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Posts by InWroclaw  

Joined: 10 Mar 2012 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 7 Mar 2015
Threads: Total: 89 / In This Archive: 80
Posts: Total: 1910 / In This Archive: 1693 		From: Wroclaw
Speaks Polish?: No

Displayed posts: 1773 / page 20 of 60
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InWroclaw   
20 Jan 2014
UK, Ireland / Calling all Brits! Travel in England advice [32]

Shame it tastes like crap.

Certainly doesn't. It's very good.

Guess what ive just had for tea?? 1 large cod, 1 small cod regular chips all for less than £9.00, is that cheap?

I suppose it is if you have a large salary or think your London house could be increasing in value by 10% a year. It's all relative then. Otherwise, erm no, no it's not. But, enjoy, and praise the flying spaghetti monster for the fact that to you it's cheap.
InWroclaw   
20 Jan 2014
UK, Ireland / Calling all Brits! Travel in England advice [32]

Are you referring to the chips or the fish? you said chips but that doesn't make much sense.

I've seen poor quality examples of both as the norm. But, you know it's a case of what you call cheap. I don't call that cheap. But, to someone with London property who feels wealthy, I suppose a fiver for a kebab is perhaps cheap. To a visitor from Poland, a fiver probably won't seem cheap at all. As for the other fast food joints, no they don't seem at all cheap either. Much better off with the real food at Wetherspoons.

As for 5 bean chilli, a lot healthier than some of what you mentioned.
InWroclaw   
20 Jan 2014
Law / Poland's ZUS - how much to register and later deregister? [17]

Thank you for posting, Jon. My accountant also seems to not know about a fee. At the moment, the costs to start make me look a berk to even consider it.

But, for anyone else with a better idea for business than mine, do your homework and then you can register online here (probably need an electronic signature though)

- here's the English link and good luck!

prod.ceidg.gov.pl/CEIDG/CEIDG.Public.UI/DecisionAdditionalParameters.aspx?type=1

The HELP box does back up what you say, Jon, but other sites say 100PLN. I can only assume that the 100PLN is not for the CEIDG stuff but some other formality.

You: Is registration in CEIDG free of charge?
Linda: All activities related to the entry in the Central Register and Information on Economic Activity (CEIDG) operated by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Poland (such as gaining the entry/change of the entry/suspension/resumption/deletion of the entry) are FREE OF CHARGE.

They went as far as to make this announcement about it being free:

prod.ceidg.gov.pl/CEIDG.CMS.ENGINE/?D;15bc8aee-0cbc-47a4-8a5b-f8bf81781457

but yet it seems several official websites say 100PLN. If they're not official websites, I don't see how they monetise and get that 100PLN off punters.
InWroclaw   
20 Jan 2014
News / Poland's economic future? [294]

Are you surprised by the fact that Poles are becoming richer and richer and we don`t drive Fiats anymore ?

Yes. But richer or more geared (in debt) based on property value equity withdrawals ?
InWroclaw   
20 Jan 2014
News / Poland's economic future? [294]

In Wrocław, we appear to have a lot of affluent people, judging by the vehicles on the roads and parked around estates.

Either they've all inherited cash, have got the cash from a lender, or everyone's doing fabulously well in some business or job.

If these shiny motors are from a lender, it would give me cause for concern. But, on the other hand, Poland may be poised for success in which case people will be able to pay off the monthly credit and so forth.

Did Ireland look similar just before theirs went t1ts up? Just asking, not implying anything.
InWroclaw   
20 Jan 2014
UK, Ireland / Calling all Brits! Travel in England advice [32]

They usually range from £5.00 to £7.00 for an extra large.

Hardly cheap. 25 to 35 zł for that [a kebab]? FFS Got to be joking if you think that's cheap. It's worse than I thought.

Wetherspoons probably offers the best value, as Jon said. I recommend the vegetarian 5 bean chilli.

Yes lots, also we have 3 Harry Ramsdens outlets, NW1, E20 and one near Stratford.

Harry Ramsden's? Are you tugging my chain? I was last at a HR in Brighton. Utterly average and the prices are no reason to celebrate either.

You really haven't been to any real F&C shops have you.

Your assessment of cheap food, WB, is heavily reliant on the clause "compared to" and for anyone browsing this thread and about to go seeking those cheap eateries you imply exist is going to be sadly disappointed. Whatever off beaten track places you suggest, it's obvious your idea of cheap isn't mine. And isn't most people's, who aren't receiving big incomes or subsistence expense accounts.
InWroclaw   
20 Jan 2014
UK, Ireland / Calling all Brits! Travel in England advice [32]

You're welcome. I think the National Express is cheaper to book a few weeks in advance, but I'm not sure as I haven't used them for years.

There is also a train from STN but I think you'd have to change trains and take strong brandy when you see the fares. Although, sometimes, it's cheaper to book 2 single train tickets: moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets
InWroclaw   
20 Jan 2014
UK, Ireland / Calling all Brits! Travel in England advice [32]

From STN, a coach (autokar) takes 4 hours 40 mins and approx. GBP25
(STN is not North London, it is a long way from N London).

Or go to Golders Green London NW11 [which is north west London] bus station (a tube train goes there) and take a National Express coach. It's about GBP20 each way. (3 hours 30 mins)

Or take a coach called The Oxford Tube from Victoria Coach Station.

They might go to Golders Green or Baker Street/Gloucester Place -- I am not sure.
InWroclaw   
19 Jan 2014
Law / Cheapest BUSINESS bank account in Poland for a small business? [12]

Things must have changed since you did that.

Well, seems so, which is a shame. More forms! More fees!
I am not sure if this applies to all, but from: info-migrator.pl

it says
BANK ACCOUNT

When REGON number is issued, opening a bank account for company settlements is necessary. Processing transactions and accepting payments from other traders all of which are related to the economic activity of the company is confirmed by the bank statements. Bank charges of opening the account and carrying out the transactions depend on the bank.
InWroclaw   
19 Jan 2014
Law / Poland's ZUS - how much to register and later deregister? [17]

Ah I see, thanks for checking that. We're lucky you're 'ere!

An application filled in Polish includes:

· PESEL, if the trader has the number,

· the designation of the trader, i.e. full name and surname and - if any - the name of the company,

· the subject of the economic activity, in accordance with Polska Klasyfikacja Działalności (Polish Classification of Activity),

· NIP (numer identyfikacji podatkowej - tax identification number), if the trader has the number,

· the localisation and the residence address, the address of delivery as well as the address which is adequate for carrying out the activity and if the activity is implemented out of the localisation and residence address - also the address of the main localisation where the activity is carried out and the branch if any was established,

· the information of the marital property system or the lack of it,

· the information of the agreement of civil company if any was established,

· the data of a permanent legal agent entitled to carry out the trader's business - if any was established,

· the precise date of establishing the activity which is essential for other institutions (e.g. Tax Office) and legalising the activity.

The fee for submitting the application is 100 zl and if the application refers to change in the register the fee is 50 zl. The application for removing from the register is free of charge. The act of registering should take place within maximum of 7 days. Then the confirmation of registering is delivered within 14 days from submitting the application.

I'm going to assume the above refers to what Jon said. (However, a fee of 50zł is definitely payable for all traders per PKD code added later.)

Any business that is registered with KRS/the courts (all businesses? some businesses? VAT reg businesses? I don't know) need to pay 300PLN to close their business

source: migrant.info.pl/closing-down-business.html

Well, this page below seems to say it's everyone who has to pay 100PLN, even individuals going self-employed. I'm sure the accountant told me there's no fee, just as you have. But...

Please see
en.poland.gov.pl/Registration,procedures,6383.html

Registration procedures

The process of establishing business in Poland should start with the selection of the most appropriate legal form (see: Forms of enterprises), and with signing the Articles of Association or Deed of Formation. The fees, depending on the selected forms of activity, are varied.

Establishment of individual enterprise (enterprise run by a natural person) or registered partnerships are the cheapest.The registration of the business in such case costs PLN 100.The Economic Activity Record (Ewidencja Działalności Gospodarczej) is managed by the local government of the community where the business is to be located.

See also: doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/poland/starting-a-business

Here, Gregor mentions "lower" not zero registration fees for new sole trader businesses registering here in Poland
https://polishforums.com/law/poland-register-new-business-31224/#msg728137

Lots of great info from D too, including this which I think is likely to be very true about accountants
https://polishforums.com/law/poland-register-new-business-31224/2/

And this vital tip from D, which I can say has proven to be true when I was trying to get a contract with various firms and also dealing with various other "professionals"

I can only give you one piece of advice - trust no-one and verify absolutely everything you're told.

InWroclaw   
18 Jan 2014
Life / Are there any bookstores in Wroclaw, Rzeszów or Krakow where I can buy books in English? [5]

Yes, about 1 in 5 secondhand clothes shops will usually have some English language books gathering dust somewhere near the CDs or bric-a-brac if they have a bric-a-brac section. If the OP's not fussy, he or she will find at least 3 or 4 books (typically novels but also stuff like Alan Carr's Stop Smoking and other random stuff) somewhere in each of those 1 in 5 shops.
InWroclaw   
18 Jan 2014
Life / Polish equivalent of CLR? (Calcium Lime and Rust Remover) [10]

i would guess maybe OBI might sell this type of product or even a grocery store?

Glad to be of help :)

Carrefour or Auchan (the latter are usually cheaper) should have the Duck product, and Spolem will also have the coffee machine/kettle descaler which might be in a sachet.

Me personally, I use vinegar (ocet) as I hope it's better for the environment.
wikihow.com/Clean-the-Showerhead-with-Vinegar
InWroclaw   
18 Jan 2014
Life / Polish equivalent of CLR? (Calcium Lime and Rust Remover) [10]

Limescale is called kamienia in Poland.

Johnson's Duck Power Zero Kamienia is usually used for WCs but may work on a shower head although it might not be good for a chrome finish, I'm not sure.

You could probably also use a descaler for kettles, diluting it with water as per the label.

Otherwise you can probably use diluted white vinegar with hot water (soak it 3 hours).

Wear gloves and keep out of your eyes and off skin etc and all the usual precautions necessary.
InWroclaw   
17 Jan 2014
Law / Poland's ZUS - how much to register and later deregister? [17]

Thanks :o)

I'm not pressing the start button yet anyway because I need to see some more numbers, but if 'n' when I do I'll speak to another accountant or two before choosing one. Opinions among them strangely vary! I dunno why.

I think it's my fault for not phrasing the question correctly, however it seems that to start a business the registration fee is 100zł.

See: info-migrator.pl/us-4-work_in_the_republic_of_poland__law_-28-economic_activity.htm

An application filled in Polish includes:

the name, headquarters and legal status of the foreign trader,

the range of activities undertaken by the trader,

name, surname and the residence address of the person who is authorised in the agency to represent the foreign trader,

the address of the agency in the territory of Poland

Source: um.wroc.pl/m3554/p6663.aspx and ms.gov.pl
InWroclaw   
17 Jan 2014
Law / Poland's ZUS - how much to register and later deregister? [17]

Thanks Smurf.

At the moment, the forecast income is so little that it relies heavily on Poland's economy really picking up to make it viable. If that doesn't truly happen, the effects won't be felt in my wallet, except negatively. No surprise of course, except that the margin really would be that slim, so that it's heavily dependent on B2B and their retail customers.

Hence why I'm being so careful before committing to it, because so far I just see a loss and not a penny for myself for ages unless I have an incredible stroke of luck, which it's folly to hope for in my experience!
InWroclaw   
17 Jan 2014
Law / What do I as a foreigner need to know before setting up a business in Poland? [16]

I've just had a look at the email from the accountant that I kept, the other I deleted as their fee was pricey. This is a copy 'n' paste of what he said, I do solemnly swear ;o)

You understand the law correctly. Yes. You must pay ZUS but about 430 PLN
(from 01.2014) per month
for 2 years, then 1100PLN per month.
You don't need to pay the ZUS in Poland, if you pay to the other ZUS in
another EU country (for example in England), because you are working also in
other country.

InWroclaw   
17 Jan 2014
Law / What do I as a foreigner need to know before setting up a business in Poland? [16]

No, I mean that last month I paid ZUS 972zl

Then I honestly don't know how they calculate it, if that was your established biz self-employed rate. I wasn't aware that they'd slide it down like that. But good luck to you, I'm pleased they've somehow let you save some money. I doubt I'll ever have that luck, frankly ! :D
InWroclaw   
17 Jan 2014
Law / What do I as a foreigner need to know before setting up a business in Poland? [16]

I paid 972zl last month to ZUS; I have no idea what that was for.

If you mean the figure isn't 1100, I assume it's the percentage they take if you're an employee or contractor. Otherwise, I assure you I have several emails telling me it's 1100 now for the self-employed. Maybe it's me, but I find the amount that ZUS take to be very high, and it is a drag on businesses commencing, even with the 410PLN introductory rate. Looking at my own projected figures, thanks to ZUS I would definitely make a loss for 14-18 months, if I started. Once ZUS kicked in at 1100 or perhaps more 2 years hence, the loss may return, further reducing the ability to advertise and source new revenue.

I know that I'm not saying anything you didn't realise before, it's just that I find it a very hard policy to understand. It seems to stifle new enterprise. Of course, successful and existing enterprises might rejoice at that fact.
InWroclaw   
16 Jan 2014
Law / Cheapest BUSINESS bank account in Poland for a small business? [12]

If I go ahead, I'll use my private account until I sense things are taking off. Much appreciate your advice, and yes I agree about the cheapest etc. That said, I had an A1 free biz account in the UK years ago,

Just to add a link for anyone browsing this thread for info in the future, this looks like it's free up to a limit of transactions per month -- aliorbank.pl/pl/przedsiebiorstwa/rachunki/rachunek_biznes_komfort
InWroclaw   
16 Jan 2014
Law / Cheapest BUSINESS bank account in Poland for a small business? [12]

Suggestions for a good business bank account in Poland?



Anyone direct me to a thread discussing which is the cheapest BUSINESS bank account in Poland for a small business?
Or advise which bank offers the cheapest account for business, please?

Googled it with little or actually no success.

(I think I'm right in saying a business bank account is compulsory for even a very small business here.)
InWroclaw   
16 Jan 2014
Law / What do I as a foreigner need to know before setting up a business in Poland? [16]

Useful link on how to set up a business
biurowirtualnewarszawa.pl/english/how-to-start-a-business-in-poland.html

A very detailed PDF in English about doing business in Poland (might be out of date in some places, I don't know) millercanfield.com/media/article/200244_M-C%20Poland%20Book%20_2013_.pdf
InWroclaw   
16 Jan 2014
Law / What do I as a foreigner need to know before setting up a business in Poland? [16]

Dzieki this is really helpful.

You're welcome, of course.

I don't know if the following is true but someone just told me they think that the VAT limit is dropping to 50K PLN from 2016...

From 2016, the amount of the exemption of VAT will be approx.50 000 zł acc. to art. 287 Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax

That's the first I've heard of it, but it might be true, I don't know...

And apparently the limit for compulsory cash registers (tills) has dropped to 20K PLN.

Hopefully, one of the more clued up regulars will advise if the above is right or utter nonsense.
InWroclaw   
16 Jan 2014
Law / What do I as a foreigner need to know before setting up a business in Poland? [16]

For starters (pardon the pun, alright I'll get me coat) you need to budget for "ZUS" pension payments to the government which are due from day 1, profit or not. Didn't make 410PLN, only made 41PLN? Sorry, but ZUS is still payable! Although it can reduce your tax if paying tax, I believe.

I think that's now 410PLN a month for ZUS if it's your first business in Poland, for 24 months, then 1100PLN a month. After you have made about US$900 in profit, you have to pay tax. You might not have to pay ZUS if you pay a form of ZUS in your home country and can prove that -- but that might just be EU nationals in Poland only.

If you can't do your own accounting, budget 300PLN a month for an accountant, at least. If you make 150,000 (150K) PLN a year, you have to register for VAT. That bumps up the accountant's fee.

On top of that, budget for rents, local taxes in some areas, staff, advertising, etc.

Harry and some others on here know far more about these taxes, and will put you straight if I'm wrong, but this info is what I have gathered fairly recently from real, live accountants! Admittedly, some of them contradict each other, but they all seem agreed on the above stuff.
InWroclaw   
16 Jan 2014
News / Why is Amazon not present in Poland? [57]

Unfortunately this article says nothing about Amazon opening an official amazon.pl site

It's a warehouse but apparently they will hire IT people too if they haven't already, or so the word on the street says.

I'd be very surprised if they don't open a PL www too.
InWroclaw   
16 Jan 2014
News / Why is Amazon not present in Poland? [57]

Aneta, they heard you and are opening 3 centres in Poland including near Wrocław.

bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-07/amazon-to-create-6-000-jobs-in-poland-in-three-logistics-centers.html

I hope you'll say thanks by ordering at least one 8zł paperback once they open.
InWroclaw   
16 Jan 2014
UK, Ireland / Calling all Brits! Travel in England advice [32]

2 meals for a fiver in the old days, but the portions weren't usually that generous of course. They're pretty good, but of course very loud and busy, and are the exception. There aren't many or any other cheap options, typically. As I used to need to eat on the hoof a lot, I spent most of my cash in Greggs, because other than them and Baker's Oven there was only McDonald's and similar. Proper cafes with cheap food -- as rare as hens' teeth in London. Only cheaper, not cheap.
InWroclaw   
15 Jan 2014
UK, Ireland / Calling all Brits! Travel in England advice [32]

London doesn't have to be expensive at all, food is extremely competitively priced as is travel,

I'm just trying to remember where I saw very competitively priced take-aways or restaurants in London, when I lived there for decades.

.................

No, can't think of anywhere. So, competitively priced compared to where -- Switzerland? Luxembourg? Also, if you ever found decent fish and chips in London, please let me know where, because in all the years I lived in various areas of London I never came across chips that tasted the same as the shops found in for example Dorset or Essex seaside towns. Strange but very true in my experience. There is one very good (and dear) shop in London where they steam the batter as they fry the fish, and do decent chips, but it's the exception.
InWroclaw   
14 Jan 2014
Work / Is 6500 PLN salary gross enough to live on for a small family in Wroclaw? [20]

And I think you were living in Wro long before I even vaguely knew that I was coming here! Have rents gone up in that time? I can see that some landlords think Wroclaw is silicon valley or something, judging by the try-on prices I'm now seeing. If even a quarter of the empty flats get bought by landlords, I'd expect to see rents actually drop not rise, unless there's some sort of wage spiral or jobs goldrush here suddenly. Isn't it just Qatar call centres and CS with some vacancies now, pretty much? I'd have thought call centres paid far from enough for anything like a 2500 pcm flat.