Alternative Dispute Resolution
The European Union has created a website to assist consumers in submitting their complaints about any disputes they may be involved in. In this context, Projecthab provides all the information so that you can exercise your right to complain to an official, third-party, and impartial entity to the process (‘dispute resolution entity’) that will help you resolve the dispute in question.
Therefore, if you are dissatisfied with the purchase of a product or service on our website, or with the solution we have provided to resolve the situation, you can access this official website https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/main/index.cfm?event=main.home2.show&lng=PT and submit your complaint.
What is alternative dispute resolution?
Alternative dispute resolution is the possibility that all consumers have at their disposal to resort to official entities that assist them in resolving or guiding conflicts before resorting to litigation in the courts.
Generally, the procedure is as follows: the customer asks a neutral third party to intervene as an intermediary between them and the merchant who is the target of their complaint. The intermediary may suggest a solution to their 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 ‘competent commission in the context of consumer disputes.’
Alternative dispute resolution is generally less expensive, less formal, and faster than the judicial process.
Projecthab provides the websites of some of these entities that may assist you in presenting your arguments:
Alternative Dispute Resolution Entities Recommendations:
CNIACC – National Center for Information and Consumer Dispute Arbitration
https://www.cniacc.pt
Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center of Lisbon
http://www.centroarbitragemlisboa.pt/
Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center of Vale do Ave/Arbitral Tribunal
http://www.triave.pt/
CIAB – Center for Information, Mediation, and Consumer Arbitration (Consumer Arbitration Court)
http://www.ciab.pt/pt/
CIMPAS – Center for Information, Mediation, and Insurance Ombudsman
https://www.cimpas.pt/