A seemingly endless number of Bulgarian websites offer help in dispelling black magic spells that are thought to be the cause of unhappiness and illnesses. A brief investigation by Bulgaria-language daily Novinar showed that prices for these services ranged between 80 and 200 leva.

The top-end of the service was provided by an unnamed clairvoyant in the Black Sea town of Varna. The sum, payable by bank transfer, would ensure than any black magic would be dispelled and rid the newspaper's journalist of any negative energy.

The service would be provided over three evenings. Because of the distance between the offices of the newspaper in Sofia and Varna, a photo would have to be sent by email and the same medium would be used to lift the spell.

Another unnamed clairvoyant asked for a price quote by the daily had a slightly more complicated scheme to calculate the price.

For a base-sum of 50 leva, she would check the Koran what would be the right price to charge, the newspaper said. It turned out, the price for the Novinar journalist to have any curses lifted would be a minimum of 30 leva.

For good measure, Novinvar turned to GERB MP and member of Parliament's committee on human rights, religion, citizens’ complaints and petitions, Svetlana Angelova, who was quoted as saying that, as a psychologist, she solved her own problems and has never gone to see a clairvoyant.

According to Angelova, clairvoyants who offered this type of services, abused people's fears and hopes, Novinar concluded.