Amended rules - Consumer helplines

2023-04-06T12:35:00
Portugal

Publication of the legislation that amends the duty of information and mitigates its infringement

Amended rules - Consumer helplines
April 6, 2023

Law 14/2023 of April 6 is the first amendment to Decree Law 59/2021 of July 14 on the regime applicable to providing and publicizing consumer helpline numbers.

Two aspects of this regime were amended:

  • the duty of information (article 3) and
  • the administrative offenses (article 8).

The table below contains a summary of these amendments:

Duty of information | BEFORE

Duty of information | NOW

Compulsory telephone contact details of the suppliers of goods or services:

  • in trade communications,
  • on their website,
  • on invoices,
  • on written correspondence with consumers and
  •  in consumer contracts.

Compulsory telephone contact details of the suppliers of goods or services:

  • on their website and
  • in consumer contracts.

The following information should be displayed after the telephone details, as appropriate:

  1.      “National landline call” or
  2.  “National mobile network call”

The following information should be displayed after the telephone details, as appropriate:

  1. “Toll-free call”
  2.  “National landline call” or
  3.  “National mobile network call”

Administrative offenses | BEFORE

Administrative offenses | NOW

Breach of the right to information constitutes a serious economic offense - punishable by a fine of up to €24,000.

Breach of the right to information constitutes a minor economic offense - punishable by a fine of up to €12,000.


Entry into force: April 7


April 6, 2023