Alternative dispute resolution is the possibility that all consumers have at their disposal to appeal and official entities that help them in the resolution, or guidance of any conflict, before opening litigation in the Courts.

Generally, the procedure is as follows: the customer asks an impartial third party to act as an intermediary between him and the merchant who is the subject of his complaint. The intermediary can suggest a solution to your complaint, impose a solution on both parties, or bring the parties together to find a solution.

You may know the concept of alternative dispute resolution by another name: 'mediation', 'conciliation', 'arbitration' or 'committee responsible for consumer disputes'.

Alternative dispute resolution is, usually, less expensive, less formal and faster than the judicial route.

In the event of a consumer dispute, the consumer may resort to the following alternative consumer dispute resolution entities:

CNIACC – National Center for Information and Arbitration of Consumer Conflicts
http://www.cniacc.pt/pt/

CACCL – Lisbon Consumer Dispute Arbitration Center
http://www.centroarbitragemlisboa.pt/

CACCVA – Consumer Dispute Arbitration Center of Vale do Ave/Tribunal Arbitral
http://www.triave.pt/

CICAP – Consumer Information and Arbitration Center of Porto (Consumer Arbitration Court)
http://www.cicap.pt/

CIMAAL – Center for Information, Mediation and Arbitration of Consumer Disputes in Algarve
http://www.ciab.pt/pt/

CIAB – Consumer Information, Mediation and Arbitration Center (Consumer Arbitration Court)
http://www.ciab.pt/pt/

CIMPAS – Information, Mediation and Insurance Provider Center
https://www.cimpas.pt/

According to Law No. 144/2015 for dispute resolution see:
CNIACC - Telephone: 21 384 7484
E-mail: cniacc@fd.unl.pt | Site: www.arbitragemdeconsumo.org