Yandex Money Review: A Huge Disappointment

Name: A Huge Letdown - My Experience with Yandex Money
Item: YooMoney Wallet
Rating: 1
Author: jeremybowman807

A Huge Letdown - My Experience with Yandex Money

summarizeEditor's Summary

I've been using Yandex Money for over a year, but my experience has been a huge letdown. The app is a pain to use, with a clunky login process and annoying notifications that just won't quit. I'm also not a fan of the high fees and confusing rules that make it hard to keep track of what I'm paying. To top it all off, the app isn't even listed in the App Store, making it a hassle to add to my home screen. I've found better alternatives, like Air Command, which offer decent weekly payouts without the headaches. In this review, I'll share my major gripes with Yandex Money and why I'm switching to something else.

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KararKötü

Güvenlik6/10

Hassaslık2/10

Kullanışlılık4/10

A Huge Letdown - My Experience with Yandex Money

I've been using Yandex Money for over a year now, but my experience has been a huge letdown. It all started when I was left with no choice but to use Yandex Money after the Kiwi debacle, when Air Command payments were blocked. Later, self-employment became another option, but I put that off for ages.

At first, I thought I had no choice but to use Yandex Money, but as time went on, I realized that there were better alternatives available. I eventually started getting decent weekly payouts from Air Command, and that's when I hit a massive snag with Yandex Money and decided to ditch it.

Today's review is about Yandex Money, and I'll also share what I don't like about it.

What is this app, and what's not working for me?

To be honest, I wouldn't even call it an app, since Yandex Money isn't listed in the App Store. The only option is to add it to my home screen, which is super inconvenient. The login process is also a pain, and I'm not happy about getting notifications both in the app and via email, requiring me to clean them up for ages. To make matters worse, these notifications come in for every little thing.

I've taken a screenshot of the login process to show you just how clunky it is. As you can see, it's a real hassle to get started with Yandex Money.

The visual design is also clunky, as it takes forever to find translations for Sberbank, so I just end up using a card and paying a commission. But, funnily enough, there is a way to transfer money from Yandex Money to a card without a commission. You just need to go to your personal account settings, link your banks, and check the boxes for all your banks. When you request a payment from, say, Tinkoff, and select Yandex Money, the money will be transferred without a commission. But, of course, it doesn't always work.

I've taken a screenshot of the settings page to show you just how complicated it is to transfer money without a commission. As you can see, it's a real hassle to get it right.

I'll be honest, my wallet was verified, and I'm not really sure what the point of the extra verification was. And even with a verified wallet, the withdrawal limits are pretty tight - just 3,500 rubles a day. If you go over that by even a single ruble, you're out of luck. You can only withdraw 3,500 rubles, and if you need to get the rest out, you're in for a long wait. I'm not sure what the thinking was behind this, but it's definitely a hassle. And when you finally get the total amount, and you can't withdraw it all at once, it's really frustrating.

I've taken a screenshot of the withdrawal limits to show you just how restrictive they are. As you can see, it's a real pain to get your money out.

What really gets me is that they even have a separate section for what to do if you've reached the limit. I thought maybe they'd have some kind of workaround or something, but nope. It's just a way to rub it in - 'sorry, wait till tomorrow'. And tomorrow, you can withdraw the same 3,500 rubles all over again. I think this is a pretty poor design choice, and it's definitely a hassle.

I've taken a screenshot of the 'what to do if you've reached the limit' section to show you just how unhelpful it is. As you can see, it's just a bunch of empty promises.

And to make matters worse, you can only withdraw your money by transferring it to a card, and that'll cost you 3% and at least 100 rubles. I think this is just ridiculous - no bank charges a fee for transferring money. But Yandex Money just ignores this whole issue. I'm not sure how they've managed to get away with this for so long, but it looks pretty shoddy to me.

I've taken a screenshot of the withdrawal process to show you just how expensive it is. As you can see, it's a real rip-off.

I started using the YooMoney wallet in February this year, and at first, it was okay because the withdrawal amounts were relatively small. For the first while, I didn't know you could withdraw to a Sberbank card, so I had to transfer the commission to my card or pay phone bills. There's a catch here, though - you can pay for MTS and Megafon, but not for Tinkoff. I've been dealing with this issue for almost a year, and nothing's changed. I still can't pay my Tinkoff bill with this wallet.

I've taken a screenshot of the payment options to show you just how limited they are. As you can see, it's a real pain to pay your bills.

The thing is, I've got a huge balance, but the recommended payments to me vary from 5 to 10 thousand rubles a month. To me, that's not a huge sum, and it's definitely not worth dealing with scammers. Considering these are official payments and not transfers from someone, you'd think they'd find a way to transfer the whole amount. But no, YooMoney wants to keep us in line. That's why YooMoney limits the withdrawal amount to 3,500 and charges a commission for anything above, only allowing you to transfer funds to a card number.

I've taken a screenshot of the payment limits to show you just how restrictive they are. As you can see, it's a real pain to get your money out.

I have to admit, I was a bit frustrated at this point. I ended up using the last of my money the next day, but I realized I didn't like the approach. So, I decided to just go ahead and link my self-employment account. I'm not sure if this is some kind of tactic to get more users to link their self-employment accounts with these limits, but I had to do it anyway. Luckily, I can now get my payments on my bank card, which is actually a huge game-changer because the money comes in and I can use the full amount without any fees, and I can even transfer it to my bank account every day.

I've taken a screenshot of the self-employment account linking process to show you just how easy it is. As you can see, it's a real breeze.

My Verdict.

I have to say, I found the YooMoney wallet to be super uncomfortable and not user-friendly at all. Compared to Kivi, it was a huge letdown. That's why I ended up deleting YooMoney and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. One star from me.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

Is Yandex Money a good option for self-employment?

Unfortunately, my experience with Yandex Money has been a huge letdown. I've found better alternatives, like Air Command, which offer decent weekly payouts without the headaches. It's worth exploring other options to find what works best for you.

What are the fees like with Yandex Money?

The fees with Yandex Money are high, and the rules are confusing. I've found that other apps, like Air Command, have lower fees and are more straightforward. It's worth doing some research to find the best option for your needs.

Can I still use Yandex Money if I have an iPhone?

Unfortunately, Yandex Money isn't listed in the App Store, making it a hassle to add to your home screen. You may need to explore other options that are more convenient for your device.

What are the login process and notifications like with Yandex Money?

The login process with Yandex Money can be clunky, and the notifications are annoying. I've found that other apps are more user-friendly and have fewer notifications. It's worth exploring other options to find what works best for you.

Is Yandex Money worth the hassle and fees?

Not in my opinion. I've found better alternatives that offer decent weekly payouts without the headaches. It's worth exploring other options to find what works best for you.

Can I get a refund or return with Yandex Money?

I'm not aware of any refund or return options with Yandex Money. It's always a good idea to review the terms and conditions before signing up for any service.

How do I contact Yandex Money customer support?

I'm not aware of any customer support contact information for Yandex Money. It's always a good idea to review the terms and conditions or contact the company directly for assistance.

Can I use Yandex Money for online payments?

Yes, Yandex Money can be used for online payments, but I've found that other apps are more convenient and have lower fees. It's worth exploring other options to find what works best for you.

What are the benefits of using Air Command instead of Yandex Money?

Air Command offers decent weekly payouts, lower fees, and a more user-friendly experience compared to Yandex Money. It's worth considering as a better alternative.