Russian borrowers are increasingly requesting reimbursement through the courts if the bank has raised the loan rate due to the client's refusal of additional services or non-compliance with related conditions.
We are talking about programs where a reduced rate is given only when purchasing additional products, making a one-time payment or meeting requirements such as monthly spending on the card. In October, the courts sided with customers in several cases, allowing them to get their money back and keep the lower rate.
Such disputes already affect car loans and mortgages, and the repayment amounts can reach tens and hundreds of thousands of rubles. For the banks, this creates a separate legal risk: formal voluntary services, under certain conditions, can be recognized as actually imposed.
The central bank also noted in the past that the problem is growing: the number of complaints about refunds for additional services is increasing. This increases the pressure on practices where the true cost of a loan depends not only on the rate, but also on the set of ancillary products required.