Representation of insured and Alternative Dispute Resolution Dispute resolution in national and cross-border conflicts Dra. Isabel Mendes Cabeçadas Warsaw, 24 October 2007

Trader or supplier contacted Invitation sent Accepted Declined Mediation InformationComplaint Conflict Attempt at Conciliation Agreement Reached No AgreementAdhesion Homologated Agreement Arbitration (award) No adhesion from trader or provider Justice of peace Civil Court Sentence not complied with Case filed

STRUCTURE The Centre is composed of an Arbitration Tribunal and a Legal Advice Service. The latter gives support and supplies information to consumers and traders and tries to solve the conflict via Mediation phase (with sucess in 70% of the cases) The Legal Service also prepares the complaint processes that will go through to the Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration phases.

STATISTICAL DATA 2006 Total number of complaints Information (In person, Written or by phone) (69%) Cases preparedTotal 976 (*) (31%) Cases solved (Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration) 887 (91%) Awards 217 (22%) THE PARTICIPATION OF BUSINESS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION Collaboration 887 Non Collaboration 48 (5%) Adhesions (*) Financial Services (Banks, Insurance and Credit)

COMPETENCE: The legal service separates cases in accordance with the tribunals competence which only considers a claim as a consumer conflict, if: 1st - it arises out of the supplying services on the part of providers to consumers according to the framework of law; 2nd - the value at stake does not exceed 5,000.00; 3rd - the conflict has its origin in the acquisition of services purchased in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon (19 towns)

PROCEDURE The simplified procedure of arbitration used by the Centre is due to some characteristics of Law 31/86 on Institutionalised the access of consumer conflicts to rapid, effective and free-of-charge justice Celerity - Due to the procedures used which dispense with almost all Judicial Court formalities, the average time between the admission of the complaint to the Centre and the solution of the conflict is 20 to 30 days. Effectiveness - The judgments of the Arbitration Tribunal have the same legal force as judgments pronounced by Judicial Court. Free-of-charge - The financial support of the several national state bodies involved, has made it possible to dispense with costs throughout the process. This includes the enforcement phase, if needed at the Judicial Court. Expertise - is paid by parties with some support from the Traders Union

RESULTS 2006 Information Mediation Awards Non collaboration of Business (not solved) In progress 69% 22% 5%9%

Cases Solved Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration 1989/90 Statistics - November 20, 1989 to December 31, to 2006 Statistics relevant from January 1 to December 31 of each year

PRINCIPLES The procedure used by the Centre fully complies with the principles laid out in EC Recommendation of 30 March 1998: Principle of Independence Principle of Transparency Adversarial Principle Principle of Effectiveness Principle of Legality Principle of Liberty Principle of Representation and the principles of equality of all parties and material truth

The Principle of Independence: the Arbiter-Judge is a magistrate nominated by the High Council of the Judiciary; the competence and experience gained as a magistrate guarantees the degree of impartiality necessary for arbitration work, in such a way as to gain the complete confidence of the parties along with consumers and traders. The Principle of Transparency: whenever so requested, the Lisbon Centre will always provide information on the types of cases which can be submitted to the Arbitration Tribunal; the nature and form of the Arbitration Tribunal cases are in the public domain (sentences and statistics).

The Adversarial and Oral Principle: the defendant receives a copy of the complaint as soon as possible, to enable him to contest it either in writing or orally in front of the Judge; the Judge hears both parties before making a final decision, thus guaranteeing strict observance of the principle of contradiction The Principle of Effectiveness and Enforcement: according to the Law of Voluntary Arbitration, the decisions of the arbitration tribunal have the same legal value as judgments by a court of law. The Principle of Legality: the decisions of the arbitration tribunal are based on the law, namely on the legislation on communitarian directives on consumers' rights.

The Principle of Equality of all Parties: both parties are assured of equal status and treatment throughout the procedure; this is in real terms and not merely formal, and covers the parties exercising of their faculties, the use of means of defence, evidence, presenting witnesses, etc. Principle of Material Truth: because the arbiter may know the real matter, unlike what happens sometimes in judicial courts.

What is FIN-NET? FIN-NET is an out-of-court financial complaints network in the European Economic Area. Linking existing ADRs with national competence. In the area of financial services. Banking Insurance Credit

How does it work ? consumer financial provider nearest scheme Information foreign scheme contact decision Co-operation financial dispute competent scheme

The Arbitration Centre is a Court that is closer to people Prof. Jean Calais-Auloy Magistrates Formation Course, Paris, Out/92