Today we’ll talk about the MIR map. What user reviews are positive or negative about her? What are the user ratings based on, and is there a difference between cards issued by different banks? Let's get it right.
Payment system
Before starting a conversation about the MIR bank card and user reviews, consider what a payment system is. This is the name of the structure that allows banks, organizations and individuals to make payments, accept them, make transfers, etc.
Systems are local or international. The second is characteristic of companies that have gone beyond the borders of one state as part of their activities. An example is the Russian payment system Yandex. Money".
Some companies operate as Yandex, issuing their own cards, while others, on the contrary, are tied to the banking infrastructure. For example, the same Visa, Mastercard.
A person who wants to order a card from one of these two systems will be faced with a proposal to contact one of the banks in his country. The system does not draw up a direct card.
Background
Not so long ago, the Russian authorities did not pay attention to the fact that the main place in the payment market in the country is occupied by foreign structures. But in 2014, Russia faced sanctions, and there was a problem with blocking payments by Russian users.
As a result, it was decided to create their own system that would serve the needs, first of all, of state employees and state organizations. Non-governmental organizations and companies are entitled to use its services.
Thus, the influence of foreigners on the Russian financial market is limited. Indeed, if you look at the reviews of users of the MIR card, some people resort to it, traveling to the Crimea and not wanting to risk their money because of the risk of blockages, and someone is driven by patriotism.
The previous version of the national payment system "PRO100" experienced serious difficulties, so it was replaced with a more successful analogue. So, MIR is not the first attempt to organize its own payment system.
How is the acquisition organized?
The card is issued by Russian banks, and gradually the number of participants in the payment system becomes larger.
Those who wish to apply for it can apply to any state-owned bank, in particular, VTB, Sberbank, to the Rossiya Bank - they were the first to offer a new banking product.
Most of the project is being implemented in Crimea, where it is of primary importance. In fact, the peninsula was used as an experimental site for testing the new system, because foreign companies are curtailing their presence there due to restrictions imposed by their governments.
The MIR card is serviced by the bank that issued it. Here are the main differences, in particular, the order of receipt, conditions of use. Financial institutions determine their own customer service policies.
Faced with a review, do not rely excessively on it. After all, the problem is not in the payment system, but in the bank offering the corresponding services.
The site of the payment system has a list of banks that are included in it. There everyone will find the institution closest to his place of residence.
Cards are provided exclusively by banks or other financial organizations; the payment system does not deal with their direct distribution.
Issuance Procedure
On what conditions is the MIR card issued? The client is required to provide a passport and fill out a questionnaire. If we are talking about a pensioner or recipient of benefits, an employee of an enterprise serviced by a bank, an appropriate account is opened and a card is issued. Some banks offer an additional service to recipients of payments from the state - write a statement about the transfer of money to the bank directly in its branch. Then the documents are transferred by the bank's employees to the department of social protection or the pension fund.
Cards are issued to employees in advance or brought to work. The procedure takes a minimum time. Usually, the preparation is carried out by the management of the enterprise or organization, and the only thing left is for the person to receive the coveted envelope and instructions from the operator.
Obtaining a debit card for your own needs is just as easy at the local office. Note: for citizens who do not have a registration mark in their passport, cards are not issued.
Card Limits
MIR card service is provided throughout the country. Exceptions are exclusively related to interbank relations. Those. a regional-level bank card may not work in Moscow or another city, due to the lack of an agreement between banks on cooperation.
Is the card valid abroad? No, the system has not yet gone beyond Russia. It does not work either in Belarus or in Kazakhstan, although there are fairly close economic ties between them and Russia.
The card is actively used in the Crimea, tourists are even recommended to book it for their holidays.
Use cases
A standard scheme of payment by the MIR card for goods and services has been organized. The only question is whether this or that enterprise is connected to the system. Paying with it is now easy, and there are no differences from Western counterparts or those cards that were issued earlier.
The service is provided to replenish the card through the terminals or by transferring through your personal account. Along with opening a bank account, the user is automatically provided with access to services on the Internet. They represent a standard set, in particular, payment for utilities, telephone services, some other services and goods, transferring funds to someone else's account, between their own accounts.
The Internet allows you to manage all accounts, including credit.
Payment by the MIR card of services or goods on the Internet is not available to everyone. In the virtual sphere of the economy, for some reason, the use of the payment system is inhibited.
In particular, it cannot be used when transferring money from a MTS phone account, large online stores accept payments only from Viza, Mastercard, Maestro, and cards of the latter type are accepted by a limited number of companies. Connecting MIR cards is still minimal. Because of what, users resort to using electronic wallets, which are most adapted to settlements on the World Wide Web.
ATM cards "Mir" are accepted without exception. The size of the commission is determined by agreement between banks. It is not charged if both the card and the ATM belong to state-owned banks, albeit differently.
If there is no access to your personal account
A significant portion of customers acquire a card, and as soon as the money arrives in the account, they are completely cashed. This is done mainly by older citizens, who made time when payments were delayed for months. All the benefits associated with the Internet or stocks, they are of little interest.
How to check the balance of the MIR card, if for some reason there is no Internet access?
Using an ATM. Insert the card into the machine, dial the account access code, and then select the "Account or card balance" function, depending on the software of the ATM.
Information is displayed on the screen, it is also proposed to print a receipt indicating the amount available.
Gradually, banks are introducing applications for mobile and tablets that allow you to manage your account, including checking how much money is left in your account.
Card types
MIR bank cards offer a standard set of services and are issued in several forms:
- For social and retirement benefits.
- Debit anonymous and personalized cards.
- Credit cards (registered and unnamed).
All of them are MIR payment bank cards, although they have different functionality.
Providing social and pension benefits
The card is issued to citizens receiving benefits and social benefits (maternity payments, transfers to low-income people, etc.).
The MIR card for retirees is targeted. Not so long ago, its issuance to pensioners became mandatory. By the way, citizens have the right to additionally order a card served by one of the international payment systems. Both are tied to one account. If there are several, transferring within the boundaries of one bank takes several minutes. Account maintenance from the budget is provided only on the MIR card.
The commission is taken only for replenishment, if it is not a pension or benefit, it is not charged for withdrawing money.
The MIR card for pensioners is issued only to customers who contact the bank. Anyone who wishes, money is still issued through the mail.
Debit Anonymous and Name Cards
The MIR bank card - not registered or anonymous - is also issued to citizens who do not receive payments from the budget. Design takes a few minutes. The set of services is minimal: the possibility of replenishment through terminals, ATMs, transfers from other accounts, payment of utility bills, goods and services in stores and enterprises.
For replenishment and withdrawal of money, a commission is taken. If payment is made through the terminal, no commission is charged.
A debit personalized card gives access to a larger list of services, their volume depends on the tariff chosen by the client. Classification of cards into “gold”, “silver”, “premium”, etc. Familiar to almost everyone who has at least a little run into banks.
The wait takes about two weeks, the period can be more or less, depending on which bank the order is made.
Name cards are issued either for an individual order, or for salary payments.
Credit cards
The loan is issued in cash, or the client is given access to a bank account, which has a certain amount, which is proposed to be used at one’s own discretion.
Credit cards are characterized by a higher interest rate than a real money loan. At the same time, the client has the right to take the amount that he wishes, and at a time convenient for him. Regular and careful use leads to an increase in the limit.
Cash withdrawals are paid by a commission, but replenishment is free both through the terminal and through a bank transfer. Payment of goods and services through terminals allows you to save on commissions.
The client who has returned the amount within the agreed period is exempt from interest (the grace period lasts about a month).
If you fail to meet the grace period, interest is accrued on the amount that the client remains owed to the bank, and not on the one that he took initially.
Overdraft is also offered. A client receiving payments from the budget or a salary to the card has the right to use the bank’s money if it withdraws an amount exceeding the amount of its own funds from the account. Overdraft size is also limited.
In general, lending terms are an area where the difference in terms offered by banks is best seen.
The interest rate is uniform, all other lending conditions lie in the plane of competence of the organization’s managers.
Bonuses and the MIR card
Cardholders are encouraged in certain retail chains and stores. This is done in many ways. In particular, a system of holding shares is used, during which discounts are offered.Either the return of a part of the funds for the purchase is practiced, or the client is offered bonuses that are spent on new purchases in the same company. Figuratively speaking, an additional bonus account is opened.
There are many options. As for the bonuses to the MIR card, there is a whole portal where you can find out all the information. How is he interesting? The site contains information about those promotions held by various companies. They are offered specifically to the owners of the MIR card.
The owner must register in the program, then take part in the action, which attracted attention. According to the portal, payment for purchases is made through the Internet services of companies or stationary retail outlets directly without his participation.
Under what conditions are the shares held, companies decide, they are posted on the website, and those who wish can familiarize themselves with them. The information is systematized by region, which makes the search quite convenient.
More information can be found on the bank's website in your account. There periodically appear new ads for promotions. They are also systematized by region.
MIR card bonuses are offered equally to holders of registered and non-personal cards.
Advantages of domestic cards
What are the advantages of the MIR card? They are listed below:
- Some banking products are provided at minimal prices or comparable to those presented by foreign companies.
- There is a choice of products for different categories of the population - both for wealthy and for poor citizens.
- Blocking operations by international financial organizations is excluded.
- The security system is provided at a level comparable to foreign payment systems.
- The network of points that allow the use of domestic maps is expanding throughout the country.
- All banks provide card acceptance by their ATMs.
Negative sides
There is no banking product that is characterized by only positive aspects. The MIR card also has disadvantages:
- Infrastructure intermittently malfunctions.
- Cards are not accepted abroad.
- Some enterprises and organizations that provide part of the services via the Internet do not accept cards for payment.
- Tariffs are determined by banks, which is why MIR card user reviews are often negative.
What cardholders say
The remarks concern several points:
- limited functionality;
- the cost of issuing a card at some banks is more expensive in comparison with foreign counterparts;
- cards issued on the mainland of Russia do not always work correctly in the territory of Crimea; residents of the Crimea also make similar complaints when they receive a house card and travel to the continent;
- You cannot top up an account by transferring money from Webmoney and other international payment systems that work with electronic money.
It is possible to gradually cope with organizational difficulties, especially since foreign competitors continue to work in the market, and the system has additional incentives to continue working on the system.
However, the sources of many difficulties - banks issuing cards, the payment system sets only the basic parameters of their actions.
Finally
Thus, Russian cards, on the one hand, provide a standard set of services, on the other hand, their quality leaves much to be desired due to the incomplete functionality. The price paid by the consumer is higher in comparison with foreign counterparts. The inconvenience is caused by the limited payment for services or goods via the Internet.