Eating and entertainment establishments in Bulgaria that have been awarded two or more stars are required to have POS terminals available to customers, consumer rights expert Gabriela Rumenova said. The requirement is set out in the Tourism Act and has been in force since March 1, 2024.
Rumenova, founder of the "We, the Consumers" online platform, explained on Bulgaria ON AIR that the obligation applies specifically to categorized establishments with two or more stars. Other types of commercial businesses are not generally required by law to offer customers the option of paying by card.
Retailers may also set a minimum purchase amount for card payments, and according to Rumenova, this does not violate a mandatory legal requirement. However, she said consumers should be clearly informed about such conditions before they reach the checkout.
"If merchants in stores require their customers to shop over a certain amount in order to pay by card, this is not a violation of a mandatory provision of the legislation," Rumenova said.
She argued that imposing such a condition without informing customers in advance creates an unfair situation. A shopper may only discover the restriction after selecting the products and waiting in line, leaving them to decide quickly whether to add more items or abandon the purchase.
