News / Schools in Poland to strike tomorrow [235]

Years ago, someone once said...a good politician is one who when bought, will stay bought. The same with PiS supporters - once they have been bought with 500+ for 2nd children and now 1st child, 13th payment for pension and other incentives they will stay faithful and true and will not bite off the hand that feeds them. One thing however, is that they do not realize is that 'it is all borrowed money that will have to be paid back by future generations.' The problem with that will be that many people currently working are not on full-time contracts, payments are being made under the table and in future there will not be as much money coming into ZUS and income tax. When that generation is due to retire, they will all be on social payments (welfare) as their old age pensions (calculated on the amounts they have paid into ZUS) will be under the breadline. I know this is very difficult to imagine, but it will happen.

News / Schools in Poland to strike tomorrow [235]

I think that the teachers' strike may turn out to be the last straw that will break the camel's back. Resident doctors went on strike (even hunger strike) last year and although they signed agreements with the Government to this day they haven't got any of the promised money. The disabled occupied Polish Parliament for a few weeks and got nothing out of it. It seems that no one is important in the country anymore except blonde, long-legged secretaries with dubious experience who currently earn 65K pln gross per month, while a teacher gets say 4K pln per month.

The Government now wants a round-table discussions about the education system generally after they have introduced changes in the last 3 years which are now proving unworkable.

The general mantra of small in stature dictators has always been: divide and conquer, because if one sector is against the other (as in this case) the public are easier to manipulate and rule. If the whole country stands as one, the current Government will not survive.

Life / Retiring in Poland [39]

My advice for what it's worth is this.
If you currently live in the UK think very carefully before retiring to Poland for full time residency. Better to be a resident of the UK and pay UK taxes than be a resident (for tax purposes) in Poland and pay Polish taxes. They will shock you.

You just have to make sure (document it) that you spend less than 183 days per year in Poland and have a house or some property in the UK where you could spend the rest of the time and be counted as resident in UK. You will of course be subject to council tax, TV licence and other regular payments, but the benefits afforded to UK pensioners living in the UK outweigh any benefits to old age pensioners in Poland.

Law / Sending money in USD from Poland to China [9]

If you have access to your on-line banking, you can go and change the phone number then you will get a code on your phone and then do the transfer.

News / Polish Police Hunt for Bad Taste Boorish Brits [39]

I'm all for enjoying yourself and these lads were not as bad as the ones some years ago who ran absolutely naked round the Square. At least these lads covered up their manhoods.

The sad thing is that the horse carriage owner (no 19 carriage) will now have his licence taken away and thus will not be able to earn a living from transporting tourist round the Square.

News / Polish Police Hunt for Bad Taste Boorish Brits [39]

The thing is that there are clear photographs of thee Brits and all it takes is a phone call/email to the British authorities. However, if the Polish police had been a lot quicker, those Brits could have been arrested at the airport as they tried to board planes to come home.

News / Schools in Poland to strike tomorrow [235]

You forgot to add that the Solidarnosc leader of teachers is a member of the ruling party PiS and he signed a deal with his boss.

Real Estate / Average czynsz in Poland-> average cost of utilities/admin for an apartment that you own? [10]

In Poland we do not have a 'stamp duty' as in your no 4). There is a local tax, but it's usually less then 1 zl per metre per year. Once you buy, the solicitor will advise the town council and they will send you the necessary paperwork.

Real Estate / Average czynsz in Poland-> average cost of utilities/admin for an apartment that you own? [10]

One more thing you may have to keep in mind. If you buy your flat outright and then own it, you will be liable to pay tax on any profit if you sell it within 5 years. Say you buy it for 110K pln and sell it for 120K pln 2 years after, the profit of 20% will be payable on 10K pln.

You may go to estate agents to look for suitable flats, but they will charge you (find out before you sign anything) for finding you a flat. When you go and actually look at flats, ask the owners how much they pay for czynsz per metre. In this czynsz there will be the costs of keeping the flat.

This is very important - make TRIPLE sure, that the person in front of you actually selling the flat has a right to do so (that is to sell) and that they actually own it. Get your solicitor to look at 'ksiega wieczysta' for the flat.

Real Estate / Swiss Francs Mortgages in Poland [71]

I believe that the banks are covered, as in the terms and conditions of the loan, the fact of fluctuation would have been listed in the small print. The fact is that no one ever read this, as they were so eager to get the mortgage, they did not know what they were signing.

Study / Studying for free in Poland with C1 [3]

I simply cannot believe this to be true. Where did you hear this? We all want to study for free in Poland.

Life / Car test..The Polish equivalent of the MOT [36]

In the UK, the police have a 'computer' within their vehicles and can tell if a car has insurance, road tax or if there is anything else wrong such as the registered driver is wanted or has been in court for drug offenses. If you have no insurance the car is automatically taken away and will be scrapped within (I think) 14 days. You have to prove that you have new insurance for the car, but the insurance companies get informed by the police and they adjust their premiums accordingly. Many people just let the car be scrapped, as the insurance is higher than the value of the car.

UK, Ireland / Polish passport - Can I apply from the UK? [51]

In Poland passports are collected because you have to sign for them. They match your signature to the application to ensure that you are the person on the passport.

Language / "Pan Tadeusz" - difficult English translations? [10]

I had a book, where on one side was the Polish version and on the other the English version from the early 1990's and still have it.

Life / Car test..The Polish equivalent of the MOT [36]

I've just had a look at the Polish websites.

Everything is o.k. until you get stopped by the Police or are involved in an accident. The Police will say that your car does not, at the time of stopping, have the technical exam stamp. The Police will then take away your driving licence and give you a fine and points on your licence. Once paid up and the car fixed, they will return your driving licence with points.

However, if they stop you and you are on the way to a mechanic to fix the car and you can prove that, by having a pre-booked appointment and the mechanic is expecting you - the Police will be o.k. with that.

One more thing - your insurance will NOT be valid if you are caught driving without a technical exam stamp. You will get fined and points on your licence.

Real Estate / Swiss Francs Mortgages in Poland [71]

Generally, mortgages in Swiss francs were offered to people who would not or did not qualify for a mortgage in zloty as the payments would have been too high.

At the time, there was a big to-do in Parliament and PiS insisted that the banks give the mortgages in Swiss francs to all those who wanted them. Then the monthly payments of a Swiss francs mortgage were lower in zlotych, than for those who took out their mortgages in zloty.

However, (and this is where it all collapsed), no one (that is the banks) fully explained to the mortgagees that fluctuations in the value of the Swiss franc will have an impact on the amount that needs to be repaid. It seems that no one ever thought that the value of the Franc would change. The repayments are being made in Swiss francs which are then recalculated into zloty.

Real Estate / Swiss Francs Mortgages in Poland [71]

Nothing is being done, though there were signs of the President, A. Duda bringing something up before the Parliament,. Just keep up to date on news and keep paying. Perhaps they will sort something out the day before you pay off your mortgage.

I would suggest that you go to your bank and extend the term of the mortgage.

Life / Worst aspects of living in Poland? [82]

Worse aspect of living in Poland is coming across people who 'pretend' to be someone they are not.

Work / PPK reform - UNDERSTANDING TAX IMPACT AND CONTRIBUTIONS IN POLAND [3]

Out of interest went on the relevant Polish websites.
Contributions will be taken from the gross amount, this is the amount on which other deductions (such as income tax and insurance contributions ) are based. When you get to the age of 60 (same age for men and women) and the fund pays out, rules relating to income tax apply, so that if your earnings are above the tax-free amount, you will pay tax.

Law / How can I get Polish citizenship after been married to a Polish spouse [75]

If your boyfriend is Polish, he will have to register his/your marriage in Poland. Your marriage certificate will have to be translated by a sworn translator and lodged with the Register office in Poland.

Off-Topic / Plastic surgery in Poland - the best place to go? [7]

There have been reports of ladies who had 'breast enlargement' in Tunisia and ended up in a critical condition as their breast leaked or 'moved'. Research thoroughly, sometimes saving a penny means you'll end up spending pounds.

UK, Ireland / Polish passport - Can I apply from the UK? [51]

All British documents i.e. your birth certificate would have to be translated into Polish by a sworn translator.
One thing - you just have to provide them with everything they ask for and obviously pay along the way. The whole process, if all documents are accepted will take you from 6 months to over a year.

Classifieds / Transport household items to north east England [2]

Try on gumtree. Someone might be going that way.

Law / Annual Leave allocation - labour law in Poland [8]

Yes, by rights and according to Labour Law, you should take all your annual leave before you leave your employ.

Law / Stay in Poland without work [4]

The problem is not with your wife 'wanting' to get a job and work, but with 'finding' an employer who will employ her. You must ask other friends who are already in Poland how they are 'perceived' by the locals.

Work / What salary can be asked at IBM Poland? [67]

The fact that you have a wife or a girlfriend and one child or 5 children is irrelevant to the salary that the firm will offer.

Look on the internet for reviews of the firm and how much they pay. In my view ask for 15K pln gross per month. They will offer you 12K pln.

Genealogy / Where are birth records from Przewałka ( Bialystok Department ) held? [10]

The best place would be the local parish church,. It is likely that the baby was baptised. It might be easier to get someone to go in person to the Register office and seek the necessary birth certificate.

Real Estate / Buying real estate in Poland advice [18]

If you want to pay money for a hole in the ground and give money to a developer who skips (i.e. runs away) as soon as he gets your money go ahead.

Work / Why does this Polish guy act like this at work? I don't understand his behaviour [11]

If you feel that his behaviour is different to you than other people I would be very brave and face him. Stand in front of him and in your best voice say 'Do you have a problem with me? If not why do you behave like a prat towards me?' If this doesn't work tell your manager of his behaviour.

Life / Worst aspects of living in Poland? [82]

In Poland there is a word starting with a 'h', but if you say 'ch' ....meaning almost the same