Work / Working in Poland in a Non-Polish Speaking Job? - How? What? (no teachers!) [16]

What? Programmer for one of the big Polish banks.
How? By contacts and my niche knowledge of a particular software package.
How much? More than I would earn teaching english.

Law / Car Insurance costs in Poland. [24]


it maybe depends on what agent you use within Allianz, I'd been paying contents insurance with them for a few years and just switched my car insurance to them too as what they were offering was cheapest especially with the combined flat/car insurance discount. I had to provide a certificate from Admiral in the UK to prove my UK no claims. The lady I deal with at Allianz even sends me a christmas card each year :)

Law / Car Insurance costs in Poland. [24]

I drive an SUV in Warsaw and get a discount with Allianz for having 6 years of no claims (and they counted my UK no claims in that), i also get a further 20% discount for having an anti theft tracker device installed in the car, and then 15% more discount as i have my flat contents insurance with them too.

News / New Polish gambling law - outlawing gambling except in casinos [34]

this law wont happen, the Polish government forgot they were in the eu.

thenews.pl/business/?id=123895

Food / Butternut Squash in Poland [13]

where on Polna though? it's quite a long street. cheers

Food / Butternut Squash in Poland [13]


on ul. Polna i take it ?

Travel / Fish and Chips in Warsaw [53]


I think I had the cod thus the higher price. I chatted with the owner a bit, they're only just opened a couple of weeks. I noticed they had open fryers compared to the closed ones that most UK chippies have so that probably doesn’t help with the ventilation.

Food / Burgers, why not in Poland? [54]


I found the steaks in Rodeo Drive (Warsaw) to be excellent but their burgers far too small - maybe the Poznan chefs are more generous. The Warsaw restaurant has since closed.

Food / Burgers, why not in Poland? [54]

HardRock Cafe burger is the best I've had in Warsaw, way better than Champions imo.

Travel / Fish and Chips in Warsaw [53]


I tried it on Monday evening and was pretty happy with it, had large fish and chips (23zl), was cooked while I waited and tasted fine. My clothes were reeking of the cooking smell from the shop though for a while after - they need better ventilation. I'll definitely be back though.

Law / Coffee Heaven (Poland's biggest coffee chain) for sale [33]

Do the majority of Coffee Heaven customers actually spend that much money there? Seems to me like a lot of them just nurse a coffee there for a few hours.

They also tend to have a lot of staff in each of their premises which means for quick service but higher costs i suppose. I also imagine they have a lot of wastage from their sandwiches as I've rarely seen anyone buy one.

Law / Stała Karta Pobytu and how to protect it in Poland [11]


Yes it's a pain in the ass to carry around compared to the old credit card sized ID you used to get, mine is folded up in my wallet and is a bit tattered already just after a few months.


I've been stopped by the police a few times and they always required my polish ID.

Work / Does it make sense to move from the UK to Wroclaw for this salary? [50]

I think you would struggle to be honest, if you've been earning say 25-30K GBP a year gross in the UK then it would be quite a drop in standards for you to survive on 4500zl gross a month here.

I'm an application developer here too in Warsaw, the IT salaries being offered in Poland were around 10-15k zl a month gross (for specialised skills) until the credit crunch hit.

Law / English-speaking bank in Warsaw ? [33]


150K PLN minimum or an HSBC Premier account in another country, not sure about their business account as i just have a personal account.

Law / English-speaking bank in Warsaw ? [33]


HSBC is great but only their Premier service is available in Poland at the moment. You need a large minimum balance to qualify for the account or you need to have an HSBC account in another country (which I do).

The website is in English, all staff speak English and no fees.

Law / English-speaking bank in Warsaw ? [33]


Is that a new policy (or is it specific to a product) ? I closed my citibank account last year and I'm pretty sure i was paying 5zl even when withdrawing from the Euronet machines. I've switched to HSBC which has no charges.

Law / English-speaking bank in Warsaw ? [33]

Citibank is expensive, 5zl for every ATM withdrawal ( if not a Citibank ATM) and other monthly fees on top of that.

I heard MBank is best but you still have to pay a fee for transfers to accounts in other Polish banks.

Work / Why Poland employers are afraid of hiring any foreign nationals? [171]


My impression here is that jobs are kept within the family due to the complete lack of trust in employing a stranger.

Work / Why Poland employers are afraid of hiring any foreign nationals? [171]


Unless you've got a good connection here it's very difficult to get a good job. Friends and acquaintances of the employer tend to have the best prospects even if they are least qualified. I think that is across the board too and not just specific to foreigners, it's 'Jobs for the Boys' as we say.

Travel / Motorcycle tour of Poland [137]

Motorcycle Tours of Poland=suicide tour

The nickname here for a motorcyclist is 'organ donor'

Life / Prices of cars in Poland? [88]


depends on what country you are importing the car from and whether you have owned that car for at least 6 months and can prove it.

Travel / Is there a good ski resort in Poland? [13]

Which part of Zakopane though, I've been to Nosal but I hear there are much better areas in Zakopane for skiing ?


What was the name of the resort ?

Travel / Is there a good ski resort in Poland? [13]

[Moved from]: Ski Resorts in Poland

Do any ski resorts in Poland have modern 4/6 man lifts? I've been to Szczyrk before skiing, a great mountain to ski down but awful lifts for getting up !

Work / Have been offered a job in Warsaw - should I move to Poland?? [48]

I did the same as you at the same age almost 6 years ago now and don't regret it for a minute, it is very easy to make friends here compared to living in London. If you're on a UK salary it really is quite a comfortable lifestyle. Do you play any sports ?

Life / EXPATS in POLAND: 10 things you miss / don't miss about home . . . [138]


well a half decent 13 handicapper, you should get up there and consider joining as they really need new members and particularly good players. Now's the time to negotiate as they desperately need the cash over the winter as they have little income.

Life / EXPATS in POLAND: 10 things you miss / don't miss about home . . . [138]


I'm club matchplay champion :)

It's a new course, has a long way to go to get bedded in but is making great progress. I'm up there every weekend weather permitting. I play a bit at Rajszew too. If you fancy a round sometime let me know.

Life / EXPATS in POLAND: 10 things you miss / don't miss about home . . . [138]


there's another new course here near Warsaw, the wind blows on this course just like in Scotland.
lisiapolana.pl

Love / The age of consent in Poland is only 15 [147]


I would stop your anti Scottish comments, your on the same level as noimmigration is this is your level of response.

Law / Driving in Poland on a foreign license [45]


I've been here over 5 years, still drive with a UK licence and have temporary residence - so do i have to swap for a Polish drivers licence ?