site.btaGiving Change in Lev When Euro Is Available Is Absolutely Prohibited by Law - Euro Coordination Centre Head

Returning change in Bulgarian lev when there is sufficient availability of euro is absolutely prohibited by law, Vladimir Ivanov said on Tuesday. Ivanov, head of the Euro Coordination Centre in Bulgaria and Commodity Exchange State Commission Chair, made the statement during the body’s regular briefing held at the Council of Ministers building in Sofia. 

Ivanov described the practice of traders returning change in lev despite having euro available as "extremely unpleasant" and as "self-initiated actions by certain traders".

"I personally was given such a condition - that if I pay in euro, I will receive change in euro, and if I pay in lev, I will receive change in lev, which is absolutely unacceptable under the law. If we establish on site that there is euro available but the trader refuses to return change in euro, then the competent authorities, namely the National Revenue Agency and the Commission for Consumer Protection, must step in," Ivanov said.

He urged traders to adhere to good practices.

"Let us make a small effort in all our practices not to follow the negative examples. There are such cases, but here we should thank all those who have properly stocked euro, complied with the requirements of the law and are operating in a very correct manner. I believe that commercial logic itself suggests that now is the moment when, with a better reputation, one can achieve better results," he said.

According to Ivanov, in cases where there are sharp price increases, customers can choose not to consume and instead reward businesses that act fairly.

"Believe me, those who are doing things properly are far more numerous; it’s just that those who are not are much louder," he added.

Commenting on isolated cases of traders who have said they intend to continue operating in lev even after February 1 this year, Ivanov stressed that such actions would be met with the full severity of the law.

"It is not appropriate to call for non-compliance with the law," he said.