FAQ - HELPERS GENERAL

- What does HELPERS do? How are the different services of HELPERS related?

Helpers is made up of three different departments. Helpers Problem-Solving Services is specialized in everyday problems facing foreigners, like finding a nanny for your child, buying or renting a car, taking your pet to the vet, or helping you get repairs or renovation done at your apartment. Helpers Papereater deals with all the paperwork you might come across when living or doing business in Hungary. The name Helpers Language Services speaks for itself - this branch does interpretation, translation and proofreading, in addition to various innovative language-related work.

- Can I (and should I) COMBINE the different services of Helpers?

Of course! If you decide to use the services of more than one department, we can offer you special discounts. Another advantage of combining our services is that we (actually, a helper assigned especially to you) will become your single point of contact - saving you not only money but also time. We guarantee the same excellent level of quality across all our services, and many areas of our activity overlap - makes sense, doesn't it?

- Who are the "HELPERS"?

The helpers are the people who fix your problems for you. They are young, university-educated, speak fluent English and often other languages, know their way around town, and, in general, are excellent problem-solvers. While doing their job, they rely on our knowledge-database, our network of contacts and their own area of specialization. Some of our helpers are law students or professional drivers, dog-trainers or athletes - and we assign them to whatever task suits their skills and temperament best. Our regular clients generally have their own helper that they can call on directly, without contacting the office first - which further simplifies and speeds up their projects.

- It sounds like Helpers offers a very personal service - can I also contact you as a BUSINESS?

Companies - just like everyone else - often need more flexible assistance than what relocation companies, translation or temp agencies, lawyers, or other B2B service providers can offer. Which is not to say we can do their job - we can do something else. You want to get information about a particular market segment or find a key business partner in CEE? Need to arrange transportation for the whole office to a weekend retreat? A clown or magician for the company Christmas party? An English-to-German translator who specializes in genetics? A key employee is ill and she must be replaced by tomorrow morning? None of these are impossible for HELPERS.

- Can you help me if I am not living in Hungary but traveling through the country as a TOURIST?

Tourists, just like expats, often require our help with matters that the tourist information or the hotel reception wouldn't know what to do about: finding a car mechanic when your car needs to be serviced - in the middle of the countryside; reserving tickets to seemingly sold-out shows; locating an English-speaking doctor or dentist wherever you happen to be. In addition, we can naturally handle the more typical requests as well: finding accommodation, orientation tours or guiding, or organizing outings and activities for an active holiday in Hungary (tennis, mountain biking, paragliding, you name it).

- WHY should I call Helpers instead of browsing through the yellow pages?

When you're a foreigner in Hungary (or almost anywhere else), you have to face a lot of difficulties, partly related to the language and partly to "the way things work". Simple things like getting satellite, cable TV or internet installed, your car or TV repaired (by a decent mechanic or repairman!), taking care of various utilities (gas, electricity, water, telephone, insurance) can become a huge headache.

Matt Foster, country manager for CV Online, spent an arduous month trying to find a company to mend the underwater lighting on his swimming pool, and met about half a dozen different companies, whose collective verdict was unanimous: install a new system. "The one company HELPERS sent recommended I fix the underwater lighting myself, at a cost of about 1000 HUF, and the problem was solved," he recalls.

The second time he used our services was to find a company to build a fence and a gate. "The contractors turned up the next day, and came back one week later with the bespoke construction, which works perfectly." said Foster. "Highly recommended."

- So you're saying I will actually SAVE MONEY by employing Helpers?

That's right. Granted, we don't work for free. But the money you save by doing things in the most efficient way, by using only good providers, by avoiding a bunch of detours is ample compensation. You may plan to pay for delivery - but sometimes getting a cab is cheaper. You think an apartment is "reasonably priced" - or not? You need an English-speaking but local (in other words: overpriced) lawyer - but maybe you just need someone to help you sort through a document. HELPERS is not a luxury service. It's for people who want to get things done just like they would at home.

- I have an EMERGENCY situation - how fast can you usually handle a request?

Naturally that depends on the nature of the request but you'll probably be surprised. As a rule, we reply to email as soon as we get it; normally within an hour. We have been known to find a replacement secretary in less than an hour, an IT-specialist Hungarian-to-English translator in about thirty minutes, or painters for a crisis situation in a client's apartment who were willing to show up immediately!

- Who is ZEP and why is he called Zep?

Zep is our company dog! Should you ever visit HELPERS in person, you will most likely be greeted by our snorting, sniffing, smelly companion. He is a French bulldog with the heart of a kitten and the snoring power of a 400-pound man! He is fabulous. He is named after Pez, the famous tiny candy that came in animal-shaped dispensers during our formative childhood years.

- How can I discuss things further with you IN PERSON?

Since we work for your convenience, we are more than happy to come to wherever you are for a free consultation. Alternatively, you are welcome to visit our office (located conveniently in the 9th district) - we do ask, however, that you make an appointment via email or phone to make sure one of us is available to focus on you exclusively.