The code didn't work: the QR code announced in the spring for payment in Turkey never worked.

QR code payment in Turkey, announced by leading Russian banks back in the spring, has not worked. As Izvestia found out, their clients cannot fully pay in this way through the applications of MTS, VTB, Alfa and Ozon Bank. At the same time, the service is partially operated by Sberbank, in particular, in the Antalya region. Experts believe that QR code payments may resume as early as next fall, as demand for the service is very high. About why it is not functioning yet and what other ways to make payments and transfers in Turkey are available in the Izvestia article.

QR code payments are not accepted

Türkiye. July. In the 30-degree heat, thousands of Russian tourists come here to change the situation and spend time in the resorts of Antalya, Alanya, and Marmaris... Turkey, which does not require a visa to enter, remains the most popular destination for tourists from the Russian Federation. And the favorable exchange rate of the lira to the ruble (about 1:2) it encourages Russians to go on vacation to this particular country.

However, there remains a significant limitation: Turkish banks still refuse to work with the Mir system due to sanctions. In March, VTB and MTS Bank announced the launch of a QR code payment service in Turkey. In turn, Sberbank promised that payment by code will be accepted at all retail outlets where this payment method is supported. However, this feature is not actually working right now.

— Payment by QR code in Turkey in the My MTS application is currently unavailable due to technical work at the partner. In the near future, the service will be available again, " the technical support of the service told Izvestia.

VTB also reported that payment by QR code is temporarily unavailable in Turkey. Payments do not go through the applications of banks such as Alfa and Ozon.

Izvestia has sent inquiries to 30 major Russian banks asking if they plan to launch a QR code payment feature. So, Sovcombank said that they are "actively working" on finding a technical solution.

—In principle, the QR code payment mechanism involves scanning through the bank's mobile application, but there are no sustainable solutions on the market for its full-fledged operation in Turkey," the organization said.

The situation with the Savings Bank is ambiguous. Although QR code payments are also limited, there have been cases where customers have been able to make purchases. Tourists say that, for example, in the resort town of Beldibi (Antalya province), you can pay with a QR code in a number of pharmacies.

— Some terminals accept payment, but you need to ask the cashiers after the fact, — said the bank's support service.

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When will QR codes work in Turkey?

QR code payment is one of the modern methods of cross-border payment, in which the customer scans a universal code created by the seller and makes a payment from an account in a Russian bank. The money passes through intermediary payment gateways agreed with the partner party. In this case, with Turkish banks and acquirers (financial organizations that own a terminal or ATM).

The situation with the temporary unavailability of payment by QR code is primarily due to technical difficulties and difficulties in coordination between Russian and Turkish payment infrastructures, said Igor Rastorguev, a leading analyst at AMarkets.

— A pilot mode was indeed launched in the spring, but full scaling proved difficult. The reason is not the unavailability of Russian banks, but rather the subtle approvals on the part of the receiving infrastructure. Obviously, given the high sensitivity of international settlements, even in the absence of official restrictions, foreign partners often act with caution. This is not a system lockdown, but rather a manifestation of a "high—caution regime," he told Izvestia.

The expert emphasizes that the QR code technology itself is not difficult, and Russian banks have long been ready to use it. However, as with the launch of any new model of cross-border settlements, much depends on the stability of foreign policy and regulatory conditions.

— Turkey remains a friendly country, and we see that payment solutions are not being closed, but adjusted. Most likely, the mechanism will be restored, possibly in an updated architecture through new gateways or partner platforms. Forecast: closer to autumn, after the end of the holiday season, when the interest in technical improvements will become a higher priority for the host country," the analyst explained.

Launching a full-fledged QR payment is a matter of time, Denis Astafyev, an entrepreneur, fund manager and founder of the SharesPro fintech platform, is sure.

— By the peak of the tourist season, every effort will be made to resume it, it only requires the completion of all test stages and technical refinement of the process. Of course, political stability is also necessary, since Turkey is a country that tries to take into account the interests of various economic blocs," he told Izvestia.

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What other payment methods are available in Turkey

It is not surprising that in such conditions Russians come to Turkey, as a rule, with cash and, if necessary, exchange them for lira. By the way, in Turkey, the Mir card can only be used stably when paying for a taxi in YandexGo. Interestingly, the service operates in Ankara, but does not operate in Istanbul. Earlier, the media reported that UnionPay cards issued in Russia by Rosselkhoznadzor and Asia-Pacific Bank partially operate in Turkey. However, the author failed to verify their effectiveness.

— At the moment, there are point-of-sale solutions for shops, hotels and other retail and service enterprises for accepting Russian cards and paying through the SBP (Fast Payment System). But these solutions are not scalable," Anna Shchetnikova, head of banking at fintech company Paygine, told Izvestia.

Experts recommend using alternative methods of non-cash payment. One of the available ways is to issue a Letim card, which, according to the developers, operates on the basis of the national Turkish payment system Troy. You can apply for it through the smartphone app by registering using your phone number.

Funds are transferred through the SBP with subsequent conversion into lira. For example, when transferring 2 thousand rubles, the card balance can be replenished by about 961 lira, but a commission is charged — about 40 lira (about 80 rubles).

Representatives of the service claim that interest in the product is growing, but it should be borne in mind that the card has transaction restrictions and may not be accepted by individual ATMs or retail outlets.

One of the options for transferring funds may be to use the Golden Crown service. Through the application, you can send funds from Russian cards and receive cash in dollars, euros or lira at the pick-up points. However, such operations are accompanied by fees and may not always be convenient for everyday calculations. It may take time to figure out how the system works.

Some tourists use cryptocurrency as an alternative payment method. For example, through foreign exchanges or specialized exchange offices. Conversion can take place both online and offline, including through informal channels, but such schemes are fraught with risks, including difficulties with identification, possible violations of currency legislation and lack of legal protection.

According to experts, this method requires high financial literacy and experience working with cryptocurrencies.