A recent investigation by the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) revealed that Booking.com continued to engage in unlawful commercial practices despite previous obligations to cease such behavior. The company was found to have employed deceptive communication practices and psychological manipulation of consumers, leading to a record fine of 382.5 million forints.

In 2018, the GVH initiated proceedings against Booking.com B.V. and uncovered several instances of unfair commercial practices, including misleading advertisements about free cancellations, urgent messages creating a sense of scarcity, and inadequate disclosure of payment options related to the SZÉP card.

Following confirmed violations by the court, the GVH imposed a 2.5 billion forint fine on Booking in April 2020 and prohibited certain practices while requiring proof of compliance with the authority's orders. Despite some adjustments, Booking failed to fully meet its obligations, leading to the recent fine.