Alternative Consumer Dispute

What is Alternative Dispute Resolution?

The alternative resolution of disputes is the possibility that all consumers have at their disposal to appeal and official entities that help them in resolving, or guiding any conflict, before opening litigation in the Courts. As a general rule, the procedure is as follows: the customer asks an impartial third party to intervene as an intermediary between him and the trader who is the target of his complaint. The intermediary may suggest a solution to your complaint, impose a solution on both parties or bring the parties together to find a solution.

You may be familiar with the concept of alternative dispute resolution by another name: ‘mediation’, ‘conciliation’, ‘arbitration’ or ‘competent committee in consumer disputes’.

Alternative dispute resolution is generally less expensive, less formal and faster than judicial means.

PCDIGA provides the websites of some of these entities that can help you present your arguments:

CNIACC – National Center for Consumer Disputes Information and Arbitration

https://www.cniacc.pt/pt/

Consumer Disputes Arbitration Center of Lisbon

http://www.centroarbitragemlisboa.pt/

Centro de Arbitrato de Conflitos de Consumo do Vale do Ave/Arbitral Tribunal

Home Page

CIAB – Consumer Information, Mediation and Arbitration Center (Consumer Arbitral Tribunal)

http://www.ciab.pt/pt/

http://www.ciab.pt/pt/