A loan, credit card or buy-now-pay-later company treats me unfairly — who do I contact?
Every lender must have a complaints procedure and answer within a fixed deadline, so start there in writing. When they refuse, ignore you or the deadline passes, Banco de Portugal — Portal do Cliente Bancário (reclamações) (213 130 000) — the financial ombudsman for Portugal — decides for free and the lender must follow. CMVM / Banco de Portugal — alertas (800 205 339) licenses lenders and takes complaints about unlicensed or predatory lending, hidden costs and unfair terms. Livro de Reclamações eletrónico — DGC (livroreclamacoes.pt) helps with your rights as a consumer, such as the 14-day withdrawal from any credit agreement.
🗣️ What to say
"I make a formal complaint about agreement [number]. [The interest / fee / charge] was not disclosed clearly / is not in the contract / the payment plan was changed without my consent. I ask you to [refund / correct] within the legal deadline and to confirm in writing."
🪜 Step by step
- Complain to the lenderIn writing, with the word "complaint". They must answer within the legal deadline (often 15 working days, up to two months).
- Check the paperworkPre-contract information, total cost of credit, APR — missing or misleading information can make fees unenforceable.
- Withdrawal rightAny consumer credit can be cancelled within 14 days without reason, repaying only the capital and interest for the days used.
- Escalate to Banco de Portugal — Portal do Cliente Bancário (reclamações)Free, in writing, binding on the lender up to a limit. Attach the complaint and the answer.
- Unlicensed lender: CMVM / Banco de Portugal — alertasCheck the register. An unlicensed lender cannot enforce interest and may not enforce the loan at all.
📇 All contacts
❓ Frequently asked
Buy-now-pay-later counts as credit?
Yes since the 2023 consumer credit rules: same complaint rights, same ombudsman, and the fees must be disclosed up front.
They added a "late fee" I never saw
A fee not in the contract cannot be charged. Dispute it and complain; the ombudsman removes these routinely.
Can they take money from my account?
Only with a valid direct-debit mandate you gave. You can revoke the mandate at the bank and reverse unauthorised debits.
📎 Sources
- Banco de Portugal — Portal do Cliente Bancário (reclamações) →
- CMVM / Banco de Portugal — alertas →
- Livro de Reclamações eletrónico — DGC →
- DECO — GAS (Gabinete de Apoio ao Sobreendividado) / RACE →
🔎 Common searches
Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.
- “loan company complaint Portugal”
- “financial ombudsman credit dispute”
- “credit card fee not disclosed refund”
- “buy now pay later complaint”
- “withdraw from credit agreement 14 days”
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