Art. 7.º-1 “it is up to the State, autonomous regions and local authorities to develop actions and adopt measures aimed at general consumer information, namely through […] the creation of municipal consumer information services”.
Art. 14-1 “it is the responsibility of Public Administration bodies and departments to promote the creation and support of arbitration centers with the aim of resolving consumer disputes”.
The Consumer Arbitration Network (RAC) aims to ensure coordination, the use of common systems and the harmonization of procedures followed in the activities of information, mediation, conciliation and arbitration of consumer disputes, by consumer dispute arbitration centers that adds.
The Consumer Arbitration Network (RAC) aims to ensure coordination, the use of common systems and the harmonization of procedures followed in the activities of information, mediation, conciliation and arbitration of consumer disputes, by consumer dispute arbitration centers that adds.
CACCL
Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo de Lisboa
The first arbitration center to be created among us was the Lisbon Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center (CACCL). This CACC has a generic character and territorial competence limited to the metropolitan area of Lisbon, with competence due to the value limited to €5,000 and being almost free to operate. As stated on its website, “it results from the convergence of wills between public and private entities – Government (Justice, Commerce and Consumption); Lisbon City Council; Lisbon Metropolitan Council; Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection and Union of Commerce and Services Associations”.
Access WebsiteCICAP
Centro de Informação de Consumo e Arbitragem do Porto
In Porto, there has been the Porto Consumer Information and Arbitration Center (CICAP) since 1992, with a generic character and territorial competence limited to the municipalities of the Porto metropolitan area. There is no value limit and recently fees have also started to be charged for the services provided. Its associated entities are the Porto City Council, the Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection (DECO) and the Porto Merchants Association.
Access WebsiteCACCRC
Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo da Região de Coimbra
The third center to be created was the Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center of the Coimbra Region (CACCRC), also in 1992 and which covers 16 of the 17 municipalities in that district (with the exception of Pampilhosa da Serra), has competence due to the value limited to €5,000 and is free to operate.
It has the following associated entities: the municipalities of Arganil, Cantanhede, Coimbra, Condeixa-a-Nova, Figueira da Foz, Góis, Lousã, Mira, Miranda do Corvo, Montemor-o-Velho, Oliveira do Hospital, Penacova, Penela, Soure, Tábua and Vila Nova de Poiares; ACIC – Commercial and Industrial Association of Coimbra; ACIF – Commercial and Industrial Association of Figueira da Foz; ACOP – Consumers Association of Portugal; APDC – Portuguese Consumer Law Association; DECO – Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection; the Bar Association (Coimbra District Council); the UGC – General Consumers Union and the Coimbra Union of Trade Unions – CGTP-IN.
Access WebsiteTRIAVE
Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo do Vale do Ave
Still in 1997, TRIAVE – Vale do Ave Consumer Conflict Arbitration Center – came into operation, with generic competence, unlimited value in terms of competence due to value and free of charge for users. It has the following associated entities: the Association of Municipalities of Vale do Ave; the Bar Association, the Municipal Chamber of Cabeceiras de Basto, DECO – Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection, ACOP – Portuguese Consumer Association, ACIF – Commercial and Industrial Association of Guimarães, the ACIV – Commercial and Industrial Association de Vizela and the Business Association of Fafe, Cabeceiras de Basto and Celorico de Basto.
Access WebsiteCIMAAL
Centro de Informação, Mediação e Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo do Algarve
The Algarve Consumer Conflict Information, Mediation and Arbitration Center (CIMAAL) was created in 2000. As the name suggests, it covers the Algarve (Faro district). It has generic competence, unlimited value and is free to operate. The members of this center are the Algarve Tourism Region, ACRAL – Association of Commerce and Services of the Algarve Region, AMAL – Algarve Intermunicipal Community and the Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection
Access WebsiteCACC-RAM
Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo da Região Autónoma da Madeira
Later, in 2005, a consumer dispute arbitration center (CACC-RAM) was created in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with generic competence, with competence limited to €30,000, and is also free to operate. This Center, unlike the previous ones, does not have its own legal personality, being a service provided by the Regional Secretariat for Human Resources of the Regional Government of Madeira.
Access WebsiteCIAB
Centro de Informação, Mediação e Arbitragem de Consumo – Tribunal Arbitral de Consumo
The CIAB – Consumer Arbitration Court
Access WebsiteCASA
Centro de Arbitragem do Setor Automóvel
There is thus the Automotive Sector Arbitration Center (CASA), created in 1994, exclusively to resolve disputes arising from the provision of automotive repair services. Later, it also began to cover disputes arising from the supply of fuel and the purchase and sale of used vehicles, resale of oils and lubricants, the purchase and sale of parts, organs and other materials intended for use in motor vehicles, as well as, for the purchase and sale of new vehicles. In May 2008, the Center’s competence was extended to services provided by companies that own parking lots.
Currently, CASA, in addition to consumer relations between consumers and companies, also resolves conflicts in the context of relations exclusively between companies, or exclusively between individuals. There is no value limit and there is the payment of process opening fees and costs due to the value of the process. It has the following partners: ACAP – Automobile Association of Portugal, ANECRA – National Association of Automotive Commerce and Repair Companies, ANEPE – National Association of Car Park Companies, ANAREC – National Association of Fuel Dealers, ARAN – National Association of the Industry Automóvel, ACP – Automóvel Clube de Portugal, DECO – Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection and CEPRA – Professional Training Center for Car Repairs.
Access WebsiteCIMPAS
Centro de Informação, Mediação, Provedoria e Arbitragem de Seguros
In 2001, the Insurance Information, Mediation, Ombudsman and Arbitration Center (CIMPAS) was created, which provides a mediation and arbitration service for the resolution of disputes arising from any insurance contracts (excluding major risk insurance) and an ombudsman service for insurance customers to resolve consumer disputes. With no value limit, it involves the payment of costs ranging from 3% of the value in question, a minimum of €60 and a maximum of €600. This Arbitration Center is associated with APS – Associação
Portuguesa de Seguradores, DECO – Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection, ACP – Automóvel Clube de Portugal, PRP – Portuguese Road Prevention and APROSE – Portuguese Association of Professional Insurance Mediation.
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