Real Estate / Best and worst months of the year to find a flat to rent in Poland? [39]

The high prices maybe due to the fact that some landlords may be out of work and desperately need the money.
They have not figured out the fact that it is better to rent a flat out for less and have it fully occupied than to have it on the market (empty) and be asking a high price.

UK, Ireland / Polish city that's moved to Britain [120]

Another reason why they should teach HISTORY in schools.

Real Estate / Buying/Selling distressed property in Poland/ Walk away from your mortgage [10]

My advice for what it's worth:
If you have negative equity and can't make the mortgage -
1.One way is to rent the place out, even if you ask for part of the money to cover the mortgage. This assumes you do not live in the property. You may then be able to find the rest of the mortgage yourself.

2. If renting the whole house is out - because you live there - you could ask the bank to reduce your monthly payments. They would rather have some payments than none. You could always get people to share with you - if that's an option.

3. If you don't live there, can't rent it out, and the bank won't reduce the payments - you are stuck. The only way out is to SELL and take the hit. This is the least attractive option.

4. If you have to sell - advertise on websites in your own country, maybe someone has enough cash and may see this as an investment. Even if you only get your money back - you can walk away - and it would have cost you nothing.

5. If you have no options - have to live in the house for your job - REDUCE your outgoings to the bare minimum.
6. If this is an option - ask the family to bail you out - just to keep the house going.

Genealogy / How to legally change your name in Poland? [15]

The only reason you would want to change your name is because you do not want people to know your true name.
This can only be because:

1. your surname sounds like some swear word or is subject to titters and laughs - everyone would understand that. Here go and ask a lawyer.

2. you are a criminal who wants to disassociate himself from the past - here - no go - they will always catch you.
3. You have changed sex from female to male or male to female and need to change your first name.

Law / How can i get Poland residence card? Moroccan married to a Polish citizen. [16]

What puzzles me is why you don't go to Urzad Miasta (Town Hall) and ask - would that not be simpler? Or am I mising something?

Real Estate / Looking to purchase a house in Poland - Where / How to look. [10]


You do understand of course, that if you break up with your girlfriend you will NOT have a claim on the house. But I am sure, that you trust your girlfriend and that such a situation will never arise.

Life / Defective secondhand goods in Poland - bought from a shop [7]

I believe secondhand goods are bought as seen. You have no comeback on the seller if you did not examine the goods before purchase.
You could try threatening to take him to court - but I think he will just laugh in your face.

Real Estate / Long term apartment average rent in Krakow? [11]

It all depends on the location and the sq.m. of the flat.
You are looking for a 3-roomed flat with a separate kitchen - anything from 1500-2500zl/month

Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]

I bought my flat in 2002.
The best advice I can give is ...LOCATION and if you're paying cash - negotiate.

Food / Where to buy corned beef in Warsaw? [21]


The story is absolutely true. It happened to me in 1994 when I had a dingy flat whilst working in Warsaw. The fact that ants will attack any meat wasn't of much interest to me, as I only brought corned beef back from England. At that time impossible to get in Poland.

In the good old days, you could buy 'a quarter of corned beef' (quarter of a pound in weight) in slices from the butcher.

Food / Where to buy corned beef in Warsaw? [21]

Sobieski

If you manage to get a tin of corned beef (my favourite food), be extra, extra vigilant. Polish red ants absolutely love corned beef and they will do anything to invade your house in search of it. If you open a tin eat it straight away.

When I was in Poland in 1994, I once had the misfortune of biting into a corned beef butty (sandwich) which I had prepared earlier that day and feeling the little red ants tickling me and dribbling down my chin.

Now that I'm safely back in England, I can't get enough of the stuff. Do a corned beef toastie with fresh mustard....better than anything else you will ever taste.

Travel / Driving to poland from the west midlands [11]

You certainly need insurance. Ask your insurer about cover. You will need to read up the requirements of each country you are passing with regard to their driving laws.

Just think, if you have an accident, and it is your fault or the third parties fault - how do yopu expect top get treatment and get yourself and the car back to England?

Simples????

Life / I met Polish girl, she is 15. Moving to Poland to start new life - is it a safe place? [30]

Abdul321
I hope that her parents are very happy with you wanting to form a relationship with a 15-year-old girl, who is still at school.
I hope to move in with her - does this mean that you have a house, a job, speak the language - because you will need to provide for her....

You can hardly expect her parents to keep you and provbide for you as well.

Work / Average wage in Poland (towns / cities) [23]

Great! Isn't it....

News / Amber Gold and other Poland's suspicious institutions [139]

I can't understand why so-called intelligent adults did not want to listen when everyone told them that this is a scam and put their life savings into this pyramid scheme.

Anyone offering 3 times the current savings rate should be under suspicion.
But now, it's all - "help me, I've lost my money. It's the Government's fault, that I was fooled"...No, it's your own fault for being greedy.

Every adult (over 18) should be responsible for their own decisions.
Some like me take 4% and are glad, others want 13% and think they are clever...

As Judge Judy would say: "If it looks like a duck, it quacks like a duck...then it's a duck". Some things are too good to be true.

Real Estate / Cousin stole my dads home in Poland... [49]

We wish you nothing but good luck in your quest.
And just to prove us all wrong, let us know how the case is resolved.
Nothing would make us happier than for you to get the 'family home' within the next year.
However.....

Work / Finding work in Warsaw / Poland as an English private tutor [63]

Tommy G
Things have changed tremendously in Krakow with regard to EFL teaching. Now being a native - does not open doors. There are hundreds of natives with degrees, masters and teaching qualifications) looking for work.

If you have never taught in class - this will show up pretty quickly. Remember also that you might be teaching people who have degrees coming out of their ears and once they realize that you do not - they will not respect you.

In my humble opinion - your best bet is to get on a degree course somewhere perhaps one with teaching - there are schools in Krakow you could attend. Meanwhile you could offer conversational English to some private students.

Real Estate / Cousin stole my dads home in Poland... [49]

To the original poster:
Just take it on the chin.
You have no chance of recovering the flat/apartment or anything.
You can try - but you will be wasting your time.

Work / Work Permit and Requirement (not authorized to work in Poland) [12]

In that case, I assume that the recruiter is 'on the ball' with all the Goverment regulations regarding 'work permits' - I think not.
The only way to see if it works is to try - they (the Government - but strictly speaking the Town Council) can either allow you to have a work permit or not.

Work / Work Permit and Requirement (not authorized to work in Poland) [12]

you are getting somewhat confused.
Let's start from the beginning.
In order to get a work permit you need to have a job. If a company is not willing to empply you (for whatever reason) then the government cannot do anything. No one can force an employer to employ you. The fact of having a degree, a PhD or millions in the bank does not come into it - you need to find an employer willing to employ you.

You have no come-back on an employer who has chosen another candidate fopr the position, even if that other candidate did not possess your skills.

Employers have a right to employ whomever they want. .

Real Estate / Cousin stole my dads home in Poland... [49]

You don't have cat in hell chance of getting anything.
You could try a lawyer in Poland, but he will tell you the same thing.
You would have to dispute the will and ownership of a house which has been someone else's property for the lat 8 years.
Good luck - but no chance.

Language / Where is that "something" that makes others think you are really good in language [141]

I find that non-native English speakers have a problem with understanding 'irony'. They know what it is, (i.e. a dictionary definition), but can't get it when it is used to them face-to-face.

Law / who can help with advice how to get a citizenship of Poland (my german passport expired) [7]

Unless there is some reason (which I'm missing) a German passport is valid in Poland. You can get a job, buy a place and do almost anything.

In fact, it might even help you to get a job where 'native' German is required.

Genealogy / Arkadiusz Pawłowicz - contact information for my ex-boyfriend from Biała Podlaska [5]

try 'gumtree' in all the biggest towns - someone, somewhere is likely to have heard of him.
Put his name in 'google' - and go through every post. I don't believe that there's no trace of him.
Try any 'alumni' associations from the Uni.

Real Estate / Capital gains on Poland property - tax query? [6]

I believe that if you sell a property in Poland before 5 years is up, you will have to pay Tax on the difference between the purchase and selling price - i.e. 'profit'.

Check websites for detailed explanations.
It does NOT make any difference that you purchased a flat in London. Polish tax is payable as you DID NOT buy a place in Poland.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

You'll manage fine. Don't bother with books, by the time you've figured out how to say something you will become frustrated.
Use your personality and be polite.

Work / Salary of architects or building engineers in Poland cities [12]

Sorry for the attitude, but I mistook you for an English-speaking person searching for work in Poland. If you had explained thre situation from the start - this would not have happendd.

If you pay them 7-8,000 gross, you should be able to find somebody decent.

Work / Salary of architects or building engineers in Poland cities [12]

How was I suppose to know that you speak Polish? Being a clairvoyant - or something?
Also tell me, pray, how are we suppose to know what the salaries of particular jobs might be.
If you are in the 'business' you should know.
Why did you do an MA without finding our what the chances of employment are and what the salaries are?
We have the same sources of information - the internet. Please look for yourself.

Work / Salary of architects or building engineers in Poland cities [12]

Search on job-sites for salaries.
Remember, that in Poland, there are plenty of young people with Maters and they speak Polish and know the ins and outs of the building trade.

As a employer- who would you rather have?.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

Luckily, and just for you, most of the younger people speak English.
It all depends on what kind of person you are - if you can manage to get yourself understood - they will help you.
But imagine if you went to France or Germany and didn't speak a word - how would you manage?.