Law / Ease of doing business in Poland [32]

It's a national identity number, easily obtainable when you legalise your residence in Poland in accordance with EU law. Poland isn't the only country that has this - try doing anything in France without valid residency ;) The UK has a PESEL too - never wondered what a "national insurance" number is?

And yes, the company was quite right to insist on you having it - without it, you're unlikely to be legally resident in Poland - and without legal residency, why should they supply you with services?

As for obtaining a PESEL - it's not a "hurdle", it's actually quite easy. I have one, didn't take any effort, just a few forms. Nothing unusual, difficult or strange.

I think most of the problems foreigners have in Poland is simply through their own refusal to follow the system in place here. Likewise in the UK - Poles had problems with obtaining benefits that they'd paid for, because they didn't bother to register under the WRS. As I said - problems of their own making.

The problem that many EU citizens have here is that no-one cares if they're here or not, but if they want to live as a Polish citizen, then they must complete the formalities. Non-EU citizens don't have a choice - they have to legalise themselves, but EU citizens don't have to because no-one cares if they do or not. But when they don't, they then discover that they don't have the essential documents that everyone else has.

I've got all sorts of different contracts with schools - and when I present them with a copy of my passport, my residence permit and my business registration, life is very easy indeed.

Travel / Very dangerous defrauding trend started in some hotels in Krakow [49]


What are the tools? You can't do nothing with a photocopy of a passport in Poland. In fact, in the UK, you can't do anything with a photocopy there either - the original must be provided. So - how about telling us how you can empty a bank account using a photocopy of a passport?

This thread is just the sad rantings of a maniac in Krakow who likes to call people up on Christmas Eve, shouting and crying. There's no proof whatsoever for this "scam", it hasn't been reported anywhere else - and this is the only place that it's been mentioned. And the original poster has a vested interest in driving down property prices in Krakow - I wonder why?

The best part is, as always, the links posted have absolutely nothing to do with the fraudulent use of passport photocopies. Try again, beermat.

Law / Ease of doing business in Poland [32]


It depends what you want to do really - some professions are very very easy to deal with, but others are more complicated. For instance - my business is incredibly easy to run, but property seems to be a complete pain in the ass. It also depends where you're from - EU citizens mostly have it easy, but non-EU citizens have a difficult time of it.

I think in general, Poland is well set up for small businessmen, but not so much for those wanting to produce something (unless they can afford expensive lawyers to deal with it).

I'm not so sure that Poland even wants small scale production though.

Travel / Very dangerous defrauding trend started in some hotels in Krakow [49]

Definitely beermat - none of the links have any connection to what allegedly happened in Krakow.

NEW KRAKOW SCAM - HOTELS TAKE COPIES OF YOUR PASSPORT IN ORDER TO DRIVE UP PROPERTY PRICES

Law / Polish business haven't got a clue: Discuss. [72]


Are you really, really that stupid, or are you just trolling?

TPSA/Orange are owned by France Telecom, who own quite a bit of the world telefony market. So - bringing them up is pointless, because the business isn't Polish owned.

Law / Polish business haven't got a clue: Discuss. [72]


A lot of it comes from the various expat websites - I went around submitting my details, filling in profiles and so on. Ben's excellent BritishinPoland site has referred a few as well.

The problem is that 5-10 e-mails sounds good, but most of them are from people who just want to move here for whatever reason - usually because they've heard that Poland is an easy place to gain citizenship. I'd say there's only really 2-3 e-mails a week that are worthwhile - usually involving problems with Polish inheritances or citizenship. But - exposure wise, there's really nothing. I'm bewildered as to why people keep e-mailing though - I really haven't done a thing with it since well before August.

But anyway, they're all sent to a lawyer friend now - she's very interested in dealing with foreigners, and she refers people to me for English classes - so it's a win-win scenario at the minute.


That too - I'd say that getting a website to within the top 3 results on Google would be absolutely critical for success. There are definitely enough people out there with problems that they can't resolve themselves when dealing with Poland - heck, look at the bizzare tax system!

What I've never understood is why there isn't more foreign-owned/operated services companies here. I know quite a few people who wouldn't trust a Pole with anything, yet they'd pay good money for a Brit/American to do things for them.

WB, how come you never got into property management? You strike me as being the kind of guy that would do a grand job with foreigners property - taking no **** from anyone and not being afraid to do the job?

Travel / Very dangerous defrauding trend started in some hotels in Krakow [49]

If he starts talking about property, then we'll know ;)

Hey, OP - what kind of scams should I be aware of when buying a flat in Krakow? Do you have any experience in that area?

Travel / Very dangerous defrauding trend started in some hotels in Krakow [49]

You'd expect such scam to be all over the press, wouldn't you?

Not even a thing in the KrakowPost about thie NEW SUPER DANGEROUS SCAM.

Travel / Very dangerous defrauding trend started in some hotels in Krakow [49]

So - where's the proof of this super dangerous new trend?

I'm still wondering how they can obtain your login and password from a copy of your passport. It's not like any institution in Poland will accept a photocopy of a passport as valid ID!

Law / Polish business haven't got a clue: Discuss. [72]


You and I both know that a bit of spamming online doesn't make a business ;) It would have taken much, much more man hours to promote - though to be fair, I'm still getting a lot of e-mails about it. It's all passed on now though.


PZU and PKO BP are starting to stick their nose into other countries too.


Jan Kulczyk mean nothing to you?

Travel / Very dangerous defrauding trend started in some hotels in Krakow [49]

What utter nonsense. Schengen law says that hotels MUST take a copy - it's nothing new in Europe. I'm still wondering how someone can empty a bank account with someone's credit card details and a copy of their passport.

Is this our friend beermat posting more nonsense about which he knows nothing?

Law / Polish business haven't got a clue: Discuss. [72]


Being paid is hardly the be all and end all - I met a few expats in Warsaw a while ago who had earnt good money in Poland, but they were still teaching English and had nothing of a "career" to speak of. Sure, they had a nice house and had done well, but still...it seemed to me as if they were distinctly unsatisfied with where they ended up in life.

For what it's worth, I only take contracts these days that are good for me - the money is absolutely irrelevant. I've just started teaching a class (foot in the door, etc) at one of the private universities - the money is rubbish, but it's a start.


I didn't bother to put any effort in, to be honest. Really, if I could be bothered - then it would have been worthwhile to hire someone full time to work on it. There's definitely a huge market for providing professional services for foreigners - like a "one stop" solution for all their needs. But it requires a huge investment of time to build up a decent network of "suppliers" who can be relied on, and it just wasn't worth it when there's more money to be made from teaching.

I can think of one area that is Polish-dominated, yet there could be a hell of a lot of money involved for an expat willing to put the time in.


I couldn't stand it. Working with idiots and going nowhere is not worth any amount of money - I'd rather be poorer and progressing than taking more money to suffer in silence. Anyway, there must be a reason why they're offering more money...

Law / Polish business haven't got a clue: Discuss. [72]


Who would waste their time in such a company? There's so much opportunity in Poland that there's really no excuse to waste your time in such a company.

Love / Fell in love; I need to go back to Poland for 2 months - what to say at work (UK) [50]


Oh yes. Especially if there's a free day on Thursdays or Tuesdays - it's guaranteed that they'll mysteriously go "sick" to give themselves a 4 day weekend.

I fully expect the same nonsense next Friday.

News / Local elections in Poland, EU citizens should register to vote [57]

I've registered to vote too.

PiS are hardly even bothering to campaign in Poznan.

UK, Ireland / British considering our options, as to where to live with my Polish fiance? [12]


Contact "ajb" on here for his opinion about Głogow.

As far as I can tell, small town Poland is a fine place to live if you're young and without commitment, but living there with a child is a whole different proposition. I certainly wouldn't move to anywhere that you didn't have plenty of options.

It's worth bearing in mind that there isn't the same social net as in the UK as well - and the Polish education system is very heavily based on theory, not in practice. As for jobs - don't expect to find a "normal" job in Poland. Of course, it depends on how well connected your relatives are ;)

Language / What is a good English/Polish online translation company [11]


I can recommend lingo-poznan.pl - the girl who owns the business actually graduated from a UK university in translation, so she has much more of a "real" grasp of translation than the others.

History / POLISH IDENTITY-shift from communism to democracy [28]

So who is controlling Poland?

Last time I checked, it was a mere formality for Poland to simply repeal the act of parliament which allowed them to join NATO and the EU.

History / POLISH IDENTITY-shift from communism to democracy [28]


Really? Are you suggesting that both PO and PiS are being controlled from elsewhere?

Man, I've heard some stupid things, but the suggestion of Tusk and Kaczynski being on the same side is...well...

History / POLISH IDENTITY-shift from communism to democracy [28]


Actually, plenty of them are staying these days. Polish employers are making it very clear that washing dishes in the UK doesn't work for them - and new graduates are smart enough to realise that they need to stay in order to build a career.

The "educated" ones leaving are the unemployable ones who got poor grades at university studying something plastic, like sociology.


What?

They're in power because people elected them. Nothing to do with Europe and the USA.

After all, if Europe was in control, why didn't PiS (along with LPR and Samobroona) pull Poland out from the EU?

History / POLISH IDENTITY-shift from communism to democracy [28]


I'd actually be inclined to divide it by education rather than age - the recent election shows this beautifully. The educated ones have embraced Europe, but the uneducated ones are suspicious to the point of paranoia about the EU.

History / POLISH IDENTITY-shift from communism to democracy [28]

At least we didn't run away like those Polack cowards ;)

History / POLISH IDENTITY-shift from communism to democracy [28]


Yes, unlike Plastic Poles, we actually live here.

Anyway, don't you have anything valuable to contribute? No wait, you find it impossible to not tell lies ;)


It's worth noting that it doesn't appear to have changed very much. Many of the things present in PRL times still exist to this day - such as the presence of the Eagle everywhere.

About the only major change that I know for certain is that Poles are more and more "European" by the day.

USA, Canada / Polish Food - 40 flavors of pierogies in the US [113]


No they're not, they're dumb Canucks.


Shh. They're special over there.

News / Upping the speed limit in Poland [92]


Yup, that's why the higher speed limit will only come in where it's clearly safe to do so.

I don't know why they don't bring in unrestricted speeds for the tolled motorways - anyone that's travelled between Poznan and Nowy Tomysl/Konin knows how absolutely empty they are.

News / Upping the speed limit in Poland [92]


But they're not - the speed limits will only increase on expressways and motorways.

Language / The Future of Polish Language [179]


Ugh. Your own writing isn't much better.

News / Upping the speed limit in Poland [92]

It depends which legal limits we're talking about as well. There's a world of difference between doing 30km/h over in a 70 zone, as opposed to doing 30 over on the motorway. One of the major problems in Polish law is that both are punished in the same way - which is clearly nonsense.

Travel / What to do in Poznan for 3 days? [21]


Her posts, and she's normally quite sane and not a fantastist.

Travel / What to do in Poznan for 3 days? [21]

You'll be treated fine, when are you arriving? I could put you in contact with a few locals :)