Questions we get most.

"Should I just write the money off?"

No. The formal notice is exactly what reopens the conversation. Most contractors respond once the demand arrives by registered mail with proof of receipt (CC art. 224) — because from that moment the definitive-breach clock starts (CC art. 808), and that changes incentives. Those who don't respond go to court in a far stronger position than if you'd never formalized anything.

"My contractor has nothing in their name. What's the point?"

We don't promise to recover money. We deliver the document, the path, and the deadline map. If the contractor has no assets, there's a different path — a criminal complaint under Penal Code art. 217 (burla — fraud) — which works differently from civil execution. The diagnostic identifies if there are fraud markers in your case and recommends accordingly. In parallel, IMPIC sanctions and AT (tax authority) inspections often surface money that "wasn't there".

"Is this legal advice?"

No. We do not decide your legal route, or cite articles in your place. We assemble your facts in the format a Portuguese lawyer recognizes, with references to applicable laws (CC arts. 1207–1230, Lei 24/96, DL 84/2021). You author the letter on your own behalf using our template — under Lei 10/2024, the acts reserved to advogados apply when exercised on behalf of third parties, not when you act on your own affairs. Legal review of your specific case is your responsibility, alone or with a lawyer of your choice. More on the legal foundation →

"What if my deadline has already passed?"

We tell you. We don't pretend to help when the law has closed the door. We give you a free organized evidence package and direct you to the Ordem dos Advogados — and we mention the alternative paths that may still be open (criminal complaint if there was fraud, doctrine on concealment of defects, etc.).

"I don't have a contract. Just WhatsApp and bank transfers."

Works. Under CC art. 368 and CPC art. 607 nº 5, WhatsApp messages are admissible evidence. We can import your full thread (the exported .txt) or screenshots, index and date them — and the absence of a written contract does not void the Civil Code articles, which apply by default. What strengthens the case is the volume and consistency of evidence, not the type.

"My Portuguese isn't good enough. Can I still do this?"

Yes. The intake is in English. The legal output is in Portuguese — that's a Portuguese-law requirement, not a choice. Every paragraph in the Portuguese output is also explained in English in the appendix, so you know exactly what you're sending. When you walk into a CTT post office, the staff there know what carta registada com aviso de receção means; you just hand them the envelope.

"I'm outside Portugal. Can I do this remotely?"

Yes. The intake is online. You print the Portuguese letter anywhere in the world, sign it, and either (a) send by international tracked mail from where you are, or (b) ask someone in Portugal to drop it at a CTT counter. We tell you the right CTT counter based on the contractor's registered address. The contractor's registered address determines the territorial jurisdiction, not yours.

"How long from diagnostic to letter in hand?"

Diagnostic ~4 minutes. Full intake, with message and photo upload, ~30 minutes to 1 hour depending on volume. Pack generation, ≤5 minutes after that. Total: you can have the letter coming out of your printer in ~1 hour, on a single weekend afternoon. CTT delivery is on you; typically the contractor receives it in 1–3 business days, and the proof-of-receipt comes back to you.

"Why isn't this free?"

The diagnostic, the workspace, and the firm Portuguese message are free. We charge for the full pack (€149 once) because the infrastructure — encrypted storage, formal-Portuguese PDF generation, NIF/IMPIC validation — has cost, the templates are versioned and updated whenever Portuguese law moves, and supporting the case past first contact is ongoing work. Without this price, either the product doesn't survive, or the templates rot silently. Neither serves you.

"Can I send the letter without a lawyer reviewing it?"

You can. The letter is technically valid — it contains the 6 elements the law and case-law require, and under Lei 10/2024 you author it on your own behalf, so a lawyer is not required for you to operate. We recommend lawyer review nonetheless if the amount at stake is high (>€15k), if the facts are complex, or if you've sent earlier letters that may have procedural consequences.

"What data do you keep?"

Only what we need to produce your pack: case facts, contractor identification, evidence you upload. Encrypted at rest and in transit. We don't sell to contractors, law firms, insurers, or any third party. Deletion on request, any time. Privacy →

"What happens if the contractor responds — what then?"

Your account stays open. You come back, update the timeline with their reply, and — if needed — we generate the next piece: counter-letter, election of subsidiary remedy (CC art. 1222), or filing application for the Centro de Arbitragem competent for your district. It's not "send and forget"; it's an account that lives while the case lives.

"Can I get my money back if I change my mind?"

If you cancel within 14 days of payment, yes — no questions (DL 24/2014 art. 10, the Portuguese statutory right of withdrawal). After that, and if you've already downloaded the pack, refunds are discretionary; email pagamentos@claimpack.pt with context.