Looking for clarity on the return of Uber
Posted by ImAFan2014@reddit | budapest | View on Reddit | 24 comments
Hi, I'll be visiting your great city in a few weeks. Very much looking forward to it.
I had tentatively planned on using the Bolt app - which I'm having some sort of issue with - I added my U.S. card info, it said "Payment Added" - but there's no card in the app for some reason, it's like I never added it.
THEN I saw that Uber is back in Hungary? Is this correct? I can use the Uber app and it works like it does elsewhere? Does it call a taxi, which then runs a meter?
ConferenceDue4956@reddit
I want to know as well
ImAFan2014@reddit (OP)
Uber calls a taxi. It works great.
LessZucchiniMoreMeat@reddit
In Budapest, Uber is actually Fotaxi, local Hungarian taxi company which has licensed the use of the name UBER to comply with Hungarian regulations. Thats why it must be called UBER TAXI. There is no financial or travel advantage to using this UBER TAXI service in Budapest. They have fewer cars and the app does not operate as well as in other countries. It's highly regulated by the Hungarian government.
Plus, when you order your UBER TAXI on the app, it will automatically charge your credit card in advance of the driver arriving. After payment, I've had 20% of the drivers not show up. When I contacted the office, the driver claimed on every ride, I was not at my meeting point so, after 5-minutes the driver leaves.
I always ordered my UBER TAXI whilst staying outside my building so there's driver claims are bullshit. This is a scam the UBER TAXi drivers are doing in Budapest.
NEVER prepay for your taxi until AFTER they pick you up, and you arrive at your destination.
For these reasons, I am back using BOLT Taxi only. They have a good app and you don't pay until the end of the ride.
Anda remember in Budapest central areas,, they have a very poor road grid system with mostly one-way streets, so taxi's have to drive in circles just to get to your destination.
ImAFan2014@reddit (OP)
So I'm already back from Budapest. I had no problems using Uber whatsoever. It was fast and efficient. The advantage was it's an app I already have vs. a new one
stayopen-create@reddit
Did you use the app for the regular Uber? I'll be traveling to Bp. in September.
ImAFan2014@reddit (OP)
Yes. I used Uber just like normal.
igenigen@reddit
Uber Taxi is operating in Hungary in partnership with Főtaxi, not the traditional Uber which you have in the U.S.
Thah means fares are regulated like every other taxi company including Bolt - https://bkk.hu/en/travel-information/taxi-services/
No price advantage over any other company. However, there is a promo right now that gives 80% off rides at Uber.
ImAFan2014@reddit (OP)
Right, have you used it? I'm just trying to make sure I understand how it works. E.g. I open the Uber app like usual, and order the ride? Then, a taxi will show up, the meter will run, and when I'm dropped off, the final price will be about what the app displayed?
This is how Ireland does it, if so.
Ill-Acanthisitta210@reddit
When you book your Uber ride in Budapest, called UBER TAXI, your credit card is charged the full fare in advance prior to the driver arriving. Note, these drivers wait 5 minutes and if you are not there, they will just leave. But they are operated by local Budapest taxi company called Fotaxi. IN Hungary, the rates of Uber Taxi and all other Budapest taxis are identical. The only advantage to using UBER TAXI is the familiarity of the Uber app which you can use in Budapest.
ImAFan2014@reddit (OP)
You're replying to a comment from 9 months ago. I've since been to Budapest. Thanks though!
Ok-Move6140@reddit
It’s still very helpful for those that are planning to go and wanting to understand how it works though.Very useful topic
igenigen@reddit
Of course I have.
It’s excerpt the same as using Uber in any country. 😉 The only difference is don’t expect aggressive Uber fares.
sisco98@reddit
Yes, exactly that was my experience. It gives an estimate at the start of the ride and charges it to your card and then corrects it to the final amount. Same tarrifs as any other company.
I was told as they are in partnership with Főtaxi, if there is not available enough Uber drivers around, a Főtaxi might takes the request, but haven’t experienced that yet.
ImAFan2014@reddit (OP)
Thank you! Glad this is working out then. So you haven't had any issues getting drivers with Uber?
Best_Persimmon7598@reddit
I’ve had a couple of long waiting times because I think there are not many drivers yet. Like 10-15 minutes waiting. But I think it could also depend on where I was waiting
sisco98@reddit
Not so far. The worst case was a not too clever driver, but it happens anytime with any company. And from technical aspect, the app works good. Maybe their map is not perfectly updated yet, this above mentioned driver was lead into a parking lot instead of the corner where I was, so double check where it puts the pick up point.
Kobaljov@reddit
Indeed, the local taxi drivers can lobby surprisingly strong, that's why it was banned, but after a while they realized that many tourists were looking for it, so the current version was created, which uses the known name but also complies with local regulations, so it's like a taxi.
vahokif@reddit
It's just a proxy for a normal taxi with extra pricing.
WaltzAccomplished238@reddit
It is indeed a normal taxi although the prices are regulated in Budapest so there is no “extra” pricing associated with Uber. I highly recommend it to everyone especially with the promotions available right now.
vahokif@reddit
Don't they have a surcharge on top of the Budapest pricing?
canteloupy@reddit
In my experience Bolt works fine.
Wombatsarecute@reddit
We tried it kast week. Entered the address we needed the uber at into the app, the taxi came, took us home and they took the money off the debit card we registered in the app.
Only diff is you get the same price as any other taxi and the car will be yellow
tucsok26@reddit
Yes, it will call you a yellow taxi with the sign "Uber Taxi" on it. Uber app will show you an estimated price in the app (the meter in the taxi shows the actual price), and you can pay via the app too, which will be the same price as a regular taxi.
csenge225@reddit
Yeah, it’s the exact same as the Bolt app. Costs the same too. Download both and just use whichever one’s faster at the moment.