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Refused credit for having a wrong residency card in Poland


Trevek  25 | 1699  
14 May 2013 /  #1
Today I went into a bicycle shop and asked if I could by a bike on credit. The guy said no problems and I asked which documents he'd need. He said he just needed my ID.

Being a Brit, the only Polish ID I have is my long term residency card. The guy gave the credit company the info and we waited. They rang back saying i couldn't have credit as my type of ID, a long term residency card for an EU citizen, didn't fit their system. I believe it is Lukas bank.

This isn't the first time I've been buggered about for finance because of the "wrong' ID.

My question is, as someone who is an EU citizen, resident over 10 years, married to a Polish national, has a firm, pays tax, ZUS etc... why can I not get credit with a document issued to me by the Polish government?

The lady at the immigration office laughed in disbelief when I told her.

I've heard similar things from a couple of other Brits.

Discrimination, or just dodgy admin?
Lazar Danilovic  - | 3  
14 May 2013 /  #2
Don't think it's discrimination, the same also happens in holland,

Are you allowed to vote ?
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
14 May 2013 /  #3
Discrimination, or just dodgy admin?

Dodgy admin.

The guy gave the credit company the info and we waited.

That's very strange - they should have no problem with a long term permanent stay card. Most credit-issuing banks will accept the EU certificate of residency, so the permanent residency version of that should be more than acceptable.

why can I not get credit with a document issued to me by the Polish government?

I *think* it's because they're still not used to the documents issued to EU citizens. I notice here, people don't really seem to understand what's given to us - especially as it's technically not a "karta pobytu" - which they're trained to accept.
OP Trevek  25 | 1699  
14 May 2013 /  #4
Maybe, after all, the guy was giving them the info over the phone. The problem for me is that it has all my details, PESEL etc... Just don't get it. I had the same with GE moneybank a few years ago, because my 5 year card didn't have a PESEL on the card.
Harry  
14 May 2013 /  #5
Discrimination, or just dodgy admin?

Dodgy admin.

Most credit-issuing banks will accept the EU certificate of residency, so the permanent residency version of that should be more than acceptable.

Citibank won't when it comes to mortgages.

I notice here, people don't really seem to understand what's given to us - especially as it's technically not a "karta pobytu" - which they're trained to accept.

The fact that the five-year thing doesn't even have a photo on doesn't help matters. And neither does the fact that neither that nor the ten-year things are technically valid with a passport to go with them.
OP Trevek  25 | 1699  
14 May 2013 /  #6
Are you allowed to vote ?

To be honest, no idea!

The fact that the five-year thing doesn't even have a photo on doesn't help matters. And neither does the fact that neither that nor the ten-year things are technically valid with a passport to go with them.

My old 5 year one did. Just didn't have a PESEL on it! As I say, this was done over the phone and the guy described it, gave them the numbers etc.
Harry  
14 May 2013 /  #7
Lazar Danilovic: Are you allowed to vote ?

To be honest, no idea!

Local and European elections: yes. National elections: no.
OP Trevek  25 | 1699  
14 May 2013 /  #8
No bugger worth voting for around here, anyway.
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
14 May 2013 /  #9
Citibank won't when it comes to mortgages.

Strange, ING had absolutely no problems with mine. There was the usual look of "what's this?", but it wasn't an issue.

The fact that the five-year thing doesn't even have a photo on doesn't help matters. And neither does the fact that neither that nor the ten-year things are technically valid with a passport to go with them.

It's complete nonsense in every sense of the word. Would it really be so difficult to issue an ID card, especially given that the Poles get their dówod for free now!

As I say, this was done over the phone and the guy described it, gave them the numbers etc.

I think it's possible that they simply didn't understand what it was.
OP Trevek  25 | 1699  
14 May 2013 /  #10
I think it's possible that they simply didn't understand what it was.

Possible. I'm going to go to a branch tomorrow and see what they say face to face.

Just annoying when the shop guy told them it was an official government issue doc and gave them all my details.
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
14 May 2013 /  #11
Hmm - stupid question - but - did you have your passport as well?
OP Trevek  25 | 1699  
14 May 2013 /  #12
No, cos I'd just walked into the shop. He told them I was a brit but they never said I needed to produce a passport.

The guy in the shop was just doing a credit check with the bank.
Harry  
14 May 2013 /  #13
No, cos I'd just walked into the shop. He told them I was a brit but they never said I needed to produce a passport.

In that case they are technically entirely correct: your Polish issued ID is not valid unless accompanied by your national ID (i.e. passport for Brits).
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
14 May 2013 /  #14
Yep, that's more than likely the exact reason for getting refused - they probably thought he had no ID and the guy in the shop probably didn't realise that the Polish-issued ID wasn't valid by itself.
OP Trevek  25 | 1699  
14 May 2013 /  #15
In that case they are technically entirely correct: your Polish issued ID is not valid unless accompanied by your national ID (i.e. passport for Brits).

Hmm, OK, so I should go to a main office, then.
If they'd said that it wouldn't be a problem.
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
14 May 2013 /  #16
I'd go back to the shop with both the passport and ID and see what they've got to say then. If you've got another form of Polish ID (like a driving licence) - take that too.
OP Trevek  25 | 1699  
14 May 2013 /  #17
Great, I'll try that. Thanks.

Be prepared for some mega moaning if it doesn't work ;-)
Harry  
14 May 2013 /  #18
If you've got another form of Polish ID (like a driving licence) - take that too.

It probably couldn't hurt to take in a copy of the most recently filed PIT statement either.
OP Trevek  25 | 1699  
16 May 2013 /  #19
Well, popped into Agricole, who are owners of Lukas bank. They said there was no problem with getting credit and all but took me through the procedure. They didn't even ask about my passport.

I asked why I couldn't get it with Lukas bank and the guy rang them to check. Turns out it must be something to do with the computer system not accepting the number on the Residency card (it has 9 figures... 2 letters and 7 numbers). Whatever.

Rather than get credit from Agricole, I decided to pop to my own bank, Multibank, and see what they could offer. They suggested just using the credit card (they would), as they reckoned the amount was too low for a loan.

I asked to raise my allowance on the credit card... and they couldn't process it cos of computer problems!!!!!
smurf  38 | 1940  
16 May 2013 /  #20
Jebus Trevek, you're not having much luck.
Maybe the many gods are tryin to tell you not to take up cycling :P
poland_  
16 May 2013 /  #21
Maybe the many gods are tryin to tell you not to take up cycling :P

Gods - Smurf your an atheist man, don't tell me you are back in the land of religion :-)
OP Trevek  25 | 1699  
23 May 2013 /  #22
Maybe the many gods are tryin to tell you not to take up cycling :P

Well, I was cycling home the other day (yes, I finally bought it... my father-in-law just lent me the cash!) and saw a girl who'd been knocked off her bike at a zebra...

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