Life / Free Poland Health Care - Paying minimal to no Zus [105]


You really can't compare the US system (which causes people to lose their homes/etc) with the Polish system. It's just not comparable. You can get anything in the US if you pay for it - in Poland, they're not paying anything near the amount that you would pay in the US, so it's obvious that the system won't be handing out full body scans or tests to everyone.


If it's rotten, why do I and countless others have good experiences with the system?


Why would they remember you? Do you remember every client of yours?


Not the old "oh Poles are so poor" line.


Grossly overpaid? 90zl for 15-20 minutes of a renowned specialists time?

People in Poland pay around $100 a month for health care that covers their entire family. They won't get it taken away from them when they're sick, nor will they be forced to sell their houses just to pay medical bills.

Law / Rights of a consumer when dealing with faulty goods in Poland? [65]

Nope, Poland is part of it - the recent increase to 2 years warranty was part of that directive.

Anyway - if you don't get any satisfaction - e-sad.gov.pl/Subpage.aspx?page_id=35 is your friend. It takes about 3-4 weeks for the judgement to come through - and doesn't require much effort on your part (except getting a Polish speaker to write it).

What you have to do is send them a letter by registered post demanding the repair to be completed. If they don't respond within 7 days, send a second letter (and make sure you keep the proof of postage for both letters). After 7 working days, you're free to go straight to the court - and it will be a formality. Once you get the judgement, it's pretty straightforward - you appoint a bailiff, and they'll sort it all out for you.

UK, Ireland / Polish woman living in England is moving back to Poland. How much money do I need? [87]


Worth pointing out that the waiting lists for public ones can be very long - the one that's part of my company was full (for this year) as early as October last year.

Genealogy / Is Czarnecki Really A Polish Or Actually A Sephardic Jewish Surname? [110]

Agreed. Let's leave it here, although she's apparently blocked me anyway.

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]


They cannot be applied in the US. Obama signed a law into place in 2010 which prevents the enforcement of foreign libel cases in the US if they're incompatible with the legendary First Amendment. In this case, the Admin can sit safely.

(incorrect to say the UK by the way - Scotland has no such insane libel laws)

Life / Individualism in Polish culture...Is it almost Nonexistant? [170]


Which has precious little to do with Polish culture these days.

Please don't mix up the two.

Life / Individualism in Polish culture...Is it almost Nonexistant? [170]

But what do you know about the culture, living in America?

History / Poland and Polish Anti-Semitism, c. 1918-1939 [148]


Oh Nicole...

Something that is unintentional cannot be malicious!

If I'm ridiculing someone for having a big nose and he turns out to be Jewish, it's not anti-Jewish, it's anti big-nose.

Life / Free Poland Health Care - Paying minimal to no Zus [105]

It's an interesting one to say the least. I'm really not sure where I stand - as you say, it would cut down on the false unemployment, but there are still plenty of people who really are living on the margins of society - and this would just push them down even further. Even something like only allowing emergency care wouldn't work, because then they'd just go to hospitals for routine things (like what's happening in the UK now!).

Leaving it as it is would seem to be the most sensible approach. Of course - if someone is discovered to be working illegally, then they should be hammered for the backpayments.


That's the impression I get too, although they never enquired when I was using it rather than through ZUS. They were only interested in the EHIC card and my passport.


Amazingly good deal when you think about it.

There is one catch - if you start paying this, stop, then start again - there are some financial penalties to pay to rejoin the system.

Feedback / Daily/Weekly Polls (suggestion) [19]


Oh jeez. I had a look yesterday, and it's just painful. This post - thenicolefactor.blogspot.com/2012/07/from-polishforumscom-my-testimony-in.html - it seems that she's really convinced herself that her entire family is full of evil abusers.

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]

Actually - no, it can't. American law (and this site is hosted in the US) makes it clear that the content publisher is not liable for what's posted.

Feedback / Daily/Weekly Polls (suggestion) [19]


Now now, she's not a troll. No self respecting troll would upload over 500 videos of herself ranting about how people don't like her ;)

Work / Moving to Gdynia / Tri-City Poland - I'd like to find English-only speaking job [9]


First things first - are you sure that this is a good idea? Do they have adequate living conditions for you to have your own life?

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]

Indeed. Ryanair don't muck around when it comes to these things - not to mention that Ryanair's fleet is very, very young compared to most airlines. So far, they've got a habit of getting rid of planes when they've still got significant sell-on value, too.

Also worth pointing out that Ryanair have a very good punctuality record, as well as a very good record when it comes to baggage loss.

Yes, they're absolutely intolerant of people who can't read or can't be bothered to read. Yes, they give you the hardest sell of any airline. But they also do the job hundreds of times every day without fuss.

Life / Free Poland Health Care - Paying minimal to no Zus [105]


That's not true - the NFZ system is more inconsistent than anything. I've got absolutely no issues with my local GP, nor any issue with my NFZ dentist. The all-night drop-in doctor service is also very good here, and the local hospital isn't bad too. There are horror stories too, but on the whole - it does what it can on a very limited budget.


This is partially because they're absolutely dirt cheap in Poland. I saw a renowned specialist for 90zl - try getting the same thing in the West for even 500zl.


What, where? Not in the UK it's not...

Life / Thoughts on bilingual day care in Poland [2]

Stay clear of this one - asw.org.pl/en/index-1.html - I've heard from several people that it's run by people who don't have the authority to run such a place (they have Polish people with papers, but no real decision-making powers to satisfy the powers that be).

Anyway, my thoughts. Most places hire just about anyone who fits, and it's rare to find a native speaker of the language working in one. If you do find one with native speakers, the chances are that they aren't qualified to teach in Poland.

You'd be far better putting the children into a very good Polish-only day care facility.

History / Poland's fate if the second world war didn't happen? [4]


A huge minority problem in the East, probably a legacy of terrorism as a result. Polska A would be booming, probably one of the wealthiest regions of Europe, but Polska B would remain deprived and underfunded. The independence of Galicia would be hotly debated, and Lwów would be the scene of at least one armed insurrection against Polish rule.

A look at road maps from the 1939 (interested, Harry/pawian? I've got a link) will tell you all you need to know about how bitterly backwards Polska B was.

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]


Yet - they're the ones making money. The legacy carriers are in all sorts of trouble.


Actually - at least with Ryanair, everything is transparent. Their fees are clearly listed on their website, the total amount you have to pay is clear - I've never once felt cheated by Ryanair. I've seen numerous people arguing and screaming in the airport because their bags were too big or they didn't read the website - but in every single case, the customer was wrong, not Ryanair.

But yes, people demand dirt cheap flights, then complain because they don't get some crap peanuts and warm coke.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

I've seen it with asking prices too - people would rather that a flat sits empty for months rather than take a perceived "loss".

It's especially common among people who inherit flats - they have a fixed idea of what it's worth and they simply will not take less. Of course, there's usually the issue that half the family needs to get their "share".

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]


More than likely, the actual maintenance will be done by a credible company - for instance - last I checked, Lufthansa actually handled much of Ryanair's needs.


Latest example - the very reasonably priced 69zl weekend ticket for TLK trains. Excellent deal, except they deliberately moved the start time to 1900 - and as most middle-distance trains tend to depart at 6pm, it's totally useless.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]


Not really - they're predicting that people will stop paying, but why would they?

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]


The big question is - if the airline is financed by a building society that is promising 13% returns - it certainly can't be sustainable.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]


Presliced stuff tends to be dreadful full stop!

Life / Individualism in Polish culture...Is it almost Nonexistant? [170]


And you know this how, exactly?

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]


Don't take it seriously, it's from the hysterical opposition media that will print absolutely anything to badmouth the Government. Much of what they print is flat-out lies.

If it's from Gazeta Wyborcza or Rzeczpospolita, it's pretty credible as far as mainstream journalism goes. Gazeta Polska most certainly isn't.

Travel / OLT Jetair (flight to Wroclaw) [38]

I wouldn't be booking any flights with them after reading that!

I know the Amber Gold company - they've got huge adverts promising 13% returns on gold, which anyone with half a brain knows isn't true at the minute.

Life / Free Poland Health Care - Paying minimal to no Zus [105]


I think so. The whole KRUS system is so thoroughly rotten, but that's for another thread.


That surely can't happen, can it? I always thought that this was the very small safety net provided for the most vulnerable - though I suppose it will cut the amount of people willing to work on the black market if their health care isn't paid for.


Now - that's an interesting find. It explains why they never had an issue with me!

News / Could be in prison for 10 years for trying to bribe the Polish traffic police [39]


You'd have to be a total moron to get caught by a speed camera in Poland as the signs must be (by law) placed before the camera.

There's a bastard of a speed camera near Trzebnica - placed at the bottom of a big hill in a (justifiably) 50 zone :/

Travel / Ryanair travel by air - subtle scams to be wary of [98]


****, that's horrible - unless it's a deal that you can take much bigger bags if you pay now.

Ryanair will follow - Wizzair and Ryanair actually have quite similar ownership (hence why they don't compete really) - and they will follow WizzAir if it works.

Aaah. Horrible. I can put up with everything so far, but this is just too much.

Life / Free Poland Health Care - Paying minimal to no Zus [105]


What I'd do is get someone to call some doctors/dentists/etc and ask them explicitly if they'll accept the EHIC. The Polish name is "EKUZ". You'll no doubt find some that will accept it - especially the smaller ones. If I knew Wroclaw better, I'd help you - but alas :(


It's much to do with opportunity. If someone isn't educated and was forced to leave school at an early age to work for the family, they're never going to consider going back.