Got a 10,000 HUF fine in Budapest Airport - How bad is it?

Voyager2002

duchy wrote: »

Really ?
"Most of us" don't carry knives when we travel . Most us don't carry them on a daily basis going about our regular business either

It's twenty three quid and you think that is outrageous despite knowing the importance of airport security ? I think it's too low.

Most of us would probably carry a pen-knife or similar when travelling: they are just so useful for many simple tasks when you don't have access to a kitchen.

In every other country in the world, airport security means screening people to ensure that they are not carrying prohibited items. The loss of the item in question is usually sufficient punishment to ensure that no-one makes that mistake more than once. Relying on a system of fines would be lethal -- think about it.

jumperabv3

NiftyDigits wrote: »

The Embassy of Hungary

Call them or send them an email. Then you can have it in writing.

If you need more contacts, look here

By the way just for your information and for future incidents of this kind - I contacted the embassy by the way, they're quite useless - they told me if this happens the person has to deal with this matter directly with the airport police, they don't provide any assistance in that matter.

NiftyDigits

jumperabv3 wrote: »

By the way just for your information and for future incidents of this kind - I contacted the embassy by the way, they're quite useless - they told me if this happens the person has to deal with this matter directly with the airport police, they don't provide any assistance in that matter.

Unfortunate, as that advice came from the gov.uk website here

jumperabv3

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Unfortunate, as that advice came from the gov.uk website here

This advice can be out of date ... who knows how long ago someone typed it?! I'm telling you what they told by email and on the phone likewise, try it for yourself if you don't believe me.

jumperabv3

Sorry for bumping this topic but I just wanted to give you heads-up:

• I called Budapest Airport Police several times, got hanged up many times by idiots who don't speak English.
• At last after many calls I got to a person who speaks English properly - I asked him to confirm they received my payment - he took my details and my email and finally he sent me a confirmation by email they received the payment and the case is closed.
• I repeat one more time, unlike the advice given on the GOV.uk website the embassy is not the right place to help you.
• I suggest to anyone who gets a similar fine in the future to use a translator if he wants to avoid the hassles of asking for a payment confirmation - no need to pay a lawyer, just pay for a translator to speak on your behalf with them over the phone (do a conference via Skype) - or alternatively call many times and maybe you will be "lucky" like I was eventually to get to a person who speaks English properly.
• These idiots don't know English very well at all - one lady even laughed on the phone when I asked her why she hangs up the phone and doesn't answer - she answered me very slowly in Hungarian said something that sounds like Chinese to me, I told her it won't help if she speaks to me in Hungarian but she couldn't help and in my opinion was very rude like many of these people there.

I think the issue as far as I'm concerned is all settled now, I can freely visit Budapest again (I do have a payment confirmation and saved it), and there is no bad record - but for next time I will do my best to not put a knife in the hand-luggage ... especially when you visit countries that have many people that don't know how to say even 1 word in English.

PeteDoff

jumperabv3 wrote: »

[*]I called Budapest Airport Police several times, got hanged up many times by idiots who don't speak English.

How thoughtless of them

benjus

jumperabv3 wrote: »

Sorry for bumping this topic but I just wanted to give you heads-up:

• I called Budapest Airport Police several times, got hanged up many times by idiots who don't speak English.
• At last after many calls I got to a person who speaks English properly - I asked him to confirm they received my payment - he took my details and my email and finally he sent me a confirmation by email they received the payment and the case is closed.
• I repeat one more time, unlike the advice given on the GOV.uk website the embassy is not the right place to help you.
• I suggest to anyone who gets a similar fine in the future to use a translator if he wants to avoid the hassles of asking for a payment confirmation - no need to pay a lawyer, just pay for a translator to speak on your behalf with them over the phone (do a conference via Skype) - or alternatively call many times and maybe you will be "lucky" like I was eventually to get to a person who speaks English properly.
• These idiots don't know English very well at all - one lady even laughed on the phone when I asked her why she hangs up the phone and doesn't answer - she answered me very slowly in Hungarian said something that sounds like Chinese to me, I told her it won't help if she speaks to me in Hungarian but she couldn't help and in my opinion was very rude like many of these people there.

I think the issue as far as I'm concerned is all settled now, I can freely visit Budapest again (I do have a payment confirmation and saved it), and there is no bad record - but for next time I will do my best to not put a knife in the hand-luggage ... especially when you visit countries that have many people that don't know how to say even 1 word in English.

Foreigners, eh? How dare they have their own language.

jumperabv3

benjus wrote: »

Foreigners, eh? How dare they have their own language.

Being cynical, using sarcasm, eh?
It's the airport police, airport is an International place, duh!

macman

Why do you presume that everyone in an airport, international departure lounge or not, is required to or able to speak good English? If you had gone to court in Hungary for this offence, would you expect the judge to conduct the case in English just for your benefit?
Maybe next time you just need to SHOUT MORE LOUDLY?

jumperabv3

macman wrote: »

Why do you presume that everyone in an airport, international departure lounge or not, is required to or able to speak good English? If you had gone to court in Hungary for this offence, would you expect the judge to conduct the case in English just for your benefit?
Maybe next time you just need to SHOUT MORE LOUDLY?

Okay, Mr. Perfect, I don't like your attitude so you can shove it.