Customer Service in Poland, what are your experiences?

She was probably just about to finish her shift and needed to total up all her takings for the day

This is nothing unusual. It's normally down to staff changing shifts and having to cash up whatever before handing over to the next person. That she decided to do it with your mouth full is rude, and again nothing unusual.

What waiting staff dont seem to have realised in many Polish restaurants is that tip size is directly related to service quality. May be it's because Poles largely dont tip, so whats the point of giving good service. Sort of fits with the apparent Polish mindset of showing courtesy or manners is a sign of weakness

That could have been the case, but it put me right off. Up until then, I'd been enjoying the evening in a pleasant market square at sunset, enjoying the food and drink.

I might have stayed for desert, but the way in which she demanded payment really soured things for me.

you're right about that


not in Poland


very true


Probably so but it's still a weak excuse for a bad service.


no comment :-)

Word of warning to all who would like to use the tax office’s customer service here in Poland (maybe a bit too broad there, as I only found this in Puławy and can’t talk for the rest of Poland).

I have my own company here in Poland and because I deal with the business side, my wife deals with the accounts through our accountant.

And last year she went to the tax office and asked for some advice, which was freely given by the woman who was dealing with her. And she advised my wife to pay our tax by using a certain tax code (simply a different way of paying tax); so my wife completed the forms and signed them and we thought that was that…”how wrong we were”!!!!

Every month the accountant sent us the calculation of tax, which we dually paid. However, I was called in for an interview last week asking why we had paid using this tax code, we looked surprised and it was under the advice of your people here, and the interviewer said that is impossible as we are not allowed to give advice and if you want advice you will have to pay for it.

And then we found out that all the money that we had paid had been sent to another system within the national tax administration and we would be fined for non-payment of tax.

Feeling very pizzed off by this time, I just blew, and started shouting and calling them all sorts of names, and my wife asked me to leave, which in hindsight was the best move.

So the next day we were asked to come back for a formal investigation.
So went back thinking the worst was going to happen, and we were met by a very pleasant woman who invited us into her office and ordered coffee for us.

She said that as this was our first mistake in six years of my company’s existence, she would let us off with a warning this time, and the money had been transferred between departments and we paid 37 zł too much and this would be rebated, and you could feel the relief just drain form my wife and myself.

Anyway we were out for dinner that night and I met one of my friends who is an accountant and he said that this should never have happened because their rules state that if someone misses a tax payment for two consecutive months then they must contact the business and ask where the payment is. So in fact, what they were doing was covering their own ass after they made a mistake in not informing me of the situation for 12 months.

So the moral of the story is just don’t trust anyone, check and double check the information and don’t get mislead by someone who wishes to help with wrong information as it might hang you in the end.

LOL loving it!

Their mistake becomes your mistake.

How can you do anything but treat them with the respect they deserve?

that sounds familiar to me. I was at the post office the other day mailing a company letter to a certain destination. I return the next day since I was mailing another one (regitered, so I had a record in my books as wel) and she told me that I didn;t pay for th epostage to a certain destination. I knew it was imposible, becuase I had a record and the amount I spent, so I told he rtha tshe was wrong. She isnistied on me paying for th eletter I already paid for on the precious day. So I quickly realized that she chrged me less and trying to blame it on me. I told he rthat I don't like to be accused of something I didn't do in front of people I don;t know (there was a line up behind me). So I told her that I wanted to speak to her supervisor as I was rising my voice. Things were settled and I walked away, but every time I mailed letters via this office she wouldnt look me in the eye.

I find tha tyelling and stating one's position strongly puts the service person in place. They cannot take any confrontation. LOL.

Good for you!! Unfortunately we only found out this info after we left the tax office, and to be truthful I would rather complain to the post office than some hitleress in the tax office :O)

I agree. One needs to be careful with the tax office, but obviously they make mistakes too, so you did the right thing.

I had a similar problem with ZUS some years ago, where the money was going to a different account do to some glitch. It was not my mistake but theirs and I quickly figured that out. So I told the woman that I want my money back - all 2 year's worth contribution, since it was not required. I also asked for interest on that sum. That seem to do the trick. LOL

You should see how quicly she started to look at the record and try to figure out the mistake.

Her friend was sitting next to me and she told me that I was to harsh on her friend. I was, but if I can figure out where the mistake happen after looking at it for a couple of minutes, so could she. So I told her friend that unlike her, who probably got her job throrug nepotism and is feeling safe, working for ZUS, I have to work my ass off, so they can comfortably sit in the ZUS office, drink coffee and gossip (I have seen it many time upon my frequent visits - it took a minute or 2 to be noticed in the office)

I also said that I should be working right now, not trying to guide an untrained ZUS worker, so she can figure out what her job is about:)LOL.

To make the story short - they corrected the mistake. It is an exhausting thing to do though, especialy with ZUS or a Tax office.

But not the whole world is like Amerikka... If I want to buy a sausage then I care If the damn sausage is good, not so much If a woman, who sells It is "cool".


I didn't say that It should.

good point but when it comes to customer service Poland needs some help. Sausage or not.

ZUS, NFZ etc. are terrible places but I don't see any problem with private business and I think that most people here preffer It the way It is than see people with fake American style smiles.

that is true. Some are amazing and friendly without being superficial.

But just to comment on the American smile. I was in NY in May and I didn't think that it was fake. They really meant it.

I think customer service in Poland is excellent especially if the girl-cashier has big boobs.
When she smiles at you or leans you do not think about the toothpaste anymore.

Have you checked your change while you are so occupied with her chest, they are not stupid you know.

I would prefer to put it inside.

Ok, let's not us America as an example, let's use Japan who has one of the largest and most successful economies in the world. What kind of customer service do you think they provide???

LOL some of them need to learn a bit before they try it on ;)

Getting change from a 20 and saying no, I gave you a 50. Then getting denail and indignation. Then explaining that the note was folded in a particular way and if they just have a quick look then they would see that I am right. Then getting the correct change along with a meek apology or more indignation

Honestly I don't care...

Thread attached on merging:
Customer Service in Poland, share your experiences

As a Portuguese living in Poland for more than 3 years, one of the things that upset me most is the service that we get around: in restaurants, in the supermarket, laundry, etc... For sure the the things are getting better, but coming there is still a long way to go. Have you tried to ask to a pole about some direction or help because you are lost? Tried it, but not a young person, they will run away from you....

It's great the opening of the new topic brought som much discussion.
I saw people mentioning other countries, other cultures but we can mix up 3rd world countries ou developed asian countries, with Poland.

Apart from some unfriendly faces, it's irritating the inflexibility!! Last Saturday I had some lunch in shopping center Reduta, in a restaurante called Monti. I have been there several times. I ordered some pasta carbonara for my kids, but having the portion divided in 2 plates. When the food came I saw that my daughter had only pasta, no signs of bacon. I asked very polite if they could put some bacon. The waiter came back with the plates saying that the bacon was all in the other portion (whih was not, only very few small pieces hard to see them), which was not at all and the cook did not wanted to add nothing more. I was extremely shocked, I tried to explain her, that I was a regular customer to the restaurant and my children were eating just white pasta!! Her answer: I can't do anything!!!

In my country when it comes to children food, the restaurants or waiters would do everything to satisfy children needs. This is the difference in Poland, awful inflexibility...

Thinking about it I had more memories of bad customer services in UK than in Poland.
Bank- I wanted to open my first account ( just ater moving there no register roll, not history) I went to Natwest they asked for reference from Polish Bank, I got it left it with them they never came back to me when I contacted them again they said that they lost it and that is it- no sorry, no bother.

Second Bank- The same problem ( no history) and I wanted first basic account with cash card. Girl gave me form for full account with cash -debit card and of course it was rejected......awful, nightmare.

I went to coffe bar asking for coffe- ( about £2) clumsy girl pass it to mee spill lots on the soucer- and taht is it. Shouldn't she clean then soucer before giving it too me?

This is the porplem witrh temps- not very well prepared to do jobs who don't really bother.
I find lots places in UK overpriced with poor services.

But Poalnd I noticed taht we lack is sometimes 'good manners' . I remmebr I went ti Notary office to ask abotu smoething ( I could be potential customer bringing them some income) but woam was talking to me standing at the door. I am sure that In similar situation in Uk I would be asked to sit down at least.

I think there is an 85% chance she may have been Polish! Not because she spilt the coffee but simly because it was a Coffee bar in the UK!

Polish Post offices....waiting and waiting..

It being some 2 weeks before Christmas, I decided to send some Christmas cards to my relatives and friends back home. I duly addressed the envelopes, adding UK at the bottom and went to the local village post office. Delighted to see that there was no one in front of me, I proudly presented my little bundle to the lady behind the counter, I asked for "priorty A" and was asked in return for 6.70g to cover the postage cost.

Something struck me as not being quite right?, 6.70g for 10 Christmas cards?, air mail? this seemed awefully cheap so I gave the lady a puzzled look. "UK, United Kingdom" I said. "Ahhh", she replied, "I thought it was, Ukraine".

Village life is an experience to savour :-)

I think that she was in this remaining 15%. she was English. Young girl who didn't bother.....

I have noticed one more thing in Uk- why do bit older people who work as a shop assistants usually serve quite quickly but young ones move like zombies?

Well, go to a village post office in the UK (if it still exists) and address your mail to Poland as RP (Reczpospolita Polska) and see what happens ;-p

UK as an abbreviation is not used in Polish, the correct abbr. is Wlk. Bryt. - sorry ;-)


My experience of British post offices exactly. ;-p

This is one of my major probs with Poland. I can understand (slightly) facking greedy little Polish companies like Barlinek treating people like **** to rake in their groszy to save enough money to buy an English football team BUT when you get civilised European companies who treat you like GOD in other European countries and treat you like **** in Poland then that is even worse. Yet again I managed to set off the alarm while leaving a shop today, Zara on Marszalkowska. Immediately was pounced upon and asked to empty my bag at the till while the sexy young people of Warsaw looked on with open mouths as to the spectacle unfolding before then. 1 piece of ham, a CD and a 39pln pair of jeans ( yes, believe it or not, PAID FOR). After asking whether the shop was an airport and whether the pretty but 'pain in the ass girl 'was a customs officer, she apologised. I happened to mention "That's ok, I'm used to the fact that every Pole is assumed to be a criminal by other Poles, she was not too happy. Why does this continue to happen on a massive scale here? I think everyone should stop buying from these stores after it happens to them! It's a f***ing disgrace

This reminds me of the most popular Irish T.V. series on English T.V. "Crime Watch U.K.", they were always looking for a "Black man with a strong Irish accent"(silly buggers).

I am serious, I used to get constantly stopped and searched in London, anti terrorism act of 2000, if memory serves me correctly, Police state more like.

Driving over Londn bridge 7:00 a.m., in shops they would check to see if the money I gave them was not a forgery, if I didn't open me mouth then it'd all be fine but as soon as they heard I was from Ireland I was treated as a criminal.

I don't get any greif like that here, some times the complete opposite, if I set off an alarm and I start talking to the security or whatever, they become very nice and lets face it, they are only doing their jobs....;0)

Apparently you are entitled to tell them to F@#K off. I learned this from a Polish news programme which was a report about security guys stripping girls to their underwear, either looking to find stolen goods or, more to the point, trying to drool over semi-naked girls. The law states they are not Policemen therefore you can refuse to co-operate and if they won't let you go you can ask them to call the police. If the police find nothing the security are in trouble for wasting police time. Lovely!

But that's only theory.