Awareness campaign for elderly consumers

Consumer rights are transversal and applicable to the entire population, regardless of age. However, the elderly population, due to physical and cognitive limitations, difficulty in accessing information and social isolation, is considered part of the group of potentially vulnerable consumers. To address this situation, the Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs (DGC) has developed an information and awareness-raising campaign with the aim of protecting and empowering these consumers, which includes – in addition to digital materials – the distribution of wall calendars with practical suggestions for exercising their rights safely:

– Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true;
– Do not sign contracts without understanding what is written;
– In telephone sales, the contract can be cancelled within 14 days;
– In door-to-door sales, the contract cancellation period is extended to 30 days;
– Keep your shopping receipts;
– Use an arbitration center in the event of a consumer dispute.

In addition to distributing the calendars, the DGC will hold information sessions on consumer rights, aimed at the elderly population, during the first months of the year. These sessions will take place at the DGC headquarters, on a date yet to be defined, and should be extended to local authorities that have Municipal Consumer Information Centers (CIAC).

Although they enjoy the same rights as other consumers, senior citizens may face specific challenges, such as exposure to aggressive commercial practices, difficulty in understanding contractual terms and lack of knowledge about their rights. In Portugal, Alternative Dispute Resolution Entities and CIACs have played a crucial role in protecting and assisting this group, often dealing with issues such as door-to-door and telephone sales of hearing aids, health plans and water purification equipment, as well as telecommunications and electricity supply contracts.

The DGC reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that all consumers, especially the most vulnerable, have access to the information they need to make informed and safe decisions, which is why this campaign prioritizes the protection and empowerment of this age group.