The consumer protection association issued a statement warning about the promotional hearing screening communication shared by Portal Saúde after receiving a hundred requests for support.

The complaints are from people who carried out the test and now want to cancel the purchase of the hearing aid, at a high price and in instalments, without many of the buyers, according to reports to Deco, having realised that they signed, in addition to a sales contract, a contract to credit.

Deco indicated that the advertising, already denounced by the association to the Health Regulatory Authority, is aimed at older and more vulnerable people, with less digital literacy and who are misled, and many only realise later that the testing is done by Amplifon Portugal, which sells the devices, but purports to be an official entity using the name Portal Saúde.

The majority of complaints received are from people who have no need to use a hearing aid, but just need to undergo a free screening, the association stressed, explaining that it is only after hours of hearing tests that they are faced with the sale of the device and many feel that they are forced to say they don't want it, which is why it's an aggressive sale.

With the title “If you are over 60 years old, you can now schedule a free hearing test online”, the advertisement announces a campaign that covers the entire country, and has more than 100 certified centres available for people over the age of 60.

Deco considers the way in which the advertisement is presented to be misleading, as it may mislead consumers as to the true entity promoting the test and, thus, unduly influence any decision.

On the other hand, the information in the advertisement about the potential risks of developing diseases due to hearing loss, which the association considers could generate alarm among the most vulnerable consumers, may lead to less informed decisions.