The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has initiated a competition supervision procedure against Payment Point Terminal Operator Ltd. (Fizetési Pont) and O.F.SZ. National Payment Service Provider Plc. (O.F.SZ.). This action follows a significant number of complaints received by the authority, suggesting that these companies may be misleading their business partners regarding certain fees and contractual conditions, while also significantly restricting their partners' decision-making freedom.

Recent market signals have prompted the GVH to evaluate the business practices of Payment Point and O.F.SZ. The investigation is based on the suspicion that these companies have violated the prohibition against unfair influence on business decisions.

The GVH suspects that the companies are likely to withhold or obscure essential information regarding automatic contract renewals and penalty payment conditions, presenting it in a vague or misleading manner. Furthermore, they are believed to pressure previous and passive partners into maintaining active contracts or entering new agreements by threatening contract termination and imposing high penalty claims.

Additionally, the companies are suspected of misleading their partners in promoting fees related to the operation of POS terminals and in displaying the “POS Terminal Operator of the Year” award.

The initiation of this procedure does not imply that the companies have committed a legal violation. The investigation aims to clarify the facts and substantiate the alleged infringement. The duration of the procedure is set for three months, which can be extended twice for up to two months each if justified. The GVH emphasizes that the time taken for the client to provide necessary information does not count towards the administrative deadline.

The national competition authority has previously conducted proceedings against Payment Point and O.F.SZ. In a case concluded in spring 2023, the GVH found that the companies had misled their business partners regarding certain contractual terms and discounts.