db1874
28 Jul 2011
Food / Best Farmer's Market in Warsaw area? [14]
Where about is this place ?
Correct name is "Bronisze". And yes it is an experience :)
Where about is this place ?
db1874
24 Jun 2011
Life / Cost of delivering a child in Poland [30]
The quality of maternity care hugely varies per hospital in Poland, I recently became a father with my son born in Świętej Zofii Hospital in Warsaw. We were very lucky and able to get a private recovery room (500zl a night but only 3 available) and generally I couldn't fault the treatment we received from start to finish. We also had to pay 600zl for an epidural but all other costs were covered by the state as we are tax payers here. I've heard horror stories about other hospitals though.
It is routine here (Warsaw, not sure about the rest of Poland) to have a private 'arrangement' with a midwife where you pay her say 800zl - 1000zl to get extra special treatment. You sign a contract with her in case she isn't able to provide the services as there's no guarantee the baby will arrive when she's on her shift etc and that way you get the money back. The midwives even have their own websites to advertise themselves. It's open corruption for me but if I was using a hospital with not so good a reputation I wouldn't hesitate to make such an arrangement.
There was an article in the Warsaw Insider recently about the private options for giving birth and Medicover have a maternity hospital somewhere in south Warsaw now where it costs 12,000zl for a birth. The problem though with the private care is they're not so used to dealing with complications.
How much does a normal delivery without complications without insurance in Poland?
The quality of maternity care hugely varies per hospital in Poland, I recently became a father with my son born in Świętej Zofii Hospital in Warsaw. We were very lucky and able to get a private recovery room (500zl a night but only 3 available) and generally I couldn't fault the treatment we received from start to finish. We also had to pay 600zl for an epidural but all other costs were covered by the state as we are tax payers here. I've heard horror stories about other hospitals though.
It is routine here (Warsaw, not sure about the rest of Poland) to have a private 'arrangement' with a midwife where you pay her say 800zl - 1000zl to get extra special treatment. You sign a contract with her in case she isn't able to provide the services as there's no guarantee the baby will arrive when she's on her shift etc and that way you get the money back. The midwives even have their own websites to advertise themselves. It's open corruption for me but if I was using a hospital with not so good a reputation I wouldn't hesitate to make such an arrangement.
There was an article in the Warsaw Insider recently about the private options for giving birth and Medicover have a maternity hospital somewhere in south Warsaw now where it costs 12,000zl for a birth. The problem though with the private care is they're not so used to dealing with complications.
db1874
19 May 2011
Travel / Cheap hotel price in Warsaw? [16]
I've driven past [hotel.bestharctur.pl/php/index.php] - this place a few times and often thought it must be the 'cheapest in Warsaw' , not bad location, no idea what the rooms are like though.
Otherwise one of the Kyriad/Campanille/Premier Classe Hotels at Plac Zawiszy is cheap, can't remember which one though.
I've driven past [hotel.bestharctur.pl/php/index.php] - this place a few times and often thought it must be the 'cheapest in Warsaw' , not bad location, no idea what the rooms are like though.
Otherwise one of the Kyriad/Campanille/Premier Classe Hotels at Plac Zawiszy is cheap, can't remember which one though.
db1874
3 May 2011
Real Estate / Warsaw City in 2020 [58]
I've got a grandstand view of the Warsaw Spire site from my apartment and as I said, no construction has started yet, hopefully soon though.
Have you visited the construction site personally ?
I've got a grandstand view of the Warsaw Spire site from my apartment and as I said, no construction has started yet, hopefully soon though.
db1874
3 May 2011
Real Estate / Warsaw City in 2020 [58]
Warsaw Spire? No it's not, plenty of signs up but no construction yet.
The spire tower is under construction already
Warsaw Spire? No it's not, plenty of signs up but no construction yet.
db1874
21 Apr 2011
Law / Let's see how good is your Polish income tax law knowledge :-) [8]
I managed for a few years, the thing to remember about Poland is that there is little, if any, cross referencing between the tax office, labour office etc.
Very interesting considering how things are done by the revenue office in this country i wonder how you can pay taxes using the PIT 53 form without being a registered resident for a long time.
I managed for a few years, the thing to remember about Poland is that there is little, if any, cross referencing between the tax office, labour office etc.
db1874
21 Apr 2011
Law / Let's see how good is your Polish income tax law knowledge :-) [8]
yes as you're resident here and your income arises from activities in Poland. I think you need to submit your taxes on a PIT53 form and you'll need to find an accountant to prepare it for you. I was paid gross into Poland a few years back by a non Polish entity for work in Poland and my taxes were submitted each month on a PIT53 form, I then had to go to the bank and make a transfer for the TAX and ZUS each month and I didn't have to register (NIP etc) to do this.
Do I have to pay tax in Poland? If so, where and how?
yes as you're resident here and your income arises from activities in Poland. I think you need to submit your taxes on a PIT53 form and you'll need to find an accountant to prepare it for you. I was paid gross into Poland a few years back by a non Polish entity for work in Poland and my taxes were submitted each month on a PIT53 form, I then had to go to the bank and make a transfer for the TAX and ZUS each month and I didn't have to register (NIP etc) to do this.
db1874
21 Apr 2011
Real Estate / Rental Income in Poland - how is it taxed ? [3]
Anyone out there who can answer this accurately - how is rental income in Poland taxed ? Is it taxed at a flat rate regardless of other income or is just regarded as additional income and taxed at either 18% or 32% ?
I think I found the answer here, excellent English language blog on Polish legal matters incidentally.
Anyone out there who can answer this accurately - how is rental income in Poland taxed ? Is it taxed at a flat rate regardless of other income or is just regarded as additional income and taxed at either 18% or 32% ?
I think I found the answer here, excellent English language blog on Polish legal matters incidentally.
db1874
18 Apr 2011
Law / Where to register a .PL domain name? [33]
I've used active24.pl before, was a good service, based in Warsaw and they speak English.
Would anybody guide me where should i contact in Warsaw
I've used active24.pl before, was a good service, based in Warsaw and they speak English.
db1874
6 Apr 2011
Work / 3500 Euro Gross in Poland for a family of 2 Adults and a kid, any good? [28]
here's one in Wilanow (Warsaw) with prices.
How much does a good english speaking Nursery/Pre-school cost ? I don't see much information over websites.
here's one in Wilanow (Warsaw) with prices.
db1874
6 Apr 2011
Law / Shipping a non-EU car to PL by a non PL citizen (but PL Resident) [13]
The best thing to do is to ask an expert, I imported a car to Poland a few years back through Blue Sky Auto and can't speak highly enough of them. My understanding is that if you're buying a car abroad with the sole purpose of importing to Poland then you get hit with all the taxes and duty, but if you've owned the car abroad for a while and can prove it ( insurance docs etc) then it's almost like importing a piece of furniture and is far cheaper. But as I say, ask an expert.
The question is: we are relocating to poland for good this April, so if we want to ship the car, do we have to pay tax for it?
The best thing to do is to ask an expert, I imported a car to Poland a few years back through Blue Sky Auto and can't speak highly enough of them. My understanding is that if you're buying a car abroad with the sole purpose of importing to Poland then you get hit with all the taxes and duty, but if you've owned the car abroad for a while and can prove it ( insurance docs etc) then it's almost like importing a piece of furniture and is far cheaper. But as I say, ask an expert.
db1874
6 Apr 2011
Work / 3500 Euro Gross in Poland for a family of 2 Adults and a kid, any good? [28]
I think you would struggle, life's not cheap in Poland anymore, I'm paying 6-7 EUR for a mall foodcourt lunch each day in Warsaw. Have you thought about where you would send your kid to school ? International school fees in Warsaw are in the range of 20k USD per annum. Who are you going to be working for - Wipro?
Is it good enough for a family of 3 with a moderate life style ?
I think you would struggle, life's not cheap in Poland anymore, I'm paying 6-7 EUR for a mall foodcourt lunch each day in Warsaw. Have you thought about where you would send your kid to school ? International school fees in Warsaw are in the range of 20k USD per annum. Who are you going to be working for - Wipro?
db1874
29 Mar 2011
Law / Does Poland have the most prehistorical and strictest banking system in the world? [57]
it is true and is a legal standard for Direct debits/Polecenia Zapłaty in Poland for example. The initiating bank sends the request for payment in the morning, the paying bank has to debit/reject by around noon and get the responses back to the initiating bank by the end of business that day. Other types of transfer follow exactly the same path so the functionality does exist. It does vary though per bank how often throughout the day they apply these incoming transfers to accounts, the bigger banks ( Pekao, PKO, HSBC etc) are doing it multiple times per day. So maybe your bank is not utilising the full capability of the Polish ElIXIR retail payments system or perhaps they are only doing it for high value clients/transfers.
If you're sending a transfer late on a Friday then yes it wont hit the other bank until Monday so in that case it could take longer but that's due to the weekend when there are no Elixir sessions after Saturday morning.
That's not true, it takes between 0-4 days
it is true and is a legal standard for Direct debits/Polecenia Zapłaty in Poland for example. The initiating bank sends the request for payment in the morning, the paying bank has to debit/reject by around noon and get the responses back to the initiating bank by the end of business that day. Other types of transfer follow exactly the same path so the functionality does exist. It does vary though per bank how often throughout the day they apply these incoming transfers to accounts, the bigger banks ( Pekao, PKO, HSBC etc) are doing it multiple times per day. So maybe your bank is not utilising the full capability of the Polish ElIXIR retail payments system or perhaps they are only doing it for high value clients/transfers.
If you're sending a transfer late on a Friday then yes it wont hit the other bank until Monday so in that case it could take longer but that's due to the weekend when there are no Elixir sessions after Saturday morning.
db1874
29 Mar 2011
Law / Does Poland have the most prehistorical and strictest banking system in the world? [57]
I'd say that still being paid by cheque was rather out of date rather than the Polish banking systems. Customer Service in banks here may be poor at times but the functionality provided by the banks is reasonably advanced. Take for example transferring funds from one bank to another within Poland. You can initiate a transfer in the morning and it will be credited to the account in the other bank by the afternoon, that's been standard here for years.
You might be quickest posting your cheque back to the US to be deposited there and then wiring the funds back over here.
Does Poland have the most prehistorical banking system in the whole world?
I'd say that still being paid by cheque was rather out of date rather than the Polish banking systems. Customer Service in banks here may be poor at times but the functionality provided by the banks is reasonably advanced. Take for example transferring funds from one bank to another within Poland. You can initiate a transfer in the morning and it will be credited to the account in the other bank by the afternoon, that's been standard here for years.
You might be quickest posting your cheque back to the US to be deposited there and then wiring the funds back over here.
db1874
2 Mar 2011
Law / Healthcare for British Citizens living in Poland [30]
is that true? have been googling around but can only see articles relating to expats residing outside the EEA area where such restictions apply ?
are we talking NI contributions or Inland Revenue taxes here ? I've just applied to start paying NI class 2 contributions to keep my UK state pension ticking over, not sure if that counts towards the NHS too ?
Being at the mercy of Polish healthcare is my biggest fear of living here.......
you'll have no entitlement to UK health care if you're out of the UK for more than 185 days a year and not paying UK taxes.
is that true? have been googling around but can only see articles relating to expats residing outside the EEA area where such restictions apply ?
Which is a good reason to make sure one pays a little tax in the UK every year.
are we talking NI contributions or Inland Revenue taxes here ? I've just applied to start paying NI class 2 contributions to keep my UK state pension ticking over, not sure if that counts towards the NHS too ?
Being at the mercy of Polish healthcare is my biggest fear of living here.......
db1874
2 Mar 2011
Law / Healthcare for British Citizens living in Poland [30]
Private health insurers (BUPA, AXA etc) won't cover you for already known medical conditions.
I would strongly urge you to make arrangements for some sort of private health insurance then.
Private health insurers (BUPA, AXA etc) won't cover you for already known medical conditions.
db1874
2 Mar 2011
UK, Ireland / Scottish people in Poland [14]
I've moved here for 3 months from Edinburgh 9 years ago now :)
You'll find a few more Scots on the FB Polska TA page [facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=108947232459649] - here.
I was wondering too, probably burn out, looks like the baton has been passed to delphiandomine....
I've moved here for 3 months from Edinburgh 9 years ago now :)
You'll find a few more Scots on the FB Polska TA page [facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=108947232459649] - here.
what happened to our buddy Seanus?
I was wondering too, probably burn out, looks like the baton has been passed to delphiandomine....
db1874
25 Jan 2011
db1874
10 Jan 2011
Language / iPhone / Android - Smartphone apps for learning Polish [12]
Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for an iPhone App for learning Polish? I had a look in the App store and there seems quite a few available but they don't have many reviews.
Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for an iPhone App for learning Polish? I had a look in the App store and there seems quite a few available but they don't have many reviews.
db1874
31 Aug 2010
News / Weekend of carnage as 41 people lose their lives on Poland's roads [44]
you missed the point, if you don't see it then you're left in doubt - did you miss it or was the sign not there meaning you don't have priority? Priority should be explicitly clear. It may work in other countries but it doesn't work well here.
If you don't see it, then you're not paying attention.
you missed the point, if you don't see it then you're left in doubt - did you miss it or was the sign not there meaning you don't have priority? Priority should be explicitly clear. It may work in other countries but it doesn't work well here.
db1874
31 Aug 2010
News / Weekend of carnage as 41 people lose their lives on Poland's roads [44]
I don’t like that there are very few speed limit signs, I’m often driving in Poland and have no idea what the speed limit is supposed to be. You seem to be expected to know by the type of road.
Also, the give way to the right at junctions is ambiguous in many situations because of this yellow sign you're supposed to have seen or not seen prior to the junction. The driver should be left with no doubt when they should stop and give way.
I don’t like that there are very few speed limit signs, I’m often driving in Poland and have no idea what the speed limit is supposed to be. You seem to be expected to know by the type of road.
Also, the give way to the right at junctions is ambiguous in many situations because of this yellow sign you're supposed to have seen or not seen prior to the junction. The driver should be left with no doubt when they should stop and give way.
db1874
25 Aug 2010
db1874
2 Jun 2010
News / Decoded talks inside Poland's president's plane are released in Internet [337]
This is the bit I don't get, they were on autopilot until 6 seconds before the crash, why had the autopilot taken them so low ? Had the altitude been programmed incorrectly ?
10:40:56,0 - 10:40:58,2 Sound. F=400 Hz. Autopilot disconnect.
This is the bit I don't get, they were on autopilot until 6 seconds before the crash, why had the autopilot taken them so low ? Had the altitude been programmed incorrectly ?
db1874
14 May 2010
db1874
29 Mar 2010
db1874
18 Mar 2010
UK, Ireland / The Gessler restaurant empire expands to London [21]
in The Guardian today guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/17/polish-delis-restaurants-british
Polish delis and restaurants no longer cater merely for homesick expats - British diners have fallen for this hearty, eastern European cuisine.
in The Guardian today guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/17/polish-delis-restaurants-british
db1874
12 Mar 2010
Life / British sky satellite TV in Poland [87]
I can confirm Harry is correct here about only some channels working as I have a 1m sky dish too in Warsaw, additionally the sky sports channels and ESPN work also if you subscribe to them.
Only if you have a 2.7 metre (maybe 2.4 metre) dish.
I can confirm Harry is correct here about only some channels working as I have a 1m sky dish too in Warsaw, additionally the sky sports channels and ESPN work also if you subscribe to them.
db1874
16 Feb 2010
Travel / Indian or Mexican food in Warsaw. [60]
for me Blue Cactus is the best place in town for Mexican food but it's not cheap, burrito is 44zl, Corona 14zl etc
for me Blue Cactus is the best place in town for Mexican food but it's not cheap, burrito is 44zl, Corona 14zl etc
db1874
15 Feb 2010
Work / Have just moved to Warsaw and need some job advice... [10]
Neil
Welcome to Warsaw, it's not easy for foreigners to find work here in Poland other than teaching English but with your many talents you might have more luck.
You could submit your CV to some of the IT agencies and with your other skills you need to start making contacts, so the expat bars could be a worth a visit - Bradley's etc.
Neil
Welcome to Warsaw, it's not easy for foreigners to find work here in Poland other than teaching English but with your many talents you might have more luck.
You could submit your CV to some of the IT agencies and with your other skills you need to start making contacts, so the expat bars could be a worth a visit - Bradley's etc.
db1874
2 Feb 2010
Life / You are Polish if... [433]
- you sleep on a sofa bed
- you can't reverse park
- you put ketchup on a pizza
- you sleep on a sofa bed
- you can't reverse park
- you put ketchup on a pizza