Claim verification policy
This policy explains how Local Hungary decides that the person claiming a listing really represents that business. Verification protects owners from impersonation and protects readers from edited-by-a-stranger information.
1. Purpose and principles
Our aim is to reasonably confirm a connection between you and the business, not to rule on who owns it. Verification on Local Hungary is not a legal certificate of ownership, a licence or a government registration, and it gives no rights beyond those described in section 6. Ownership disputes belong to the parties and, where needed, to the courts.
2. Who may claim
- The owner, a member or shareholder, the managing director (ügyvezető), a board member, a company manager with signing authority (cégvezető) or, for a sole trader (egyéni vállalkozó), the trader in person;
- A manager or staff member authorised to speak for it;
- An agency or consultant holding written authorisation from the owner (see section 8).
You are responsible for everything you send us being accurate, complete and not misleading. We may ask for documents before deciding.
3. How we verify
3.1 Quick checks (most claims)
- Business e-mail. A claim sent from an address at the business’s own domain (for example [email protected]) is the strongest simple signal.
- Phone call. We may call the number shown on the listing and ask for you.
- Public trace. Your name or role appears in the company register (cégjegyzék, e-cegjegyzek.hu), on the business’s website, Google Business Profile, social pages or on the shop sign.
3.2 Documents (when quick checks are not enough)
| Business exists | A current company-register extract (cégkivonat) showing the company name and registration number (cégjegyzékszám), or, for a sole trader, the certificate from the register of sole traders (egyéni vállalkozói nyilvántartási igazolás) showing the register number. |
|---|---|
| Business operates at this address | A lease of the premises (bérleti szerződés), a utility bill (közüzemi számla) in the business name, or a dated photo of the shopfront with the sign. |
| You belong to it | Your name in the company-register extract (for example as managing director or company manager), a written power of attorney (meghatalmazás) signed for the business, or an e-mail from the business domain. |
| Regulated professions | The licence or register entry: the operating licence (működési engedély) of a health-care provider, a doctor’s or dentist’s registration number (orvosi nyilvántartási szám, the stamp number), or for lawyers the bar membership card issued by the bar association (ügyvédi kamarai igazolvány). |
3.3 What we look for
- Consistency: the name, registration number and address on the documents match the listing and the shopfront.
- Recency: bills and leases ideally from the last 3–6 months; register extracts current.
- Authenticity: clear photos or scans; no cropping of stamps, signatures or dates; no retouching.
- Connection: a clear link between you and the business on the documents or the e-mail domain.
Send only what we ask for and blank out anything we do not need, such as your ID card or passport number, your tax identification number (adóazonosító jel) or your social-security number (TAJ-szám). We delete document copies within 30 days of the decision.
4. The review process
- Received. Your claim is logged and queued. You get an acknowledgement by e-mail.
- Risk assessment. Claims with strong signals (business domain, matching public records) are approved quickly, usually within 2 working days. Weaker claims go to step 3.
- Additional verification. We e-mail you for documents or a call. Please answer within 14 days or the claim lapses; you can claim again later.
- Decision. We e-mail the outcome. Approval switches on the ✓ Verified badge, editing rights and the direct website link.
We aim to decide every claim within 7 working days. Complex or contested cases may take longer; we will tell you.
5. Competing claims and disputes
If two people claim the same listing, or a verified listing is claimed by someone else, we may pause editing rights until the matter is clear. Our role is limited to checking who meets this policy; we do not decide legal ownership. Evidence must be unambiguous, genuine and carry the authority it claims to carry. Unresolved disputes are for the parties to settle between themselves or through the courts, after which we will follow a court decision or a joint written instruction.
6. What verification gives you
- Editing of the name, address, phone, website, opening hours, categories and description;
- Choice of photos, within our content rules;
- The ✓ Verified badge and a direct (do-follow) link to your website;
- Reply to messages we forward about the listing.
Verification does not change your ranking. Access can be limited or removed under section 7 or under the terms of use.
7. Suspension and revocation
We suspend or permanently revoke verification when we find:
- False verification: forged, altered or borrowed documents, or any material deception;
- Impersonation: claiming a business you do not represent, or overstating your role;
- Name manipulation: stuffing the business name with keywords, phone numbers, prices or slogans;
- Rating manipulation: buying, pressuring or trading reviews, on this site or on Google Maps;
- System abuse: automated edits, repeated re-claims to evade a decision, or reporting genuine content to hide honest criticism.
Decisions are final on the platform level and do not prevent either side from seeking legal remedies. A business whose verification was revoked for fraud may be excluded from claiming for 12 months.
8. Agencies and representatives
Agencies and consultants may claim on behalf of a client with a written power of attorney (meghatalmazás) naming the business, the agency and the scope. We may confirm the authorisation directly with the business through its listed phone or domain. The business remains responsible for everything its representative does; misconduct by a representative can lead to action against the listing.
9. Changes of ownership
When a business changes hands, the new owner claims the listing as usual and should mention the change. We will contact the previous verified account before transferring rights.
10. Contact
Questions about a claim: email us. Please quote the listing URL. Last updated 22 October 2026.