Alternative Dispute Resolution
An alternative dispute resolution is the possibility for all consumers to have at their disposal resources and official entities that help them in the resolution or orientation of any conflicts.
Customers who are defined as consumers by Portuguese Law 144/2015 and who have contracts for the purchase and sale and/or provision of services have the right to appeal to official entities that help them to resolve conflicts, without prejudice to recourse to the Courts.
The European Commission provides a dedicated dispute resolution website to helping consumers and merchants resolve their disputes out of court:
You can contact one of the entities listed below for alternative dispute resolution:
National Consumer Conflict Information and Arbitration Center
Lisbon Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center
Arbitration Center for Consumer Conflicts / Arbitration Court of Vale do Ave
Coimbra Region Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center
Arbitration Center of the Autonomous University of Lisbon
Arbitration Center for Consumer Conflicts of the Autonomous Region of Madeira
Porto Arbitration and Consumption Information Center
Consumer Information, Mediation and Arbitration Center (Consumer Arbitration Court)
Algarve Information, Mediation and Arbitration Center
More information on the Consumer Portal: www.consumidor.gov.pt
