Work / Are you teaching English in Poland? [120]

Okay, how I did it.

Trip to the Urzad Miasta to register. No payment needed or required, just passport and copy of EU residence permit. And unbelievably, they copy it themselves!

Trip back to the Urzad Miasta to pick up the company documentation.

(inbetween this, the Urzad Miasta talks to GUS and arranges for the REGON to be sent out : takes about a week or so to come through)

Trip to the tax office to pick the tax scheme. You can do this by post if you want, but it's easier and quicker to visit the place in person. The NIP is automatically upgraded now - no need to fill out the form a second time.

There would have been a need to visit ZUS, but I sorted out an accountant before starting the business, and she dealt with all the ZUS-related paperwork.

No need to visit the Urząd Wojewódskie here.


I sort of do both - I have a full page excel invoice for those that need something official and serious looking, and for others, I just have a little receipts book. What I use depends on what I'm doing - the foreigners advice agency customers and other schools get a proper full page bill, private clients just get a receipt.

Work / Are you teaching English in Poland? [120]


Oh jeez, yes. I'm having a nightmare at the minute trying to schedule everything - I have to block off 11:30 to 2:30 every day for my foreigners advice agency formal office time (12-2, so allowing travel time) - and I keep being offered more and more at the wrong times.

It's amazing how much work you can generate simply by saying "I can invoice".


It's bizzare how the same procedure differs - GUS is done here automatically by the Urząd Miasta, and the tax office visit is literally just to pick the type of tax scheme that you choose. But you shouldn't have to visit ZUS - everything they want is accessible by accountants and can be done by them. The second visit to the Urzad Miasta is just to pick up documentation - though I do wonder why they can't just post it.

Work / Are you teaching English in Poland? [120]

Easily - two trips to the Urząd Miasta, one trip to the Urząd Skarbowy and the job's done. Your accountant (yes, you need one) can deal with ZUS.

There are some fiddly aspects to it, but it's quite easy. Nothing mindblowingly complicated anyway.

However, it's crucial to get the right accountant. A bad one can completely screw you up - as no doubt Seanus and Jonni will both attest to.

Work / Are you teaching English in Poland? [120]


I've heard the same sentiment from plenty of people - but then again, the BC as an organisation is a complete joke - transparency? what transparency?

Work / Are you teaching English in Poland? [120]


Because the better jobs will have DELTA/QTS/MA in TESOL or equal as a minimum requirement. Experience will count for nothing, because all of those qualifications are about more than just teaching.

And as mentioned, if you want to go to another country to earn serious cash for a couple of years, you haven't got a hope in hell of landing something exceptionally good if you don't have it. Personality doesn't come into it - they simply won't shortlist someone who hasn't got the desired qualification. With the DELTA becoming modular, there's even less excuse not to have it.


A real university job, jobs teaching very high powered clients, jobs with the BC, management jobs, teaching in the Middle East for a ridiculously high salary, the list is endless. Experience means nothing if you don't have the piece of paper confirming that you can do more than just teach some kids grammar.

Even some language schools are now demanding the DELTA from their native teachers - which is insane, but it's a sign of how competitive the market is.

Work / Are you teaching English in Poland? [120]


Bah, ACC wouldn't hire me, they'd just get me in as an extremely overpriced consultant ;)

I was actually reading the other day about how much money is wasted in the UK through councils making highly paid people redundant - only to hire the same people back as consultants!


I actually found a fantastic book - Business English Handbook (advanced) by Paul Emmerson, published by Macmillian. It's an absolutely spot on, brilliant book - I'd go so far and say that it was equal to Murphy in terms of being definitive.

But of course - if you turn up to teach some high powered, demanding Business guy, only to be caught with your lack of knowledge of English grammar, you can forget it.

Work / Are you teaching English in Poland? [120]


And it's worth saying - teach to your strengths, not your weaknesses. There's little to no point taking a job where you have to teach beginners if you don't have patience, or likewise, no point taking a job where you have to teach Business English if you don't religiously read about the subject. I teach Business English part time, and I have to put in a solid session of reading every single day - if I don't know what's going on, then I can't teach it effectively. And with it, I need to know the differences between American and British terminology.

I'd also drop any idea of doing this if you're doing this just for "girls n beer" - too many people are chasing the same thing. Turning up at work with a hangover just isn't the done thing - and missing classes because you're still drunk is asking to be sacked.

And for the love of God, comply with immigration regulations.

Law / On the spot payment with Police (ticket) in Poland? [25]


They don't give ID cards to EU nationals though, just Polish nationals :P The logic is that most EU citizens already have an ID card and don't need a second. EU nationals are issued with a piece of A5 paper that confirms their registration of residence - which is useless for identification requirements.

Love / Top 5 Cities with most beautiful/ugly girls in whole Poland [65]


I think the ugliest women are definitely in Krakow, especially the ones that married Americans.

(it's our property troll again) No it isn't and if this continues suspensions will take place.

Law / On the spot payment with Police (ticket) in Poland? [25]


Me too, I'd love to have something useful and credit card sized rather than the hassle of carrying around my passport to do mundane things.

I can only assume that Poland had a case of UK-itis and decided to interpret EU regulations in a stupid way!

Law / On the spot payment with Police (ticket) in Poland? [25]

There are still some people that have it, but they're not issuing new ones to EU nationals. More importantly, what were they letting you travel on the Karta Pobytu for? It's not a valid travel document and is only valid in conjunction with your passport. It's also not enough to be legally recognised in Poland as ID - though the interpretation of this is, as always, inconsistent. As far as I can gather, the general consensus is that it is acceptable unless someone wants to make life awkward for you.

The document is "zaświadczenie o zarejestrowaniu pobytu obywatela unii europejskiej" - which is what's now issued. It just isn't possible to get an ID card anymore - I know, I've tried!

(why Poland can't copy Estonia's example and issue an ID card for EU citizens which is valid for travel within the EU is entirely beyond me)

USA, Canada / Do you speak English? Have you lived in America? New LOVE/HATE list......... [144]


You're absolutely obsessed, it's hilarious :D

Here's a hint, tough guy - no-one cares!

Law / On the spot payment with Police (ticket) in Poland? [25]

You can't get an ID card as an EU national - we get a piece of A5 paper instead.


The law is a mess with this - my understanding is that they cannot force someone with valid Polish residency to pay on the spot - but the amount of hassle involved to prove your residency makes it probably easier to simply pay on the spot rather than have to wait around while phone calls are made, etc, etc.


No, not necessarily. They can escort you to the nearest cash machine, or if that fails, they might be happy to take you home so you can get the cash. Or of course, they might just give up trying to communicate with the foreigner and let you go - but generally speaking, there are options. But as with so many things here, it depends on the mood of the officer on the day - but you can certainly be taken to the nearest cash machine to pay up.

Be warned - if you gave them your PESEL, then you'll have points added to your license. The Polish system links penalty points to the PESEL rather than the licence - which is how they can ban foreigners without much fuss. Whether or not foreign countries will recognise a ban for running up points is another question.

Travel / Poland from a Persian Tourist's Perspective [269]


Aha. Now it makes sense.

You're obviously Polish yourself, the fact that you refer to the country as PL is a very Polish thing to do, combined with calling everyone "professor" when they're not - dead giveaway :) Someone "just passing through" wouldn't pick up these things quickly.

(either that, or American, but I hope not)

Cute troll though. Perhaps the moderators will be kind enough to tell us where Darius has been posting from? :)

Real Estate / Do we need to get a UK solicitor or a Polish one? [19]


You are ******* kidding me.


Next year. Now what?


They're utter crooks - you would think they would use the current NBP rate, but...nooo, not when there's extra money to be made. Mind you, you can just get the passport sent to a UK address and save quite a few quid.

This is all the result of the drive to make consular services "revenue neutral" instead of seeing them for what they should be - an investment.

Real Estate / Do we need to get a UK solicitor or a Polish one? [19]


No, you're saying that the British Embassy will take an interest. They won't. Remeber, this is the same organisation that charges over 600zl to stick a piece of paper up for 3 weeks on a noticeboard.


They don't give advice. They can help with consular issues when you're in trouble - but advice over inheritance of property is outwith their remit. They will simply tell you to consult a lawyer.


Yes, unless it happens to a British citizen in Poland. Why would they get involved in a private matter?

Seriously - try for yourself. "dnz" on here will happily tell you about his experience with the British consular system in Poland - or should I say "lack of experience through no fault of his own??"

Real Estate / Do we need to get a UK solicitor or a Polish one? [19]


The British Embassy won't get involved at all - I'd be surprised if they even bothered to recommend a lawyer. They may have a list of English speaking lawyers, but they won't take any responsibility for them.


Like I say, they won't recommend one. They might do so unofficially, but certainly not 'on the record'. And that's assuming they'll even bother to help you.


Oh yes they can. The British Government considers embassies to be for consular assistance, not for everyday things - if you get arrested, then of course the Embassy will help (at a cost, of course) - but they simply aren't interested in the personal lives of British citizens.


Again, MP's have nothing to do with this. The FCO is very unlikely to get involved in the legal processes of another EU country - why would they, when you can simply contact a lawyer to deal with it?


Now - this is sensible advice.

Real Estate / Do we need to get a UK solicitor or a Polish one? [19]


The British Embassy gives advice? dnz on here has a rather entertaining story about how they "advised" him!

The British Embassy will tell you to simply contact a lawyer.

Law / Child support in Poland:is the income of the father's spouse taken into account? [34]

600-1000zl is normal in Poznan from what I know, but this is just anecdotal evidence.


Does she speak English? If so, I wouldn't mind a recommendation for someone who can get the job done in terms of family law.

Law / Child support in Poland:is the income of the father's spouse taken into account? [34]

The problem is that the Polish legal system is quite frankly a mess - what is *right* often has no bearing on judgements.

In the first instance, you really do need to contact a lawyer - the amounts are way, way too high for the Polish cost of living. I'd actually be inclined to say that if you didn't retain a lawyer, then that explains why the court has awarded such a ridiculous amount. If you already did retain a lawyer, then as convex says - fire them.

The other reason that you need to contact a lawyer is to find out the implications of simply ignoring the court order.

UK, Ireland / Banks in Poland won't accept blemished UK notes [14]

Most people are sensible enough to not go abroad with rotten, tatty notes. Or they're sensible enough to take a bank card or exchange money before they go. Quite frankly, if you're trying to exchange money, you should expect that they won't accept anything but notes in a decent condition.

Would you really accept 1000PLN of badly torn, written on notes from a UK bureau de change? I wouldn't!


Or more accurately, people in Poland aren't so desperate to do business with Brits with attitude problems. I won't deal with such people and I'm from the UK - what makes you think Poles are in any hurry to do so? They're quite happy to just lure all the industry from the UK anyway, making the UK less and less desirable to deal with.

Ever considered that there are cultural differences too to think about? A Pole wouldn't get very far in the UK with their direct, blunt way of speaking - likewise, the British approach to speaking frustrates many Polish people because they want us to get to the point now, not next week!


Hahaha, you must be kidding me. Indian call centres, jobsworth 'security guards' and plain idiocy runs riot in the UK these days. The amount of money wasted in the UK on non-jobs is astronomical - one read of the Guardians jobs section should tell you that there's plenty of utterly useless jobs going for large salaries, unlike in Poland.

Let's not forget how the flagship British institution, the NHS, is being ran by jobsworths these days.


Different to the average British chav how, exactly?

Among my friends, I very rarely hear Kurwa or similar - in fact, us Brits swear far more than they do.

Travel / Poland from a Persian Tourist's Perspective [269]


Now I know you're definitely posting to stir up trouble - because if you actually had visited Poland, you'd know that the vast majority of private university professors, if not all of them, are in fact working at the public ones as well.

Perhaps try and be a little more accurate in your tales?

UK, Ireland / Banks in Poland won't accept blemished UK notes [14]


And you think the British Embassy would give a toss? Hahaha. They don't care about British people living in Poland, what makes you think they would care less about some tourists?


Legal tender where? All banknotes aren't even legal tender in Scotland!

If no-one exchanges it for you, it's your responsibility to do something about it. After all, they can quite legally refuse to trade with you - certainly, no-one's going to be in a hurry to deal with someone shouting I AM BRITISH YOU MUST EXCHANGE IT.


No wonder Brits are sneered at in Poland if you're anything to go by.

UK, Ireland / Cigarettes in Poland (cost, brands). The situation in the UK? [57]


If you enter German territory with more than 800 cigarettes, you'll lose them if you're stopped - no exceptions.

As for UK customs stopping you - remember, they'll be looking for evidence that you're intending to sell them on. And they are a law unto themselves - if they decide to seize, you've no chance of winning an appeal.


It might be different in Ireland - the EU only officially demands that people can import 800, but the UK went mental and decided that 3200 would be a sensible guideline.


It is, the EU ruled that you must personally import items - but if you're savvy about it, I'm sure it's not so difficult to have them sent in the post.

UK, Ireland / Cigarettes in Poland (cost, brands). The situation in the UK? [57]


Be warned, if you don't smoke and you're pulled by customs, it's quite normal for them to give you a cigarette to see what you do with it. Refusing to smoke it, or showing some sort of intolerance towards the cigarette is a dead giveaway that you intend to sell them.

And whatever you do, don't bother going over 3200 from Poland to the UK. Be also warned that while you can take 3200 from Poland to the UK, that limit doesn't apply if you go home via Germany for instance.

UK, Ireland / Cigarettes in Poland (cost, brands). The situation in the UK? [57]


Or the example I love to use - the Englishman asking the American to "can you pick up some fags on the way home?" :D

News / Zloty exchange rates - is this just speculation? [87]


Yep, agreed. With it, a rate of around 4.5-4.7zl to the pound sounds about right - the only reason why it's hovering around 4.2 at the minute is because the Pound is artificially weak - exactly the same situation as when the Zloty was hanging around at 5.25 a few months ago.


Mmm. If there's a change of government, then there's going to be an immediate rise in the value of the Pound. But if there's a hung government, then it might collapse even further - though as you say, there's a good chunk of cash to be made by just hanging on in there.


I did. Plenty of money flying around Poznan at the minute.

News / Zloty exchange rates - is this just speculation? [87]

The Zloty is considered undervalued at the current rate to EUR - though the Zloty/Pound level seems to be about right. You probably won't see the Zloty breaking 4zl/1 Pound, but it should strengthen against the Euro a little bit more - maybe to 3.7, 3.8.

You definitely won't see a crash as far as 6zl or 7zl to the Pound - but you will probably see wild swinging between 4-5zl for the forseeable future.

Law / Laundromats in Poland? Good business venture or not? [90]


Actually - this is very true. Look at the state of communal areas in Poland - if Poles respected the property of others, why is almost every single property fenced off?

It is a very sad reality in Poland in that there is no respect for something that isn't clearly belonging to someone. If you go to Kostrzyn, then go to Kustrin-Kietz, you can clearly see the difference in mentalities - Poles will wall off their gardens, whereas Germans will allow people to walk onto their laws if they want. The difference is that the Germans will know not to go there, whereas the Poles will stamp all over it even though it clearly belongs to someone.

There's a good reason why self service solariums didn't take off in Poland despite the popularity of solariums in Poland.

Essentially, as has been said above - you will have problems with undesirables hanging about if you don't have someone on site.

Travel / Plusbus Poznan-Lodz [8]

Probably it only really works economically where there's direct motorway - but come 2011, I wonder if they could make Berlin pay off? A 30-40PLN ticket to Berlin would absolutely murder the competition!