Law / Problems in Poland - Swiss mortgage, bankruptcy, jail, mental health etc [26]

There was another demonstration in Warsaw by people with CHF (Swiss franc) mortgages.
Reading their reasoning for taking out CHF mortagegs:
1. The bank said that CHF is a guaranteed currencywhich will not go up by more than 20%. At the time CHF was 2.6PLN, now around 4PLN, was around 5PLN.

2. It is the banks fault, as I did not realize that the value of CHF currencies can go up and down.
3. I owe more now in Polish zloty than when I started....this takes the biscuit.
4. We need to have the mortgage changed into Polish zloty, but only at the rate of CHF 2.6, not at the current rate.
5. The fact that we have paid less than anyone else (i.e. Polish mortagees) has nothing to do with anything - we are now paying the same as them and we don't like it!.

6. It is the banks fault that I did not readall the documentation and it now turns out that there were things in there that I did not read and understand.

7. The bank should help us now - it is all their FAULT,they make too much profit, and we are now struggling.
Really?

UK, Ireland / PLN to GBP - how to get the best possible rate for over 100K zloty? [21]

If you are coming back to England with sterling, you must remember about the border controls. Check how much cash you are allowed to take out of Poland and how much you are allowed to bring to the UK. Also have copies of all the documentation regarding the house to prove that the money is genuine and not from any money laundering schemes or something illegal. They may stop you and ask. Be wary!!!

Real Estate / Options for dealing with dishonest landlord in Poland [36]

Better still, find another flat, don't pay him and tell him that you are going to go to the Tax Authorities to see what they have to say about this. .

Law / Problems in Poland - Swiss mortgage, bankruptcy, jail, mental health etc [26]

The thing in Poland with the Swiss franc mortgages is that the monthly payments were far cheaper than payments for a mortgage taken out in Polish zloty.

Now that the monthly payments for both types of mortgages have almost equaled, people having Swiss franc mortgages are up in arms about this. People who have taken out mortgages in Polish zloty have no sympathy for them, in the same way as those taking our Swiss franc mortgages had no sympathy for the Polish zloty mortgagees. In fact, the Swiss franc people laughed and mocked those taking out mortgages in Polish zloty - where payments at that time were almost double those of the Swiss franc payments.

You draw your own conclusion about this.
Generally, I don't see many British people nor Americans taking out mortgages in currencies other than their own, as everyone knows that the prices of foreign currencies fluctuate.

Law / Problems in Poland - Swiss mortgage, bankruptcy, jail, mental health etc [26]

It's always difficult to help people at a distance, not knowing ALL the facts and dealing with a totally different system of mortgages and debts.

Generally, Polish people are not so eager to reveal all their financial income/outgoings to anyone - but that is exactly what is needed here.

One aspect tells me that this could be a scam to get money out of a rich Western relative, by putting the worst scenario to them - hoping that the rich relative stumps up few thousand to tie them over.

Best advice - go and get there - see all the facts for yourself. Ask all questions relating to the mortgage, finances - bank visits, correspondence and get to the bottom of what can be done. Burying your head in the sand is NOT the answer.

This needs to be sorted out quickly. If they actually need your help - which they evidently DO, as you have got somewhat involved, then they must allow you to help them. I feel that they do not want you to get involved in the 'house mortgage' problem, but just want money out of you.

Law / Problems in Poland - Swiss mortgage, bankruptcy, jail, mental health etc [26]

Re mortgages in Swiss franc - NO chance whatsoever that you will get any compensation.
The usual: buyer beware - they knew what they were getting into having a mortgage in Swiss francs. There is no point whatsoever in having a class action as they will not win. EVER.

If they leave the house now - the bank will sell it and they will not get any money they have already paid. Best action is to go to the bank and explain their case - the bank MAY be able to extend the duration of the mortgage for smaller payments. This should have been the FIRST course of action that they should have taken.

They may end up in prison for unpaid bills - better to seek legal advice here.

Real Estate / Is it a good idea to buy a Property in Poland -- with debt? [8]

This seems very suspect to me. Be very wary.

Law / Car insurance cost for old used car in Poland (OC) [17]

I understand the difference between OC and AC. So it seems that OC is based on the actual driver and AC on the car.

Law / Car insurance cost for old used car in Poland (OC) [17]

Maybe it's me - but I was under the impression that it is THE CAR that is insured, and not the person driving it (like in the UK).

Maybe someone could clarify this point.

Study / Wroclaw vs Warsaw vs Cracow? - Which city is better for education? [10]

As a prospective student, surely, you have the ability to search on the internet for your answers.
Why should someone who doesn't know you and is busy working for a living spend their time searching for answers which you can get within a few minutes.

Work / Moving to Lublin from the UK - any financial assitance, benefits or free healthcare available in Poland? [17]

Just to clarify,
Sorry, you are quite right. 16,000 pounds is only 88,000 PLN not as I said above. As most houses will be valued above this amount, you may need to use some creative accounting. I would take numerous photographs, inside and outside to show the actual state of the property. I would also get an estate agent to give you a price as a general guide.

I have just checked the gov. website. The limit which excludes any benefits being paid is 16,000 pounds - for any assets - this includes - cash (bank accounts), stocks and shares and property.

Work / Moving to Lublin from the UK - any financial assitance, benefits or free healthcare available in Poland? [17]

I think the 16,000 pounds cut off point only applies to Council tax benefit, not to Housing benefit. This needs to be checked out though.
16,000 pounds x 5.5PLN could mean that if the house is worth less than 880,000 PLN, you might just be entitled to benefit of some sort.

Work / Moving to Lublin from the UK - any financial assitance, benefits or free healthcare available in Poland? [17]

No matter what you do with the property in Poland, you still have to pay for media (gas, electricity), local property tax and other bills. You also have to remember to heat it during winter...

If you want to sell it, don't forget that you have to pay at least 3% commission to the estate agent and 19% tax on the property (if you have not lived there for at least 5 years).

If however, you can prove with evidence, that you are in the process of selling it, you may still be entitled to some benefits. They will take everything into account when you sell it.

You are still entitled to child benefit - no matter what.

Work / What salaries are for IT specialists (Senior QA Engineer) in Poland? [59]

@ Fantoumas-
You can ask for 10,000 gross per month - see how much of that they are willing to pay.....

Work / Moving to Lublin from the UK - any financial assitance, benefits or free healthcare available in Poland? [17]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, BUT no benefits, no free healthcare (unless you find full-time work).
In your shoes, I would be trying to find all available jobs before you get to Lublin, so that at least you have an idea of what's out there.

Your other option is to sell the property in Poland.

Study / Warsaw School of Economics vs Jagiellonian University [10]

@ Centrum,
Just to tell you where I'm coming from. I live in GB, but spend about 6 months in Krakow, so I know exactly what you mean about it being 'beautiful'. I worked in Warsaw, so know the city too. But going on holiday/vacation for 2 weeks is totally different to studying for three/four years.

My first choice when studying would be the general reputation of the Uni, Uni ranking, names of tutors/professors and chances of employment after Uni. In your case, UJ still has some pull in the world.

Study / Warsaw School of Economics vs Jagiellonian University [10]

I for one find it very strange, that someone would choose to study at a University just because the town where the University is, ....looks 'more beautiful'.

Real Estate / Price of a flat for renovation in a tenement house for renovation in Krakow [7]

As a rough guide - for the cost of a complete renovation count on 1,250-2,000 PLN per square metre.

Life / Polish ID number - Numer Dowodu Osobistego required in Poland [7]

It seems that the Polish Government has instructed all banks/firms to have the application form as well as all computer system in such as way, so as to discourage 'foreign nationals' from having accounts. Well done Poland!!!

I had the same problem when purchasing a dishwasher for my flat in Krakow. As I do not have a Polish ID, the salesperson had to ring up Warsaw to ask them how he could record the guarantee. We managed in the end, but funnily enough, they never asked me for my Polish ID when I paid in cash for the item.....

Law / Paying tax on UK I.S.A. in Poland? [20]

I don't understand your point about 'cultural preconceptions' - ......for a Polish resident, any income earned from Premium Bonds, ISA, rental of property or cash in hand is taxable at the going rate.

I am not sure whether you have to provide your National Insurance number to buy Premium Bonds -if so, then this makes the job easier for the Polish taxman.

However, I do wonder what would happen if by pure chance, someone who is counted as a Polish resident bought a Lottery ticket and just happen to win the 5 million pounds that week. The Polish taxman would be rubbing his hands with joy - so best not to tell him.

Law / Paying tax on UK I.S.A. in Poland? [20]

Yes, you are somewhat right.
I remember very well the good-old-times where you could pay tax at the time of the stake, but this usually applied only in betting shops.

Premium Bonds however, did not work on that basis. To get a Premium Bond you pay a set amount, this buys you numbers which are then put through ERNIE and, if you're lucky - you win. You could not ever and cannot now pre-pay or pay tax prior to any winnings on the bonds.

You can cash in the value of your Premium Bond (which will be the same amount as you put in originally) and put that amount in a Cash ISA.

Law / Paying tax on UK I.S.A. in Poland? [20]

Is it really hard to understand that Income is income - no matter how it is earned or won.

Law / Can I get a divorce from my drug addicted husband, and are narcotics legal in Poland? [8]

The best advice anyone can give you is to find a really good lawyer and follow his advice.
People on this forum can only speculate what may or may not happen, but you need to do things which will stand up in court.

Law / Paying tax on UK I.S.A. in Poland? [20]

To have or open an ISA you must be a GB tax resident.

If you are now being counted as a Polish resident, (i.e. will be taxed in Poland) then the 'whole' amount of interest must be stated for the Polish authorities. They are not interested whether interest earned was at 1%, 2% 10% or anything. To them it was 'interest earned'. You lose your tax-free status of the ISA by not being a GB resident.

Law / Recording someone in private - is it legal in Poland? [14]

There is an article in today's 'Interia', which clearly states that 'as long as you inform the other party' that you are going to record the conversation that the both of you are going to have, then this is perfectly legal. The other person is within his/her rights to tell you that they do not wish to be recorded and stop the conversation altogether. In the same way, you can do this to anyone ringing you.

You can only use the tape for 'verification' purposes i.e. in court, or if there is a dispute of what was actually said. You cannot use the tape to play it to your friends or any third party or put it on any social media network.

This is very useful tool when dealing with banks, insurance companies, telephone companies, salesmen or in fact anyone where a contract or anything to do with money is being mentioned.

Law / Recording someone in private - is it legal in Poland? [14]

As an aside - in the same way, when a firm/company rings you up - there are many times when they say that this 'conversation is being recorded for training purposes'.

At the time, you can always say...Please hold on - I need to record this same conversation too 'for verification purposes' - i.e. to make sure that 'your record of the conversation is the same as mine'. This is a useful tool.

Law / Recording someone in private - is it legal in Poland? [14]

You will FIRST need to tell them that they are being recorded and if they answer - oh, OK - then go ahead. You must have that on the tape.

They may not believe you - but at least you've asked.
The problem is that if EVER these recording get out - the girl can sue you for 'invasion of privacy' and a host of other things.

Life / Why can't Polish people just keep their word? [12]

People intend keeping their word, but something happens and they forget.
This is the same in all societies.
It maybe also because they do not want to appear rude/ungrateful and say something straight to your face. It is easier to say...'I will ring you', instead of ' No, I do not want to see you ever again'.

Law / Divorce in Poland - fault - rights to property predating the marriage [34]

Before you rely on a pre-nuptial agreement, please make sure that such an agreement is recognised in LAW as being 'binding' in the country where this is to apply. Always ask a good lawyer for expert advice first and get EVERYTHING on paper. Make sure that it is legal and signed by both parties.

Life / Advice needed on Dental implant in Poland [119]

I have used a place called Dentist on Plac Inwalidow in Krakow for all dentistry work and I am extremely satisfied with their work. You can go in and ask them for advice and prices.