Russians are having problems with bank cards abroad
Russian tourists there were affected by the sanctions.
Russian tourists who have bank cards issued in other countries have started to have problems paying in Europe. Some car rental companies in Germany and Italy are introducing new rules requiring proof that the cards were issued to residents and not “card tourists.”
This requirement is already being applied in some companies, and, according to Russian media reports, may be extended to other EU trade and service organizations. The problems began with Russian tourists who tried to rent a car using a card issued in Kazakhstan. The Budget company, from which one of the tourists booked a car, now requires not only a valid bank card, but also proof of legal residence in the country where the card was issued.
Another tourist was able to rent a car using a card from an Armenian bank of Budget at Dortmund Airport. However, another tourist from Russia faced a problem when renting a car in Rome from Firefly. She was the owner of a Visa card from a Belarusian bank and was also warned about the new EU requirements related to the need to confirm her residency in the country where the card was issued.
After the international banking systems Visa and Mastercard were suspended in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine, Russians started using cards from banks in neighboring “friendly” countries. However, with the new EU requirements for proof of residency in the country where the card was issued, it is becoming more difficult for card tourists to use these cards in Europe.
