Alternative dispute resolution is the possibility that all consumers have at their disposal to turn to official entities to help them resolve or guide them through a conflict, before opening litigation in the courts.
Customers who are defined as consumers by Law 144/2015 and who have entered into contracts for the purchase and sale and/or provision of services have the right to turn to official bodies to help them resolve any disputes concerning such contracts, without prejudice to recourse to the Courts. The up-to-date list of Alternative Dispute Resolution bodies available under the terms of article 17 of Law no. 144/2015, of September 8, are listed on the Consumer Portal, accessible via the following website www.consumidor.pt. For more information, you can also consult Law 144/2015. We would also like to inform you that, in order to resolve disputes arising from online purchases, you can use a resolution system called the "ODR Platform - Online Dispute Resolution/ RLL", created by the EU.
In any case, you can contact one of the centers listed below.
Alternative Dispute Resolution bodies
CNIACC - National Center for Consumer Conflict Information and Arbitration
https://www.cniacc.pt/pt/
CIMAAL - Algarve Consumer Conflict Information, Mediation and Arbitration Center
https://www.consumidoronline.pt/pt/
Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center of the District of Coimbra
https://www.centrodearbitragemdecoimbra.com/
Lisbon Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center
http://www.centroarbitragemlisboa.pt/
Porto Consumer Information and Arbitration Center
https://www.cicap.pt/
Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo do Vale do Ave / Arbitration Court
https://www.triave.pt/