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Check a contractor

Check a contractor before you hire

Enter the company's NIF or name and see what the public records say about it: licence, insolvencies, court cases and debts. In seconds, before you sign anything.

Search type

The NIF has 9 digits. Find it on the contract or at publicacoes.mj.pt

Before you sign

Why it pays to check first

Hiring a contractor is often the biggest expense in a family's life. It's also where most people get burned: companies that take the deposit and disappear, that go bankrupt mid-project, or that reappear under a new name after leaving clients out of pocket. The information to avoid this is public, but it's scattered across several places and almost nobody checks it before going ahead.

See real construction-scam cases

WHAT WE CHECK

What we analyse

More than 20 cross-checks from 9 official sources, brought together in a single analysis:

  • IMPIC alvará and certificate: whether it exists, is valid, and which class of work it covers
  • Insolvencies, PER and enforcement cases on CITIUS, with the real stage of the process
  • Civil cases where the company is a defendant, in courts across the country
  • Tax and Social Security debts
  • The directors cross-referenced with other companies and records (phoenix pattern)

HOW IT WORKS

How it works

  1. 1

    Enter the NIF

    Just the company's tax number. If you only have the name, you can search by name too.

  2. 2

    See the free pre-analysis

    In seconds, you'll know whether there are red flags and what the risk level is, at no cost.

  3. 3

    Go deeper with ObraCheck

    If you want the full detail (directors, cases, debts, score and PDF), the ObraCheck report costs €19.99.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if a contractor is trustworthy?

Check three things before going ahead: whether they have a valid IMPIC alvará or certificate for the type and size of the work, whether they have no ongoing insolvency or enforcement proceedings, and whether the directors don't have a history of failed companies. These records are public. ObraXRAY brings them together and cross-references them into a single analysis from the NIF.

What should I check before hiring a contractor?

A valid IMPIC alvará, no insolvencies or enforcement cases, tax and Social Security standing, court cases as a defendant, and the directors' history. Also ask for a written contract, avoid large deposits, and confirm the company signing the contract is the same one that holds the licence.

Do I have to pay to check a construction company?

Not to start. The free pre-analysis shows you the risk level and the main red flags right away. You only pay (€19.99) if you want the full ObraCheck report, with the detail of directors, cases, debts, score and a PDF to keep.

What is a contractor with a phoenix pattern?

It's when the same directors close a company with debts and open a new, clean one to keep operating as if nothing happened. For the client, the name changes but the risk is the same. It can only be spotted by cross-referencing the directors with the history of other companies, which is exactly what we do.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

Nine public databases. Always cited.

9 official databases

CITIUS

Court proceedings

IMPIC

Construction licenses

Commercial Registry

Company data

Publications MJ

Official publications, directors and shareholders

Tax Authority

Tax debts

Social Security

Contribution debts

ACT

Labor sanctions

197 Courts

Civil proceedings

Portal Base

Public contracts

About to hire? Check first.

It takes seconds and can save you the biggest headache of the whole project.