History / What Poland expected from western Europe? [78]

That's the problem with doing a deal with the devil (EU). Poland was given a lot of money and trade opportunities but assumed this was just the gift from a friend helping another.

No, this was just the free sample from a drug dealer and once you're reliant on these funds and opportunities the EU will have your country, dictate your rules and decide who they want to move there to wreck your culture.

In the long term it's a choice - you can have the EU flag or the Polish one but not both. The EU want a super-state and they have no room for individual countries nationalities.

Food / British food products in Poland? [334]

Some of the talk from the Poles about the quality of UK food is very funny. You seem to assume nobody in the UK cooks and we all buy packet shite.

C'mon, get real guys. I like Poland but the quality and choice of fresh produce in Poland (meat, fish and veg) is generally total crap and the cooking is bland stodge. Don't get me wrong, I like bland stodge but don't pretend it's something special.

World renowned Polish food exports? Um none.

News / In increasingly chaotic world, diaspora of Poland moving back to Poland an masse? [71]

I think a lot of Poles always planned to move home after making money abroad to build a house and life in Poland.

The improved Polish economy has simply sped that process up. Even in the 12 or so years I have been coming here the changes have been impressive (not all in a good way).

I'm interested to see how Poland does after the pandemic, and brexit. It will either thrive on the challenge or sink under covid debt.

Food / British food products in Poland? [334]

Sorry but the quality of fish in Poland is ****, it would be travesty to try and recreate fish n chips here.

UK, Ireland / Brexit complications for UK nationals [10]

Yes, I think you'll be fine, especially as you have a Polish employer. If I hear back about the proper card being decided on I'll update the thread.

UK, Ireland / Advice about UK life insurance options [27]

Tacitus - Can't be very attached to them or aren't aware of the rule change perhaps.

Don't get me wrong, organ donation is a good thing. But the presumed consent is not and I rhink it is immoral. That's just my point of view, other opinions are available.

Also, the vast majority of people in the UK are cremated rather than buried ;-)

UK, Ireland / Advice about UK life insurance options [27]

The disgusting point is the arrogant presumed ownership of the state of your body and you have to request to have control of it back. A lot of people are unware of the change to the rules too.

Just a matter of principle really. Instead of encouraging people to make the desired choice of being a donor the government decides that by default you body belongs to them and hope people don't notice.

Also open to potential abuse, people being killed off early in hospital harvest organs for example or records of withdrawn consent just "lost" when convenient.

UK, Ireland / Advice about UK life insurance options [27]

UK nationals in Poland and Poles in the UK should make sure they either have insurance or enough funds to repatriate their body or pay for a funeral. It's not cheap to repatriate a body so if it matters to you you need to be prepared.

Personally, I'll be dead so it won't matter to me either way.

One other thing about the UK is it's an opt out organ donation system so your body parts will be harvested if you are a resident unless you have opted out before death. Frankly this is disgusting, basically you don't even own your own body.

UK, Ireland / Brexit complications for UK nationals [10]

So I have my bit of paper now to say I was a EU resident before transition ended. No card as yet because they haven't decided on what they will look like. The process took 6 weeks and would've been longer if I didn't have my wonderful inlaws helping me!

Due to my working arrangements and the utter uselessness of hmrc, there is an ongoing saga with regards to my health care and taxes out here which i would be amazed if it's sorted in less than another 2 months.

UK, Ireland / Brexit complications for UK nationals [10]

After brexit but not after the transition period - I can say with some confidence it was far far easier for my Polish friends to register to stay in the uk after brexit (5 minutes on an app) vs me registering to stay in Poland (nobody in the council offices knowing what is required, endless bullshit translations of irrelevant documents).

Work / Moving to Poland, Working for a UK Company [34]

Hey OJK. So the HMRC finally wrote back to say I need to write to ZUS who will write to HMRC who will write to me and maybe send me an S1.

Well, I say they wrote back but I mean they
finally confirmed via a telephone call. The actual letter is still in the post and expected to take 3 weeks to arrive!

Crazy situation

Work / NFZ and contributions and a FINE!? Working as a teacher in Poland. [12]

I like that idea only I already have a full time job in the UK for which I'm working remotely here in Poland. I can imagine a world of extra fines if I get caught doing dodgy pretend jobs for discount healthcare.

It is somewhat funny though that I am stopped from making voluntary payments by the nfz and then eventually when I can register I will be fined for not paying for the services I wasn't able to use.

Life / Are Poles suspicious of Facebook? [50]

The leftist mantra is free speech as long you agree with what we say which is pretty much the same as the media. No wonder people on the other end of the spectrum made their own forum and did the same thing.

We are sadly in times where we can no longer have adult discussions about opposing ideals without the permenantly offended screaming an "ism"

As for "diversification" in jobs, that is just another word for racism if it is selecting candidates based on race rather than merit

Work / NFZ and contributions and a FINE!? Working as a teacher in Poland. [12]

ok thanks. I look forward to my fine then lol. Shame you can't just bribe your way through red tape any more.

I'm resisting making jokes about what the NFZ offers though :-)

Work / NFZ and contributions and a FINE!? Working as a teacher in Poland. [12]

That's interesting. What constitutes not being covered though? I have a policy for emergencies which covers my statutory minimum health insurance requirements while my nfz/s1 saga drags on seemingly indefinitely but I don't get routine health care with it.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [957]

Pawian - for sure the EU wants to be an empire and I do think it is communist in its nature. Pushing mismatching economies into a single currency (handy for German exports) and the desire for an EU army for example are signs to me of that desire and of what the EU is working towards.

I hope I'm wrong and the EU is really just this benevolent well meaning organisation rather than the giant pissing money up the wall, power grabbing corrupt pile of poop it appears to be.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [957]

@pawian - when the next wave of countries join the EU I'm not sure but it will happen, the EU wants to seek expansion it doesn't seek to stay as it is. I'd say it's more than half of Poles I've spoken to that see the EU as EUSSR in disguise.

Jon, yes the EU does by its very nature seek to become more controlling. That's the whole idea of ever tighter integration. It has some benefits but is at the eventual cost of the erosion of individual states independence and identity. Manufacturing would move wherever it is cheaper which would be whatever poor country joined next and got a huge load of EU grants to help it upgrade itself. Any trade that's moved to China already is irrelevant, I am talking about what is left.

News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [957]

The EU is attractive to the poorer nations simply because of free money and the opportunity for the citizens to leave to work in richer member states.

Once Poland becomes a net contributor I think feelings towards the EU here will change especially as the EU attempts to become ever more controlling and dictatorial. Although many Polish people I know see the EU for what it is - a communist super state in the making.

Although the free money and opportunities have been good for Poland, it will all change when the next wave of poorer countries join, Polish jobs/factories all move abroad and Polish taxes start paying for new infrastructure in Turkey (or wherever).

UK, Ireland / Who can transport my car by trailer from UK to Poland? [23]

Merged:

Anyone know of a company that can help import car from UK to Poland?

So I've found out it's actually not that expensive to have my car transported from UK to Poland.

What I'd like though is a proper company to assist with all the paperwork required to register in Poland to do all the necessary legal bits. It looks like a bit of a nightmare (its a rhd car so probably even more of a ball ache).I'd be happy and prefer to pay a company to do it for me.

Is there such a company or service? Any ideas?

I'm not after opinions of how terrible driving a rhd car in Poland is or that it's not worth the money though ;-)

Work / Moving to Poland, Working for a UK Company [34]

No problem. Keep us posted on your progress! One other thing i probably should have mentioned is health care for my wife relies on my S1 as she is not working and I am. Without the s1 i can buy health insurance to meet the visa requirements but she would have to register as unemployed to get state health care as she cannot buy the same insurance.

As I should qualify for an S1 I have been told that neither myself or my wife can make voluntary nfz contributions and pay for health care that way.

It's all very odd. It means I have temporary basic health insurance to cover my residence requirements while I wait for my s1 and my wife is uninsured even though she is a Polish national.

Work / What are the average salaries in Poland for teachers, doctors, engineers? [16]

Holy crap, 130k usd for a teacher! And I thought I was overpaid.

Travel / Comparing London and Warsaw? Does anyone know both cities who could help? [9]

Yes, waste isn't far off. People that contribute nothing and take everything and don't want to integrate

Travel / Comparing London and Warsaw? Does anyone know both cities who could help? [9]

London is a f*king expensive dirty crime ridden shthole (all of it). I just don't get why people bother to visit, there's much nicer places in Uk to see where you won't get blown up/run over/stabbed/robbed/shot/over charged for everything.

Warsaw doesn't actually feel Polish to me but that's because of the architecture, shops etc. rather than lack of polish people. To me its more like Western Europe and has lost some of its Polish feel.

Warsaw is miles nicer than London (cleaner, less people) imo but then I'm not a fan of cities anyway so i wouldn't live in either.

Food / Kaszanka and haggis? [34]

British people don't care about mixing and matching imperial and metric units. It doesn't matter and seems funny to me why it is confusing or even important. Describe units however you want.

I like my height in feet and inches and distance in miles and beer in pints but measuring length in metres, and any other liquid in litres and weight in grams/kg.

On the other hand it is no big deal to convert km to miles or pints to litres etc so for most Brits are used to this. The only difficulty might be if one does not realise that an American gallon is not the same as UK inperial gallon.

Please get back to the topic

Work / Moving to Poland, Working for a UK Company [34]

Hi, I'm in a similar position - I've moved to Poland with my Polish wife but am still working for my uk employer. There is a double taxation agreement with Poland so you will not pay tax twice. I've only been here for a few months but expect I will need an accountant at some point to sort my liabilities as Polish tax is higher so I may need to pay the difference. My advice would be to make sure you have plenty of savings to protect you from any tax you may have to pay and claim back later. Having said that, both my uk and and a polish family accountant have told me I won't pay any tax in Poland at all.

You will need health insurance to emigrate but you should be able to get an S1 form and have your uk NI contributions pay for your nfz (Polish national health) entitlement. You apply for this on the government gateway and the lead time is currently 3 weeks. You can also do by post but this is currently 12 weeks lead time!

Good luck!

It's probably obvious but once you've got the Polish healthcare via the s1 you won't qualify for NHS treatment but as you will be living abroad that would be the case anyway

Law / Help with confusing requirements for emigration from UK to Poland [22]

Hi, just a quick update in case it is useful to anyone. I've been in Poland now for a month (flying during lockdown turned out to be great apart from rebooking my flight with 3 different airlines - top tip, don't bother with Easyjet).

I have my meldunek and pesel thanks to my wonderful inlaws and am waiting for my 5 year residents permit (after which I will get the permenant one).

As far as health insurancd goes, I am still waiting for my S1 form so i can register for nfz healthcare. I spoke to the friendly and helpful nfz lady who told me I can't buy nfz insurance while paying ni contributions in the uk - I have to use the s1. If after the end of the transition period I no longer qualify for s1 from the uk then I can pay separately for nfz contributions.

As far as tax goes, I'm saving for a tax bill but not particularly concerned as I know I won't be double taxed in the long run and my finances are in good shape. I've got nothing here yet to draw attention to my finances anyway (no Polish bank account) so I suspect I won't be on the radar for now.

My only concern is getting health cover sorted before the end of the year as the ehic will no longer be valid and this sodding S1 form is takes up to 8 weeks (I applied before I left so 8 weeks is up soon).

Law / Help with confusing requirements for emigration from UK to Poland [22]

@Roibeard79
I would appreciate that and I will do the same if I actually manage to get any sensible info :-)

Law / Help with confusing requirements for emigration from UK to Poland [22]

I agree I may well end up with Polish tax liabilities which I am prepared for despite what my company may say. I don't really care where I pay tax so long as I only pay it once. I'm not out to cheat my way out of my liabilities, I'll leave that to the multi millionaires

I do also expect there is a possibility i will end up paying tax in both countries and claiming back from one or the other so the first year I will be saving like mad. It's all part of the fun of moving and I accept that. It gives another customer to a Polish accountant if nothing else!

At least my living costs in Poland will be extremely low with no Polish mortgage/rent to pay.

Although my employer have said they have other employees in Europe doing the same as me so they do not think it will be an issue, I haven't seen the terms of the new contract yet so I can't comment on if it is accurate.

Law / Help with confusing requirements for emigration from UK to Poland [22]

Many thanks people I really appreciate the help :-)

Law / Help with confusing requirements for emigration from UK to Poland [22]

Lol I hope it's really that easy thanks you. Do you know what documents I may need to register with the nfz scheme?