Alternative dispute resolution is the possibility that all consumers have at their disposal to appeal to official entities that help them resolve or provide guidance on any conflict, before opening litigation proceedings in the Courts.
Customers who are defined as consumers by Law 144/2015 and who have entered into sales and/or service provision contracts have the right to resort to official entities that can help them resolve any dispute relating to such contracts, without prejudice to their right to resort to the Courts. The updated list of Alternative Dispute Resolution entities available under the terms of article 17 of Law no. 144/2015, of 8 September, is listed on the Consumer Portal, accessible through the website www.consumidor.pt. For further information, you can also consult Law 144/2015. We also inform you that, to resolve disputes arising from online purchases, you can resort to a resolution system, called the “ODR Platform - Online Dispute Resolution/RLL”, created by the EU. You can access this platform through the website: Online Dispute Resolution
In any case, you can contact one of the centers listed below.
Entities for Alternative Dispute Resolution
CNIACC – National Center for Information and Arbitration of Consumer Conflicts
http://www.arbitragemdeconsumo.org
CIMAAL - Algarve Consumer Conflict Information, Mediation and Arbitration Centre
http://www.arbitragemdeconsumo.org
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
Vale do Ave Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center / Arbitration Court