The key facts
- Micro-enterprises and outlets with revenue under 5 million rubles per year may not accept cards
- Companies with revenue over 20 million rubles are required to provide cashless payment
- A refusal to issue a receipt can be appealed to the Federal Tax Service, a violation of the right to cashless payment — to Rospotrebnadzor
When refusing cards is legal
Small stores, workshops and micro-enterprises may legally accept only cash, Roskachestvo specialists told Lenta.ru. Under the Consumer Protection Law, companies with annual revenue over 20 million rubles are required to provide the option of cashless payment using national payment instruments. An exemption is provided for individual retail outlets with revenue of less than five million rubles for the previous year. Refusing to accept cards is also allowed in places where the necessary communication connection is absent.
Receipts and complaints
The absence of a terminal does not exempt the seller from the obligation to process purchases according to the law: in most cases, the buyer must be issued a paper or electronic cash receipt in accordance with Federal Law 54. As lawyer Dmitry Yemelyanov previously explained, even without a retained receipt one can demand a return of goods, confirming the purchase with other evidence. If a cashier refuses to issue a receipt, the buyer has the right to file a complaint with the Federal Tax Service. Demanding the complaints and suggestions book is not mandatory: since 2021, its presence in retail stores is not required. Instead, one can send the seller a written claim, to which the seller must respond within the period established by law.
Broken terminal and other recommendations
In case of a broken payment terminal, Roskachestvo advises checking whether other cashless payment methods are available, such as payment via QR code. If the seller is legally required to accept cards but does not provide such an option, the buyer can contact Rospotrebnadzor. Earlier, Life.ru reported, citing lawyer Alexander Khaminsky, that stores may not refuse to sell goods due to a lack of change: keeping the cash register stocked with small change is the responsibility of the retail outlet, but demanding change without making a purchase is not allowed. The expert also warned about the dangers of transfers to sellers' personal cards: this payment method can complicate confirming the transaction, and for the entrepreneur create risks due to the use of a personal account for commercial purposes.
