Yes, foreign cards can be accepted, but it is a separate scenario: it carries its own rate — at MulenPay from 8.9% against 2.9% for Russian bank cards — and its own requirements for product descriptions, currency and customer support.
Why the rate is higher
There are more parties in the chain: an issuing bank in another country, an international payment scheme, currency conversion. Every step adds cost and risk, and that is priced into the rate.
What to get right in the interface
- Language. The payment form and order description must be understandable to the buyer.
- Currency. The customer should see which currency is charged and understand their bank may convert at its own rate.
- Merchant name. The statement descriptor must be recognisable, or disputes will climb.
- Refund terms. For cross-border purchases these get read carefully.
What usually goes wrong
- The customer does not recognise the transaction on their statement and opens a dispute.
- The issuing bank declines the payment under its own cross-border rules.
- The converted amount differs from what the buyer expected and reads as an error.
The first two are solved with a clear descriptor and an alternative payment method; the third with a conversion warning before checkout.
Who needs it
- Online schools and SaaS with students and clients abroad.
- Stores shipping internationally.
- Projects collecting payments from foreign partners.
See international acquiring for details; all rates are listed on the pricing page.
