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Alternative Consumer Dispute Resolution

In the event of a consumer dispute, the consumer may refer the matter to a competent Alternative Consumer Dispute Resolution (ADR/RAL) entity. The competent entity depends, among other factors, on the territorial scope applicable to the specific case.

Portugal Property Check provides online services throughout Portugal. The list below identifies the general consumer dispute-resolution entities recognised by the Portuguese Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs (Direção-Geral do Consumidor).

Recognised entities

  • Centro Nacional de Informação e Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo (CNIACC)

    Territorial scope: National (supplementary)

    National scope; under its own regulation it acts on a supplementary (residual) basis in relation to the other consumer arbitration centres.

    Official website: www.cniacc.pt/pt

  • Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo de Lisboa (CACCL)

    Territorial scope: Lisbon

    Official website: www.centroarbitragemlisboa.pt

  • Centro de Arbitragem da Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (CAUAL)

    Territorial scope: Generic competence, national scope

    Official website: arbitragem.autonoma.pt

  • Centro de Informação de Consumo e Arbitragem do Porto (CICAP)

    Territorial scope: Porto Metropolitan Area

    Official website: www.cicap.pt

  • Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo do Ave, Tâmega e Sousa (TRIAVE)

    Territorial scope: Ave, Tâmega and Sousa

    Official website: www.triave.pt

  • Centro de Informação, Mediação e Arbitragem de Consumo (Tribunal Arbitral de Consumo) (CIAB)

    Territorial scope: Minho (Braga, Viana do Castelo) and Alto Tâmega e Barroso

    Official website: www.ciab.pt/pt

  • Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo da Região de Coimbra (CACRC)

    Territorial scope: Coimbra region

    Official website: www.centrodearbitragemdecoimbra.com

  • Centro de Informação, Mediação e Arbitragem do Algarve (CIMAAL)

    Territorial scope: Algarve

    Official website: www.consumidoronline.pt

  • Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo da Região Autónoma da Madeira (CACC RAM)

    Territorial scope: Autonomous Region of Madeira

    Official website: www.madeira.gov.pt/cacc

  • Centro de Informação, Mediação e Arbitragem de Consumo da Região Açores (CIMARA)

    Territorial scope: Autonomous Region of the Azores

    Official website: ocimara.pt

Under Article 14(2)–(3) of Law 24/96 (as amended by Law 63/2019), consumer disputes of reduced economic value — not exceeding the first-instance court threshold, currently €5,000 — are subject to compulsory arbitration or mediation when the consumer expressly chooses to submit them to an arbitral tribunal attached to a legally authorised consumer arbitration centre.