Alternative dispute resolution is the possibility available to all consumers to turn to official entities that can help them resolve, or guide them through, a 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
Users who are defined as consumers by Law 144/2015 and who have entered into contracts of sale and purchase and / or provision of services have the right to appeal to official entities that will help them in the resolution of any conflict which has as its object such contracts, without prejudice to resorting to the Judicial Courts. The updated list of Alternative Dispute Resolution entities available under article 17 of Law 144/2015, of September 8, are listed on the Consumer Portal, accessible through the website www.consumidor.pt. For further information you may also consult Law 144/2015. We also inform you that in order to settle disputes arising from online purchases, you may resort to a resolution system called the "ODR Platform - Online Dispute Resolution/ ODR", created by the EU.
In any case, you may contact one of the centers below. Entities for Alternative Dispute Resolution:
- CNIACC - National Center for Information and Arbitration of Consumer Conflicts
https://www.cniacc.pt/pt - CIMAAL - Algarve Consumer Conflict Information, Mediation and Arbitration Center
https://www.consumidoronline.pt/pt/ - Coimbra District Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center
http://www.centrodearbitragemdecoimbra.com - Lisbon Center for Arbitration of Consumer Conflicts
http://www.centroarbitragemlisboa.pt - Consumer Arbitration and Information Center of Porto
http://www.cicap.pt/ - Consumer Arbitration Center of Vale do Ave / Arbitration Court
http://www.triave.pt/
European Platform for Online Dispute Resolution: