Complaints against fuel networks and stations in Portugal have soared, according to data from the Portal da Queixa (Complaints Portal) released this Tuesday. A total of 665 complaints were registered by August 2026, an increase of 84.21% compared to the same period in 2025, when 361 complaints were recorded. In just eight months, the sector has already accumulated almost as many complaints as in all of last year, which closed with 667 complaints.
The main reason for dissatisfaction is failures in benefit and reward programs, representing 27.11% of complaints. Consumers report points that are not credited, advertised offers that are not fulfilled, and lack of clarity in loyalty program conditions. Next come failures in service quality and customer service, with 24.10% of complaints, and financial and payment issues, with 22.74%, including improper charges, payment processing problems, and incorrect prices.
The weight of discounts, campaigns, and promotions in complaints has grown significantly, rising from 28.49% in 2025 to 40.15% in 2026. May was the worst month of the year, with 150 complaints, the highest monthly value in the entire series analyzed and more than double the sector's monthly average. Despite the significant increase in complaints, the average satisfaction of consumers who evaluated the experience slightly increased from 5.98 to 6.14.
Pedro Lourenço, founder of Portal da Queixa by Consumers Trust, stated that the data shows that consumers are more attentive to savings opportunities in fuels, but also more demanding regarding the fulfillment of advertised benefits. He highlighted that, in a context of strong pressure on household budgets, a discount or benefit has ceased to be merely a commercial advantage and has become a concrete expectation of savings, so the sector should ensure greater transparency, consistency, and effectiveness in the implementation of campaigns and loyalty programs.
