UK, Ireland / English tossers give Brits a bad name in Poland [139]

Didn't fine them enough if you ask me, a short jail sentence would've been far more appropriate. 7 days in a Polish jail would be enough to make them wise up ;)

(I love the use of 'English tossers' :D)

Life / Polish Driving Licence. [314]


According to news reports (and seemingly legit, from what a contact has told me) - you can get a Ukranian driving licence for 2000USD and then exchange it for a Polish one, without ever sitting any exams.

Otherwise, forget it - if you can't afford to get your hands on a foreign licence, then you can't buy one in Poland.

If you can't pass the (easy) Polish driving test, then you really can't know how to drive ;)

Genealogy / Help finding a telephone number of a friend from Krakow and Poznan in Poland [25]

Hello George - contact us at lindenia, we should be able to help quite easily with this one :)

Work / Driving Jobs in Poland? [4]

From what I've heard thrown around, you'll be looking at around 1500-2000zl a month brutto. Might be a little bit higher if you get a job for one of the big city communication companies, however.

But don't expect it to be easy to find a job at all - it would be best to assume no wages for a year and then go from there.

Study / School in Poland - "hellish torture? [20]

It's definitely the case in Poznan, but I'm not sure about elsewhere...

(either system sounds awful to me - how can a director ever hope to manage people properly if he/she relied upon the people needing managed to gain his position in the first place?)

It mystifies me why Poland has no real system of management in schools - even down to the most basic principle of having heads of departments and heads of years.

News / Slavic linguistic union inside of EU; Polish language official [95]


I'd argue that Tito's version wasn't more liberal - his way of keeping Yugoslavia intact involved practically destroying any attempt at nationalism by any means. It's why his 1974 constitution is so bizzare - and I can only assume that he was making preparations for after his death in the knowledge that most men wouldn't be able to dominate in the way that he did. Obviously in many respects, it was more liberal - but Tito wasn't adverse to playing hardball as and when it suited him.

Tito might have allowed foreign travel and so on - but he was a master in playing West and East off against each other to give him the best possible deals and conditions. Allowing foreign travel was a simple gesture - and if people stayed abroad, they would always send money back to Yugoslavia. Likewise - his Market Socialism concept did wonders for keeping people happy while still controlling them from above.

Study / School in Poland - "hellish torture? [20]

The big problem with the school system in Poland is the lack of professional management - directors are chosen by the city, there's no full time management (directors actually teach some classes, which is nonsense!) and they only have fixed term appointments - bearing in mind that you need 2-3 years to really implement changes, it's crazy to have such a system.

There's also other issues, such as a teacher not being able to throw a child out of the classroom - and the fact that a teacher has quite a bit of power to dictate final grades. Teachers are also quite badly paid. Successive Polish governments have failed to really invest in education at the primary and secondary level (while completely overfunding teritary level!) - and schools have sometimes diabolical facilities. The programme can also be completely rubbish - teaching physics to kids on a 'journalism' profile in high school is one example of sheer and complete stupidity.

But on the whole, the system somehow works. It shouldn't, but it does.

Life / Married to Polish wife, moving to poland + residency permit [9]


By your fathers family, do you mean his parents?

Life / Prices of Computer Hardware In Poland [8]


Things are about the same price here as in Western Europe in general - maybe even a bit more expensive, definitely compared to the UK. It doesn't make much sense, if any to buy from Poland in this respect.

Life / Need to get registered for Nip number. [14]


It's not mandatory for medical treatment - as long as you have proof of ZUS cover, you don't need anything else. They might ask for it and do the usual "waa, brain doesn't compute" when you tell them that you don't have one, but there's nothing stopping you getting treatment without one. The only thing that *is* mandatory is proof of health insurance - and in practice, the EHIC card is more than enough.

Sure, you need one for a mobile phone contract - but this isn't really mandatory in day to day life.

It's really just the same as in the UK - you don't *need* an NI number.

Life / Applying for EU passport... [51]

No they don't. However, they don't actively bar people from holding it - just so long as you identify yourself to the Polish authorities as Polish.

Work / Is it hard to find a job in Poland? [9]


If you don't speak Polish and with such dreadful English skills, you'll find it next to impossible to survive in Poland. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

How old are you? Go away, educate yourself properly, take the time to learn Polish to at least conversational level and then consider a move to Poland. Otherwise, don't waste your time.

As for Polish citizenship - what's your entitlement?

Law / Citizenship by descent: don't know details of grandparents' American citizenship [8]

My company, Lindenia, can help - lindenia.

A lot can vary - the Polish State (despite their lip-service to the Polonia) can and will make it very difficult to obtain if they feel like it - the biggest problem here is that people make their own interpretation of laws.

As for finding relatives - this is certainly something that we can assist with - upto and including making inital contact and more. We can do literally anything you need!

If you decide to consult a Polish lawyer, be careful - there are plenty of examples out there where people have retained the services of a lawyer from abroad who has then charged an extortionate amount for something that should cost considerably less. This is partially what we do - my company exists to save people money and time, and to obtain them services at Polish rates rather than expat rates.

The numerous comments about the Charsky case just goes to illustrate how many crooks are out there when it comes to this sort of thing :(

Real Estate / What does 250,000 zl buy in Wroclaw? [30]


I'm sorry, but this is complete nonsense spouted by 'property speculators' who got sold overpriced flats in Poland with high mortgages that they can't get rid of. The truth is far, far from this - and prices are still dropping at the minute, especially for communist-era flats.

otodom.pl/mieszkanie-wroclaw-srodmiescie-5736m2-2-pokoje-285000-pln-id 4024498.html

Is an example - in a flat from 1903, which tend to be solid. Located not far from the centre of the city, 2 big rooms and in a more than inhabitable state.

Wroclaw doesn't really have 'rough areas' either.

I can safely say that in Poznan at least, the communist blocks are actually in better shape than many buildings built in the 90's. I wouldn't be surprised if the same holds true in Wroclaw.

If I can give one piece of advice - stay away from English-speaking property consultants. My business helps foreigners in Poland, and the one thing that is blatantly clear is that the vast majority of these, even the native English speakers have absolutely crazy expectations.

The truth in Wroclaw is that you won't get a new build flat, fully equipped in a nice area and a decent (50sq+) size for 250k. But you can get a communist block or even earlier, equipped, in a safe area, and a decent size for 250k, that much is certain.

Food / Bad food experiences in Poland [30]


They're well known for it, the food is rubbish and just as expensive as ordinary restaurants.

Sphinx is a great example of a Polish idiot tax!

Law / polski-rejestr-internetowy.com.. Are They Crooks?? [6]

Ignore it - if there's plenty of discussion on Google about them being crooks, the best thing to do is throw it in the bin. If you're in Poland, pass it onto the police :)

Law / ZUS questions - maternity issues [7]


Hmm. I'm not sure without delving into details, but usually it depends if Poland has signed a social security agreement with the other country or not. However, the exact details depend on what has been agreed. These things are usually geared towards long term payments - it wouldn't surprise me if there was clauses to stop people from receiving benefits on a short term basis.

ZUS themselves would be the best people to ask really - however, the dual citizen thing is a red herring because it's unrecognised under Polish law.

Life / Married to Polish wife, moving to poland + residency permit [9]

It shouldn't be a problem - a marriage for 7 years that can be backed up with bank statements/photos/etc will of course be recognised without doubt. It'll be a frustrating experience, but no worse than the USA and in some ways might actually be easier. The hardest part will be having a good reason to stay here - Poland is not very foreigner-friendly in terms of employment, unfortunately.

My company - Lindenia - helps with this sort of thing. You can contact us via lindenia.net :)

Law / ZUS questions - maternity issues [7]


Shouldn't be any problems if it's within the EU - there is a right to receive treatment in any EU country of your choosing. I can't see there being actually any issue, as long you don't fall foul of the 185/365 days rule for residence.

However, it might be a bit of a nightmare getting ZUS to pay you through the other country's institutions - although ZUS are quite good in the opposite way. What country is the person intending on going to?

Real Estate / 15 reasons why the Polish real estate market will crash soon [258]

The industry is certainly about as professional as my little toe - I'm really not sure who they expect to actually buy half of these properties, given that Poles aren't going to be so stupid to trust them and foreign buyers just aren't buying.

One particular scourge here is the way that ones who boast about speaking English (and even the ones which have native English speakers working for them!) are absolutely disgraceful for trying to screw people. I did some research for my own business by going round pretending to be a buyer - and some of the rubbish they tried to sell me was absolutely incredible.

I don't think there'll be a collapse in all areas, but I can forsee many 'modern' developments crashing in price quite dramatically, just like what happened in the UK.

Real Estate / 15 reasons why the Polish real estate market will crash soon [258]

I wouldn't actually be surprised. Those that are trying to attract rich western buyers are by far the worst - there was a rather hilarious example on here of someone trying to get nearly 4000PLN a month for a flat in a bad part of Poznan with communist-era furniture!

Life / A few questions about the bus system [13]


Validator is what I call it, but there might be a better word. It's what they use in Berlin anyway to describe the machines - so I guess it works.

Funny that you need to validate it though - the Poznan system is 'loaded' automatically. Shows that you learn something new every day! Does it mean that the Warsaw system allows you to buy a ticket and not start using it straight away?

Life / A few questions about the bus system [13]

Just hold onto it - it contains the details of your ticket on it and doesn't need validated.

I'm not too familiar with Warsaw, but the usual idea is to keep the pass on you and leave the receipt at home in a safe place - then if the card refuses to work, you just take the receipt to them and any fine given for not having a valid ticket will be cancelled.

Law / Accounting of costs when a Polish company pays foreign providers [9]


You've got social taxes to think about - which are the killer here. A Sp. Z.o.o will have to pay 20% on top of the gross salary, plus the employee will have to pay 17% of their gross salary in them. Dividends are taxable at 19% - but if you intend to pay yourself a monthly salary, you'll soon find the ZUS (social tax) payments starting to really bite. You'll also lose 18% of the gross salary in income tax too - so some figures.

3000zl gross.
Sp. Z.o.o has to pay 3600zl.
Employee pays 35% of 3000zl - so around 1000zl tax.

Added together, the cost to you will be around 1600zl a month to pay yourself 2000zl a month. Poland really isn't a low tax country, contrary to popular belief. Of course, if you can afford to pay yourself dividends or ride the edges of legality with tax laws, you might be able to pay less - but for an ordinary person trading through a Sp. z.o.o - it really isn't too great a deal.


What country are you from? There are agreements out there that might allow you to be a sole trader in Poland.

Language / Supermemo.net - has anyone had any experience with it? [3]


Unless you don't have any choice, stay away from Skype lessons. You're in London - it should be perfectly possible to find a Polish teacher for the same price or not much more than a Skype lesson - post a few adverts on Gumtree and you might be pleasantly surprised with what you find.

Skype just isn't good enough (nor is any telephony-based solution) to catch Polish properly.

(my opinion, of course!)

Law / Accounting of costs when a Polish company pays foreign providers [9]

Aha, I thought you might be doing it for tax reasons :)

They're not very common here for small businesses - the accounting standards are much stricter and involve considerable headaches and hassle. I'd recommend simply starting as a sole trader to begin with - unless there's significant financial risk to you, it really is a no brainer option compared to the hassle that is a sp. zoo.

The best advice I can give is come to Poland and get a good accountant. It's just not optional here - the laws are so arcane and mind bogglingly stupid at times that you'll want an accountant just to make sense of what you're doing.

Poland is *not* very favourable towards new media enterprises.

Law / Accounting of costs when a Polish company pays foreign providers [9]

Can I ask why you want to start a Polish Sp.z o.o?

Life / EU Healthcard Has Given Me Free Surgery - Is This For Real? [4]

In theory, but the general attitude seems to be that the EHIC card entitles you to the same care as a national of the country would receive. Which is quite sensible and actually goes further than they intended - but seeing as you're entitled to receive care anywhere in the EU anyway, it's a much less bureaucratic solution.

Life / Large Polish cities with the fewest # of native english speakers? [15]


Gdansk and Poznan are about the same - there's plenty of work available for those that know what they're talking about. However, the money isn't the greatest.

Lódż - less popular than Poznan and Gdansk, but there's plenty of work there for even inexperienced types.

Wrocław - forget it. It's overcrowded with people who think that it's the next Krakow.

Of course, it all depends on your nationality. An EU citizen can find work easily. A non-EU citizen will find it much more difficult.

Language / Numbers in the Polish Language [39]


I had my tounge planted firmly in my cheek ;)

There seems to always be someone posting on this forum trying to find out about the value of old zloty and not even doing a simple google search first - so I thought it might be amusing if they went to the bank and demanded to exchange it ;)