FNAC faces allegations from the consumer protection group Citizen’s Voice for conducting “false promotions” during the Black Friday period. This legal action has been filed with the Central Civil Court of Lisbon, centered on a specific example.
Upon inquiry by Notícias ao Minuto for a comment, FNAC chose not to address the issue.
“Considering that the matter is under official proceedings, FNAC deems it inappropriate to comment on this subject,” a company representative responded.
Otávio Viana, president of Citizen’s Voice, outlines the issue at hand: “We obtained evidence that during the Black Friday period, FNAC advertised a camera promotion that, in reality, cost 10.99 euros more than the original price.”
The organization’s public action against FNAC reveals that the company has “systematically advertised false discounts in its stores for a wide range of products.”
A case in point is given: “Between September 1, 2025, and November 19, 2025, the company advertised and sold the camera for 89.00 euros. However, on November 20, 2025, during the FNAC BACK FRIDAY 2025 campaign, the sale price was raised to 99.99 € and presented as a promotional price.”
In statements to the same channel, Otávio Viana remarked that the legal action aims to “demonstrate that companies, such as FNAC, do not act honestly towards consumers during times of advertised large discounts like Black Friday, when it is statistically proven that more consumers purchase products in their stores.”
“This phenomenon of inflating prices to simulate a greater discount is not exclusive to this product, there are many more,” he concluded.
Stores Selling Products at Higher Prices than a Month Ago
DECO PROteste has also reported that some stores advertise “supposed discounts” on products that were cheaper a month ago as Black Friday approaches.
“During the Black Friday period, DECO PROteste visited four online stores and analyzed the prices of some promotional products. Although there are good buying opportunities, stores continue to present products with supposed discounts that were cheaper less than a month ago,” according to the consumer protection organization’s website.
DECO PROteste notes that “Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season with discount campaigns that start increasingly earlier.”
“Even though the campaigns promise unbeatable promotions in physical and online stores, an investigation by DECO PROteste shows that not all advertised price reductions are good deals. On November 3 and 4, the consumer protection organization analyzed the start of Black Friday campaigns from some online stores. Like previous years, they found several discounts that bypass promotion laws,” the consumer protection organization reports.
Stay informed with five tips from DECO PROteste for making good purchases this Black Friday. The official day is only on November 28, but several brands have already started promotional campaigns.
