Cashless payment

From January 1, 2019, the HUNGEXPO Budapest Congress and Exhibition Center transitioned to a completely cashless operation. The previously introduced HelloPay “Cashless System” has been expanded to cover the entire venue. Visitors can now use contactless bank cards or HelloPay cards as the primary payment method for purchasing event tickets, paying for parking, and at food and beverage outlets within the venue.

Frequently Asked Questions about Using the HelloPay Card

WHERE CAN I GET A HELLOPAY CARD?

You can obtain a HelloPay card at the ticket offices located at the HUNGEXPO entrance points or at designated HelloPay top-up stations within the event area. A deposit fee is required.

WHAT IS THE HELLOPAY CARD DEPOSIT FEE?

The HelloPay card requires a deposit of 1,000 HUF. The deposit is deducted from the first top-up amount. If you return the card undamaged at a ticket office or HelloPay top-up station within the HUNGEXPO area at the end of the event, the 1,000 HUF deposit will be refunded in cash. If you return the card outside of the HUNGEXPO area, the deposit is non-refundable.

HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I LOAD ONTO MY HELLOPAY CARD?

There is no minimum amount required for topping up your HelloPay card. You can load any amount you consider necessary. If your card balance runs out, you can reload it at the top-up stations located throughout the event area, including ticket offices and locations marked on the map.

HOW CAN I PURCHASE AN EVENT TICKET ON-SITE USING THE HELLOPAY CARD?

If you don’t have a contactless bank card, you can use the HelloPay card to buy event tickets by following these steps:

1. Redeem your HelloPay card at the cash desks at the entry points.
2. Once you have redeemed and loaded your HelloPay card, you can use it to buy tickets at the ticket office.

WHERE CAN I PAY WITH THE HELLOPAY CARD AT HUNGEXPO?

You can buy your tickets at the ticket counters at the Hungexpo entrance points.
If you are arriving by car, you can buy your parking ticket at the ticket offices and HelloPay refill points.

You can pay with HelloPay card at the catering units of HUNGEXPO: the Expo Bistro, the Passage and the buffets in the Pavilions of the exhibition.

HOW DO I PAY WITH THE HELLOPAY CARD?

To pay, touch the HelloPay card to the terminal’s card reader. The system first identifies the card. Before confirming the payment, you can adjust the default tip (0–20%). The total amount, including the tip, will then be deducted from the card. Always check the terminal display to ensure the correct amount is shown.

HOW CAN I PAY FOR PARKING WITH THE HELLOPAY CARD?

In the internal parking lots with a queue, i.e. P1 and P4, we have replaced the previous token system with a card-based (own debit card or Hellopay top-up card), cashless payment system. With this system we avoid separate queues and speed up the exit.

If you are parked inside the HUNGEXPO area, the following steps are required to exit the area in car parks P1 or P4:

1. After entering the area and parking, redeem your parking ticket at the ticket counters or at the HelloPay recharge points in the area – also indicated on the map. You will be able to drive out of the area with the QR code on the parking ticket, so it is IMPORTANT that you keep it until you drive out.
2. After visiting the exhibition, when exiting the car park, please show the QR code on your Parking Pass to the scanner at the barrier and then drive out.

WHERE CAN I TOP UP MY CARD?

The HelloPay card can be recharged at the cash desk during the opening hours of the event, or at the recharge points located in the fairgrounds – indicated on the map. If you decide to leave the event, you can redeem your card at the ticket offices and at the refill points.

DO I NEED TO PAY WITH A HELLOPAY CARD WHEN BUYING FROM EXHIBITORS?

No, the payment method is determined by each exhibitor. A HelloPay card is not mandatory for purchases from exhibitors.

HOW CAN I CHECK MY CARD BALANCE?

The balance of the card can be checked at the time of purchase, at the vendor (e.g. in the case of buffets) at ticket offices and at HelloPay top-up points.

WHERE AND HOW CAN I RETURN MY HELLOPAY CARD AND RECOVER THE UNUSED BALANCE?

If you no longer wish to use your HelloPay card, you can redeem it at the top-up points located within the HUNGEXPO area or at the cash desks at the entry points during the opening hours of the exhibitions. Upon redemption – provided the card is not damaged – you will receive a cash refund of the deposit fee of HUF 1,000.

Outside Hungexpo, HelloPay also offers redemption at the following two locations:

City Sightseeing Budapest office,1075 Budapest, Károly krt. 21.

Opening hours:
Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 18:00; Saturday – Sunday: closed.

HelloPay Zrt.,1037 Budapest, Montevideo u. 10.

Opening hours:
By appointment only, by e-mail to info@hellopay.hu.

IMPORTANT: If you redeem your HelloPay card outside Hungexpo at one of the above two locations, the balance remaining on the card will be refunded, but you will not receive the HUF 1000 deposit fee back.

IF I DON’T WANT TO REDEEM THE CARD AFTER THE EVENT, WHERE AND HOW CAN I USE MY CARD BALANCE?

You can use the balance on your card at any HelloPay point of sale. The current acceptance locations are listed in the ACCEPTION POINTS – Here you can redeem your remaining payments on your HelloPay card!

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’VE LOST MY CARD OR IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED?

If you have lost or damaged your card so that you can no longer use it, you can apply for a new card for a fee of HUF 1,000. The balance remaining on the old card can only be transferred to the new card if the card is registered.

HelloPay card balance transfers are only possible for cards registered on the www.hellopay.hu website.

During the event, colleagues at the on-site ticket office and HelloPay top-up points will be able to assist you with balance transfers.

Outside the event, it is possible to transfer the balance at the HelloPay office by appointment. To make an appointment, please contact info@hellopay.hu.

The deposit fee for the old (abandoned/damaged) card will not be refunded by HelloPay.

A deposit fee will be charged when the new card is first loaded, so the balance to be transferred cannot be less than the current deposit fee of the HelloPay card.

Transfer procedure:

• HelloPay will verify the validity of the card registration.
• The cardholder must then block the card via www.hellopay.hu if he/she has not done so previously.
• The balance transfer is carried out by a HelloPay employee at a physical POS terminal.
• The HelloPay employee will then fill in an online form, which requires the customer to provide some personal data for data matching purposes.

HOW DO I REGISTER MY CARD?

Registration of the card is not compulsory, it can be used without it! It is worth registering your card because the balance of a lost card can only be cancelled and transferred to a new card if you have registered it first. You can pre-register your card on the HelloPay official website at www.hellopay.hu under “HP Card”.

WHAT IF I ONLY HAVE CASH UPON ARRIVAL?

1. Upon entry, event tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices using cash.
2. Parking tickets can also be purchased with cash at the ticket offices or HelloPay top-up stations.
3. Within the HUNGEXPO premises, payments can only be made by obtaining and using a HelloPay card.