Infrastructure: Consumer rights news in Portugal

Is buying electricity at market price cheaper? Beware, 'life' can make you 'spend triple'

Seixal seeks legal assistance for those affected by power cuts

Bus driver leaves 11-year-old passenger behind; father ‘forced to drive 200 kms’ to collect her

An unfortunate mix-up involving an out-of-order toilet led to an 11-year-old girl being ‘left behind’ during a Flixbus journey from Lisbon to Faro earlier this week. The story has made The post Bus driver leaves 11-year-old passenger behind; father ‘forced to drive 200 kms’ to collect her appeared first on Portugal Resident.

Telecommunications prices fall in Portugal. DIGI leads with the lowest monthly fees

Telecommunications costs have decreased in Portugal, with DIGI offering the most competitive monthly rates.

Tek Notícias27 Jul

Anacom fines Vodafone 160,000 euros for changing contract terms

The National Communications Authority (Anacom) has imposed a 160,000 euro fine on Vodafone for unilaterally changing the contractual terms for 448,236 customers without notifying them of the changes.

Portuguese consumer group launches lawsuit over 2025 Iberian blackout

Blackout: Portuguese consumers take Spanish electric company to court over "millionaire" damages

Portuguese consumers are suing a Spanish utility company for significant financial losses caused by a power outage.

TVI20 Jul

Almada: Consumers can request compensation for water shortages

The Minister of Environment states that residents of Almada who were left without water can request financial compensation.

EDP warns of new fraud using personalised consumer data

The company has received over 3,000 complaints from defrauded customers since the beginning of the year and warns about the use of validation mechanisms for payment requests received via SMS or email.

EDP warns of more sophisticated fraud using personalised customer data

EDP has warned of a new, more sophisticated type of fraud that uses personalised consumer data to simulate legitimate company communications and induce improper payments. The company states that receiving an email containing the correct name, address, or tax identification number is no longer a guarantee of authenticity. This new approach represents an evolution from previous schemes, which primarily involved generic messages. EDP advises customers to verify the authenticity of payment requests, noting that they never request banking details or passwords via email or SMS, and recommends direct debit as the safest payment method. Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor's Office has also warned of a complex criminal network targeting bank accounts.

Bad weather: Energy services regulator receives 60 complaints

The Energy Services Regulatory Authority states that the complaints concern interruption times, difficulties in communicating with the network operator, losses incurred, or damage to equipment.

Bad weather: Energy services regulator receives around 60 requests for intervention

The Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE) received approximately 60 requests for intervention following about 100 customer complaints related to bad weather at the start of the year. The complaints primarily concern power outage durations, difficulties communicating with network operators, and equipment damage. The regulator, chaired by Pedro Verdelho, noted that E-Redes is the most targeted operator. ERSE is currently evaluating whether the storm Kristin should be classified as an 'exceptional event,' which would determine if customers are entitled to automatic compensation for service interruptions. Between late January and early March, storms Kristin, Leonardo, and Marta caused significant destruction and at least 19 deaths across Portugal.

Energy services regulator receives around 60 intervention requests

The Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE) received approximately 60 requests for intervention following a hundred customer complaints in the wake of bad weather at the beginning of the year, according to data sent to the Lusa agency.

Water shortage in Almada: what compensation can residents receive?

The water shortage in Almada is raising questions about residents' rights. Lawyer Zita Medeiros explains what compensation is provided for by law, how it can be claimed, and in which situations the municipality may be held liable for the damages caused.

July arrives with price drops in telecommunications. There is one package that became 8 euros cheaper

CNN PORTUGAL/DECO PROTESTE BAROMETER || With the arrival of Digi in the telecommunications market, competition has increased, as have the reactions from competitors. CNN Portugal, in partnership with DECO PROteste, is monitoring tariff fluctuations every fortnight. Find out which offers are the cheapest.

Heatwave: neither ride-hailing services nor taxis are obliged to turn on air conditioning; the decision rests with the driver

Portugal is experiencing a heatwave with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. While many choose ride-hailing services like Uber or Bolt for comfort, these companies and taxi regulations do not mandate the use of air conditioning, leaving the decision entirely to the individual driver. Both platforms encourage drivers to provide a comfortable experience, but note that drivers are independent operators. Passengers are advised to report unsatisfactory experiences through the respective apps.

Movement calls for compensation for consumers affected by the water crisis in Almada

In recent days, residents of several locations in the municipality have reported successive water outages.

MEO service failures lead to over two thousand consumer complaints

The cities most affected are Lisbon, Porto, and Braga, with television service failures being the most frequently reported.

Energy suppliers prohibited from cutting off electricity while a complaint is in progress

New rules require the creation of personalised payment plans, according to the government.

Government limits electricity cut-offs and promotes payment plans

The Ministry of Environment and Energy reports on measures taken to strengthen the protection of electricity consumers. Although details are not yet known, the office led by Maria da Graça Carvalho indicates that electricity cut-offs will be limited in certain situations and payment plans will be promoted.

More than two thousand complaints about taxis and ride-hailing services in the Electronic Complaints Book in 2025

The main reasons for complaints submitted by consumers this year were billing, defective performance or non-compliance, customer service, and payments. In 2026, between January 1st and June 15th, 1,118 complaints have already been filed.

More than two thousand complaints about taxis and ride-hailing services

The main reasons for complaints submitted by consumers this year were billing, defective service, customer support, and payments.

More than two thousand complaints about taxis and ride-hailing services in the Electronic Complaints Book

A 25% increase compared to the previous year. In 2026, between January 1st and June 15th, 1,118 complaints have already been filed, maintaining the growth trend.

Telecommunications market enters a stagnation phase. After May cuts, all operators maintain prices in June

CNN PORTUGAL/DECO PROTESTE BAROMETER || With the arrival of Digi in the telecommunications market, competition has increased, as have the reactions from competitors. CNN Portugal, in partnership with DECO PROteste, is monitoring tariff fluctuations every fortnight. Find out which offers are the cheapest.