Manny
After getting married in Russia, back in 2008, I was facing the problem with Babushka paying the bills for the flat, as until that time it was my Wife who was dealing with everything and Babushka had not a clue.
Thinking ahead at the time, I opened a second account, put enough money to cover wedding expenses and organised for an overdraft and got the debit card, so I can give it to my wife to have it and use it, to pay for the wedding costs etc.
After the wedding Wife and I went to Sberbank to organise DD payments for all our bills and there all sort of problems started and as you say they did not have their shit together, what so ever.
We were told, Yes we can pay your bills but you have to open a new account, you send money to the old current account of my wife and every month we will move money to the new account and pay the bills. When I asked why can't I sent money directly to the new account on a monthly basis and you pay the bills? No that is not possible and never explained to me the reason why. Got fed up talking to a brick wall, went home and decided to let baboushka to have the second card, use ATM take cash out, go to the bank and pay all the bills in one go. I had to train baboushka how to use the card to take money out of ATM, pay bills in the shops and ABTEKA. Luckily she learned fast. rem pincode number and started paying the supermarket.
While on training, a young lady told her this card is not yours but belongs to me and invited me to go and put the pin code. I said to her baboushka can do it with my permission......at the end she had to call the boss and he told her it's OK without me saying a word.
Two years ago, finally, wife went to the bank and organised for all services bills to be paid directly of Babushkas account.So baboushka go to the bank take money out of ATM and pay into her account and then the cashier pay all bills at once. F...
palavra
Last summer when I visited the UFA Net site and there they accept payments by all cards. I decided to pay all bills phone, Internet and TV with my debit card for 6 months, accepted all details tried to Authorise it but was refused. UFA net told me it's banks problem, called Sberbank, was told no problem accepting a card issued in UK and it's UFAnet problem. After 3 months,UFAnet accepted it was their fault and offered me to make payment via a Russian transfer company, who accepts Visa Debit card. I gave up and continued with Babouska taking cash, put the money in her account and then pay all bills.
Last time I visited my bank, Barclays, was 3 years ago when my friend send me a cheque for my Birthday present!
I am under the impression, when I talk to Sberbank in Moscow, everything looks fine but locally it's still on last century and before I was born.
PS: Sorry for any mistakes.... but have too go to sleep.