Alternative Dispute Resolution

 

The alternative dispute resolution is the possibility that all consumers have at their disposal to resort to official entities that help them in the resolution, or guidance of any conflict. The Online Dispute Resolution website is an official website managed 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

Customers who are defined as consumers by Law 144/2015 and who have entered into purchase and sale contracts and/or provision of services have the right to resort to official entities that help them in resolving any conflict that has the purpose of such contracts, without prejudice to resorting to the Judicial Courts. The updated list of Alternative Dispute Resolution bodies available pursuant to article 17 of Law no. 144/2015, of 8 September, is listed on the Consumer Portal, accessible via the website www.consumidor.pt. For more information, you can also consult Law 144/2015. We also inform you that, in order to resolve disputes arising from online purchases, you may use a resolution system, called the “ODR Platform – Online Dispute Resolution/RLL”, created by the EU.

In any case, you may contact one of the Entities for Alternative Dispute Resolution designated below:

• CNIACC – National Center for Information and Arbitration of Consumer Disputes – www.cniacc.pt
• CIMAAL – Algarve Consumer Conflict Information, Mediation and Arbitration Center – www.consumidoronline.pt
• Coimbra District Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center – www.centrodearbitragemdecoimbra.com
• Lisbon Consumer Dispute Arbitration Center – www.centroarbitragemlisboa.pt
• Porto Consumer Information and Arbitration Center – www.cicap.pt
• Vale do Ave Consumer Dispute Arbitration Center / Arbitration Court – www.triave.pt
• European Online Dispute Resolution Platform – www.ec.europa.eu