sale and/or service contracts have the right to resort to official entities to help them in the resolution of any conflict regarding such contracts, without prejudice to resorting to the Courts. The updated list of Alternative Dispute Resolution entities available under article 17 of Law No. 144/2015 of 8 September is available from the Consumer Portal, accessible through www.consumidor.pt. For more information, you may also consult Law 144/2015. For further information, to settle disputes arising from online purchases, you may use a resolution system, called “ODR Platform – Online Dispute Resolution/ RLL”, created by the EU.

In any case, you may contact one of the centres below.

Alternative dispute resolution entities

CNIACC – National Center for Information and Arbitration of Consumer Conflicts

http://www.arbitragemdeconsumo.org

CIMAAL – Algarve Consumer Dispute Information, Mediation and Arbitration Center

https://www.consumidoronline.pt/pt

Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center of the District of Coimbra

http://www.centrodearbitragemdecoimbra.com

Lisbon Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center

http://www.centroarbitragemlisboa.pt

Porto Consumer Information and Arbitration Center

http://www.cicap.pt/