Mobile Phones
Mar 30th 2011, 9:08 am
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 878
Mobile Phones
Hello there,
Apologies if this has been asked before, please repost to the appropriate thread if it has...
I am pleased to say that we have had an offer on our UK property so all things being equal we will be moving in June as planned
What do people do about mobile phones. Do you take your UK phone and use PAYG in Hungary. Is this difficult to do - I assume not.
All advices welcome
Many thanks
Apologies if this has been asked before, please repost to the appropriate thread if it has...
I am pleased to say that we have had an offer on our UK property so all things being equal we will be moving in June as planned
What do people do about mobile phones. Do you take your UK phone and use PAYG in Hungary. Is this difficult to do - I assume not.
All advices welcome
Many thanks
Mar 30th 2011, 1:21 pm
#2
Veszprém Megye
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Sevenoaks Kent UK and soon near Tapolca Hungary
Posts: 371
Re: Mobile Phones
You can get a Hungarian Sim card but you need Hungarian Residents card to get them. Obviously much cheaper for local calls. UK mobiles work but watch out for the roaming charges.
Before you come, I recommend you get your UK mobile "unlocked" so it accepts any Sim card.
Before you come, I recommend you get your UK mobile "unlocked" so it accepts any Sim card.
Mar 30th 2011, 4:27 pm
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 7
Re: Mobile Phones
Hi we are coming to Hungary to look round end of March. Can we like Dubai, purchase a temporary sim card say for a few weeks just so we have contact with the outside world? Replies welcome
Mar 30th 2011, 6:30 pm
#5
I bite my thumb at thee
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,479
Re: Mobile Phones
Hi Polgari, it used to be that you required a residence card or utility bill but not so now. Just visit any T-home shop or mobile phone shop - or even certain garages. Some might ask for your passport or proof of id but most don't even bother with that now.
The only thing I haven't been able to do is get a PAYG with internet but I think that might be the phone????
As John said, make sure you get your phone unlocked before coming.
It is expensive to use roaming here and phones are not as cheap as in the UK.
Good luck, bet your getting excited now
The only thing I haven't been able to do is get a PAYG with internet but I think that might be the phone????
As John said, make sure you get your phone unlocked before coming.
It is expensive to use roaming here and phones are not as cheap as in the UK.
Good luck, bet your getting excited now
Mar 30th 2011, 6:44 pm
#6
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5
Re: Mobile Phones
You can buy PAYG sim cards without any real difficulties and you don't need residence card etc, or even a Hungarian address
My first sim was with Pannon which you can just buy in Tesco or other shops for a couple of pounds. You then phone to register and have press a number to speak to someone in English. The phone then works immediately but they send a code your address which has to be in Hungary and you have a few months to type this in to your phone otherwise they deactivate it. Which I unfortunately missed...
Vodafone was a lot easier. They have a number of shops with English speaking staff, but in shops that don't have them theres a button to speak to someone in different languages. You just go in with a copy of your passport and can purchase it (again the sim cards just a few pounds). They set it up for you and can set the menus and text messages from them (eg when you top up to English).
If you need to phone them they speak basic English and normally arrange for someone to phone back in a few minutes.
You can top up the phone at most ATMs in Hungary by just typing in your phone number.
I also pay a monthly fee when I'm in Hungary to get cheaper internet on the phone, you can activate and deactivate it at any time by sending a text message and it costs something like 3000 per month ft for 1gb data or 5500 for 5gb (I think). I normally have difficulty using 1gb per month even when Video skype-ing from the phone quite frequently.
My first sim was with Pannon which you can just buy in Tesco or other shops for a couple of pounds. You then phone to register and have press a number to speak to someone in English. The phone then works immediately but they send a code your address which has to be in Hungary and you have a few months to type this in to your phone otherwise they deactivate it. Which I unfortunately missed...
Vodafone was a lot easier. They have a number of shops with English speaking staff, but in shops that don't have them theres a button to speak to someone in different languages. You just go in with a copy of your passport and can purchase it (again the sim cards just a few pounds). They set it up for you and can set the menus and text messages from them (eg when you top up to English).
If you need to phone them they speak basic English and normally arrange for someone to phone back in a few minutes.
You can top up the phone at most ATMs in Hungary by just typing in your phone number.
I also pay a monthly fee when I'm in Hungary to get cheaper internet on the phone, you can activate and deactivate it at any time by sending a text message and it costs something like 3000 per month ft for 1gb data or 5500 for 5gb (I think). I normally have difficulty using 1gb per month even when Video skype-ing from the phone quite frequently.
Mar 30th 2011, 7:54 pm
#7
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 878
Re: Mobile Phones
Brilliant and really useful information thank you!
Yes I am getting excited, but it varies between terrified and calm
Yes I am getting excited, but it varies between terrified and calm
Mar 31st 2011, 7:29 pm
#8
Veszprém Megye
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Sevenoaks Kent UK and soon near Tapolca Hungary
Posts: 371
Re: Mobile Phones
Thanks rdslack, invaluable advice
You can buy PAYG sim cards without any real difficulties and you don't need residence card etc, or even a Hungarian address
My first sim was with Pannon which you can just buy in Tesco or other shops for a couple of pounds. You then phone to register and have press a number to speak to someone in English. The phone then works immediately but they send a code your address which has to be in Hungary and you have a few months to type this in to your phone otherwise they deactivate it. Which I unfortunately missed...
Vodafone was a lot easier. They have a number of shops with English speaking staff, but in shops that don't have them theres a button to speak to someone in different languages. You just go in with a copy of your passport and can purchase it (again the sim cards just a few pounds). They set it up for you and can set the menus and text messages from them (eg when you top up to English).
If you need to phone them they speak basic English and normally arrange for someone to phone back in a few minutes.
You can top up the phone at most ATMs in Hungary by just typing in your phone number.
I also pay a monthly fee when I'm in Hungary to get cheaper internet on the phone, you can activate and deactivate it at any time by sending a text message and it costs something like 3000 per month ft for 1gb data or 5500 for 5gb (I think). I normally have difficulty using 1gb per month even when Video skype-ing from the phone quite frequently.
My first sim was with Pannon which you can just buy in Tesco or other shops for a couple of pounds. You then phone to register and have press a number to speak to someone in English. The phone then works immediately but they send a code your address which has to be in Hungary and you have a few months to type this in to your phone otherwise they deactivate it. Which I unfortunately missed...
Vodafone was a lot easier. They have a number of shops with English speaking staff, but in shops that don't have them theres a button to speak to someone in different languages. You just go in with a copy of your passport and can purchase it (again the sim cards just a few pounds). They set it up for you and can set the menus and text messages from them (eg when you top up to English).
If you need to phone them they speak basic English and normally arrange for someone to phone back in a few minutes.
You can top up the phone at most ATMs in Hungary by just typing in your phone number.
I also pay a monthly fee when I'm in Hungary to get cheaper internet on the phone, you can activate and deactivate it at any time by sending a text message and it costs something like 3000 per month ft for 1gb data or 5500 for 5gb (I think). I normally have difficulty using 1gb per month even when Video skype-ing from the phone quite frequently.
Apr 4th 2011, 2:37 pm
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: North east Croatia
Posts: 1,660
Re: Mobile Phones
I got my T Mobile sim card in the Tesco building in Zalaegerszeg. I found there was often no signal in rural areas and the calls seemed much more expensive than in UK. Topping up 3000 forints only seemed to give me 4 or 5 calls lasting perhaps 5 minutes each.
Apr 4th 2011, 2:50 pm
#10
I bite my thumb at thee
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,479
Re: Mobile Phones
You should check your plan as most domino plans should give you, on average (a mix of t-mobile, other network and landline calls), 100 minutes - could be your on the Domino7 plan - though even then you would still get 33 minutes on the highest per-minute charge. 
Apr 4th 2011, 3:11 pm
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: North east Croatia
Posts: 1,660
Re: Mobile Phones
I don't know what package it is as it does not have a name like those listed on the website, just Domino 2700 Ft.
Apr 4th 2011, 4:10 pm
#12
I bite my thumb at thee
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,479
Re: Mobile Phones
It should have been on the instruction pack that came with the sim - if you got one. It does sound as though you have the 7 as it is really the only one which would cost that much and the calls would have to have been during peak time. Probably best to get a different sim when you come back over.
