Most common payment methods in Hungary

Do not feel safe at all using digital payments, not just here but anywhere.

They do not come down hard enough on scammers and scammers are always one step ahead.

I see people daily using digital payments in shops, they must have a very low bank balance to be so carefree.

We're using touch payments on the phone all the time.

Technologically. there's not a lot of difference between scanning a card and scanning a phone.   

The turning point for digital payments was the ability to use micro payments without MC/VI taking a large percentage cut.   When they are taking anything up to 5%, it's looking increasingly like a con cum scam.

I should say, charging an additional percentage surcharge to use a digital payment is illegal in many countries including the EU.

BTW, using the card provider rate and not the store rate when buying in a foreign currency can save you money. I bought an air ticket the other day and the savings on the card provider doing the conversion of local currency saved me about 20 EUR.  They save you money by aggregating all the conversions together whereas local bank rates are often adverse (and way out of line).

Debit is more or less the default, or cash.

Apps/ phones emerging in most places.

Just do not try to write a check.

Also better to exchange foreign currency, a few places accept like EUR in their rate, but hardly other ones, rare exceptions exist in border areas, like UAH, RON sometimes accepted near the border. 

We are very strict with our US account.

Only use debit at certain times of the month. Probably one reason I ran into issues on my trip to the US. I was going wild with my card and their fraud dept thought it odd and declined my card, had to go into my bank 3 times in a week to fix things.

Self imposed safety but keeping things that way.

Our HU bank is just for small stuff, keep the balance low, if we lose it we lose it.

I do not use a smart phone so the pay with tap card deal will not be happening.

I know one day the system will no longer except cash but for now, I perfer to live in the 90,s.

I trust our US bank more then the ones in Hungary, at least they do not let anyone get into our account, even us!

No they are easy enough to deal with, much easier then the HU banks are.

We are very strict with our US account.Only use debit at certain times of the month. Probably one reason I ran into issues on my trip to the US. I was going wild with my card and their fraud dept thought it odd and declined my card, had to go into my bank 3 times in a week to fix things.Self imposed safety but keeping things that way.Our HU bank is just for small stuff, keep the balance low, if we lose it we lose it.I do not use a smart phone so the pay with tap card deal will not be happening.I know one day the system will no longer except cash but for now, I perfer to live in the 90,s.I trust our US bank more then the ones in Hungary, at least they do not let anyone get into our account, even us!No they are easy enough to deal with, much easier then the HU banks are. - @Marilyn Tassy

I also don't trust HU banks but they are all under EU legislation.  Even more so when the EUR comes here in perhaps 5 years maybe?

There's ownership surprises in banks in HU - a legacy of Orban's control/interference of/in the sector. 

It wouldn't be a surprise to see banks closing or merging in the next few years as Magyar Peter gets around to it and reverses Orban's decrees. 

They already killed contracts with Duna Construction as it was Orban related.  One of our HU relatives might be laid off because of it.

As for the phone, it's getting more insidious.  The EU is bringing in digital ID wallets for important documents.  There will be almost no choice but to use it.   I already resent the likes of Google Wallet storing large amounts of personal data.  Personally I'd like to see Google broken up.

@fluffy2560

I do not use any "smart" things. My phone is a museum escapee, can store like 50 sms, no internet, no app capability, normal phone, so obviously never paid with that.

Never trusted in digital wallets, even for crypto there are physical options.

As for any data upload I notoriously and radically against that. Very much hope will be on another country if they ever make it, like digital id, or other tyrannical stuff.

A few years back it was actually a criminal offense to even ask for a copy of id papers, let alone get digitalized.

As for banks - only have a HU bank account because mandatory by employer.

I guess an old dog can learn new tricks but it is much harder when one is set in the ways.

I see they teach children coding from an early age in school.

It is going to be natural for them to do everything online, on their phones or whatever comes next.

I still remember being taught how to write checks and balance ones account on paper.

Had a savings account where the clerk just wrote in your deposit by hand and stamped it.

To be honest, I am not really sure what coding even is!

I guess an old dog can learn new tricks but it is much harder when one is set in the ways.
I see they teach children coding from an early age in school.
It is going to be natural for them to do everything online, on their phones or whatever comes next.
I still remember being taught how to write checks and balance ones account on paper.
Had a savings account where the clerk just wrote in your deposit by hand and stamped it.
To be honest, I am not really sure what coding even is! - @Marilyn Tassy

Coding is programming. Writing code (applications, computer programs) for the phone or a computer.  My coding days are long gone but I do sometimes read up on the latest and I can still read code in some languages (there are lots of them). 

BTW, everyone should learn how to manage their money and balance their accounts.  It's preparation for working life!  Even simple rules on earnings can help - 1/3 rent, 1/3 living expenses, 1/3 savings/leisure.   I believe builders do the same - 1/3 materials, 1/3 labour, 1/3 profit.  Plus or minus for cash of course.

We had the same savings type account books in the UK.  I found my mother's Post Office Savings book at it had something like £1.57 on it.  So I wrote to the Post Office Savings place in the UK asking them to pay up - it was for fun.  I got just £6 back and that's after 40 years.  I thought it would have been hundreds.  It cost me £20 to send a registered letter to them.  So I was down on the deal. I decided to tell my siblings and told them, sorry there's no share of that £6 for you!

I guess an old dog can learn new tricks but it is much harder when one is set in the ways.I see they teach children coding from an early age in school.It is going to be natural for them to do everything online, on their phones or whatever comes next.I still remember being taught how to write checks and balance ones account on paper.Had a savings account where the clerk just wrote in your deposit by hand and stamped it.To be honest, I am not really sure what coding even is! - @Marilyn Tassy

They hardly teach kids, for either, actually not even most adults.

What the wast majority knows is when push "green triangle button" X happens.

Not the why, how, what processes are in the background, security risks, etc, etc...

It is a bring down to the most primitive, easy to use level.

Apps are always that: pitty-pitty done. Sadly many programs also directed towards it.

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A debit card is simple, guarantees a level of security what a phone cannot, like that single chip is a hardware which cannot get certain features and hacks what a "smart"phone can, also ensures two layer: card physically + code in SMS GSM, NOT received / done via the same device (which may both use internet services instead separate systems).

I guess an old dog can learn new tricks but it is much harder when one is set in the ways.I see they teach children coding from an early age in school.It is going to be natural for them to do everything online, on their phones or whatever comes next.I still remember being taught how to write checks and balance ones account on paper.Had a savings account where the clerk just wrote in your deposit by hand and stamped it.To be honest, I am not really sure what coding even is! - @Marilyn TassyThey hardly teach kids, for either, actually not even most adults. What the wast majority knows is when push "green triangle button" X happens. Not the why, how, what processes are in the background, security risks, etc, etc... It is a bring down to the most primitive, easy to use level. Apps are always that: pitty-pitty done. Sadly many programs also directed towards it. ---A debit card is simple, guarantees a level of security what a phone cannot, like that single chip is a hardware which cannot get certain features and hacks what a "smart"phone can, also ensures two layer: card physically + code in SMS GSM, NOT received / done via the same device (which may both use internet services instead separate systems). - @sjbabilon5

I thought they gave children a basic course in tech stuff; I guess it is just using a laptop for class. Not sure they do that in Hungary but the US they use laptops in schools.

We are still learning the features in my husbands phone.

Had some issues with a phone I stupidly bought in the US and got into a T mobile contract; Was sold the contract when I was under the impression I was only buying unlimited time as a pre pay for just one week; So mad at myself for being so trusting and dumb, That is Walmart for you!

Hassle but finally got a really helpful lady at T mobil to take me off the contract and go step by step with us to settle up the bill; Guess that one week of having a phone I barely used in Vegas cost me over $200.!

I will never trust a Nigerian again, the sales women was from there, guess they get a commisssion on getting people to sign up with T moble? IDK the phone co was pissed that one of their suppliers pulled a scam on me; $80. a month for a phone I can not use in Europe without insane roaming charges; I kept the phone but not the contract; It is just sitting here dead for now. Even if I was stupid, at 55 years and older they should of offered me a better deal with T mobile. She defo saw me coming!

I swear I was way too trusting in the US, something big time changed there in 8 years, I was shocked at how things went down.

Wow, really felt the fool and was one.

I felt like I was in the twilight zone, some weird episode where things look familiar but were foriegn.

I remember when it was something like 1/4th pay towards rent!