Law / Where can I check in Poland my company formation status and tax number NIP and REGON? [95]

When you make the transfer, your bank's software will usually reject the transfer if the bank account name does not match the number. The transfer can't make it through the system unless the name Ekovita goes with that bank account number. That's how it is in Europe anyway but if you're in another part of the world and if you feel very anxious about it, go to your bank for further advice/clarification before you send any money and let them make the transfer on your behalf rather than doing it yourself via internet. Only send the money if the bank uses both name and number for the transfer and can verify that they match.

Law / Old Polish money banknotes - what's their value today? [415]

The value of a painting depends on the market for that particular artist at any given time. If an artist or their style becomes less fashionable, which sometimes happens, the painting becomes less valuable and conversely, if the artist becomes fashionable the value increases. You should have your painting revalued. Btw 26,900 is a weird valuation - it sounds more like the retail price somebody paid for it in a shop. Price can be much higher than actual value.

Law / Penalty points on driving licences in Poland [26]

Considering that the UK has the safest roads in Europe and Poland the most dangerous, then NO, definitely not.

Love / Do Polish men make good husbands? [108]

You big, lazy lump. You should be well able to do your own cleaning if you're properly organized - and twice a week is not enough to keep a house clean.

Food / Smalec in a Jar - how to make it better? [19]


Smalec is lard Pawian :) You mean chunks of fried bacon.

Real Estate / Buying an Apartment in Poznan, Im Irish [11]

Not a bother ;) "Gwan, you good thing!" - and yeah, definitely get back to us, I won't rest easy in me bed until I know how it all turned out :D

Real Estate / Buying an Apartment in Poznan, Im Irish [11]

That's right, I'm a 'cailín álainn' :))

OzinPoz, just to clarify, you should get a paper from the vendor that shows that there is no outstanding mortgage on the property or any loans secured against it. It should be produced by the time you sign the final contract.

One final thing, sometimes estate agents will be on a backhander from solicitors if they recommend them, so they may try to convince you that you need one. You don't. You just need the notary and the translator. The solicitor will do sod all - that bit is pretty much the same as Ireland anyway :D

Real Estate / Buying an Apartment in Poznan, Im Irish [11]

Hi OzinPoz I'm Irish too :)) Buying a place is really weird compared to Ireland. I bought an apartment here about 13 years ago and the process hasn't changed since. I'm sure you've checked things out on the internet but just to recap for you:

a) Sale is only legal if it's witnessed and stamped by a Notary.

b) The same notary can be used by both vendor and buyer. The notary is only there to make the sale a legal transaction. He doesn't represent your interests or protect you in any way like a solicitor does in Ireland.

c) As a foreigner you're supposed to have a translator with you when you sign the paperwork. You must get a 'sworn translator'. They are authorized to translate in legal situations. The translator may ask you for a copy of the contract to have a look over it. They then attend the notary's office with you and read out the contract to you so that you're aware what you're signing.

d) As others here have told you, no way should you hand over money without getting the keys.

e) On the day of the final contract signing, we signed the papers in the notary's office. The vendor handed over the keys to the notary. Then I went with the vendor to the bank and transferred the money. Then we returned to the notary's office and he gave me the keys.

f) You get a copy of the contract on the day and the notary keeps the original.

g) Your name has to be registered as the new owner with the relevant court. The notary takes care of that and a couple of months later (maybe six months) you get a piece of paper from the court that confirms your name has been entered into the register, 'księgi wieczyste' .

h) You don't get any deeds to the property like you would in Ireland. Your ownership is confirmed, not by posession of deeds, but by entry into the księgi wieczyste.

Just be careful that you get some evidence from the vendor that the czynsz is paid up to date and that there are no other outstanding debts on the property. Good luck!

History / Saint Virgin Mary Queen of Poland crushes the Red Army [66]

I think a lot of Polish Catholics are like me and other Irish Catholics, never go to mass or confession, give priests a wide berth, follow our individual conscience rather than church teachings/the Pope's instructions when it comes to issues like abortion, homosexuality etc. However, we pray, go to the church to light a candle. Irish people also feel it's important to do something for others/help those who are in need, be aware of human suffering and try to do what you can to ease it. I think that may be a legacy of our education having been predominantly adminstered by the church and it was ingrained into us that you were supposed to put others before yourself. Perhaps that's why there's less of an obvious spirit of caring for your fellow man in Poland, because children weren't educated by the religious orders. Make any sense??

History / Saint Virgin Mary Queen of Poland crushes the Red Army [66]


I suspect your tongue is firmly in your cheek - at least I hope so!

History / Saint Virgin Mary Queen of Poland crushes the Red Army [66]

Maybe it is. I think it's inevitable that as a foreigner there will be a cultural difference between Poland and where I come from. When I contrast it with Ireland, I find Poland a less caring society.

History / Saint Virgin Mary Queen of Poland crushes the Red Army [66]


Solidarity etc is a long, long time ago. It may be only thirty years ago, but in terms of the rate at which Poland has changed since then, it's lifetimes ago. You won't find many young working class guys in Poland wearing their Holy Mary badges these days. Poland is becoming more and more a nation of insatiable consumers. And unlike Ireland, where Catholicism is also on the wane, you don't have the social capital that we do. People in Poland seem to have very limited time, empathy or sympathy for others. I think that being Polish in 2020 means being aspirational and focused on material gain, status and position in society.

Law / Parental Child Abduction (Indian man married to Polish wife) [32]


That's how I understood it. When you said he was a foreign father married to a Polish woman, I understood that as a foreigner in Poland, not of Polish nationality or citizenship, same as me. I'm a foreigner. However, when a weirdo is looking for an excuse to get hysterical.................


I don't know what happened to Harry but since his disappearance from the forum it's generally accepted that he died. Although I accept the trolling and sometimes the genuine craziness of the variety of weirdos and nut jobs who are drawn to this site, I still find the number of nasty comments made about Harry, downright disgusting. It shows just what a low level this place has sunk to, that it's inhabited by such sub-human individuals.

As I commented to Cargo Pants recently after his latest Harry insult, send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. You can make cheap, glib remarks about the deceased but one day you will join them, you will face your final moments in this world. I watched a man having a heart attack when I was thirteen. I waited with him while the ambulance was on the way. He was an old soldier who had been through World War One. As he sat there struggling for breath,he was looking right into my eyes and I could see his fear. Let's hope that death comes more peacefully to you and the rest of us here.

Law / Moving back to Poland - Healthcare [112]


You do not need immigration permission to live in Jersey if you are:

a British citizen;
a European Union (EU)/European Economic Area member;
the holder of an EEA family permit; or
a Swiss national.

locatejersey.com/key-information/residency-and-immigration

Same with Guernsey.

There's a difference between just going to live there I think and settling there permanently ie becoming domiciled there and buying property there. I know you can't just move to Jersey and buy a house but you can move there and rent for example.

But of course this will change with Brexit.


The Channel Islands are part of the Common Travel Area so they can and that arrangement will continue after Brexit.

Law / Moving back to Poland - Healthcare [112]


You do know how tiny they are don't you? How do you intend to support yourself? Very few jobs and the cost of living is very high. In one of your other posts you mentioned heath care. Nothing is free on the Channel Islands except emergency services.


Up till 31 December this year he can as he's an EU citizen. If he moves there before the end of this year he can apply to remain after Brexit. Otherwise he'll have to go through a new immigration process.

Genealogy / Second gen Polish-American with little exposure [45]


Yes. Informal is used only with close family and friends. You should formal with older people even if you're related to them if you're meeting them as a visitor from America :))

Genealogy / Second gen Polish-American with little exposure [45]

@Paulwiz, came across this site and thought it might interest you, all in English. Nice mixture relating to Poland:

News & Politics
Business
Art & Culture
Science
Sport
History
Life

thefirstnews.com/

Genealogy / Hypothetical cousin from America - genealogy and Poles [20]


Not weird at all, a humorous treatment of a question which is oft asked in various forms. The best person to answer your genealogy related questions on this forum is Kaprys. She is Polish and is interested in the subject, seems well informed about it. To answer your queries, based on my own observations of Polish people:

1) Many people won't know the names of great grandparents, certainly they won't know all four sets of them. Think about it. In England where records have been kept for hundreds of years and the information is available if you seek it, surprisingly few people know the names of their great grandparents. Now consider Poland and its history, inadequate written records, partitions, wars etc. However as Ironside says, it varies, you may be lucky.

As to whether people care about their family history in Poland, it's probably much less important to them than it is to a Polish-American. I think it's a growing area of interest among younger people though.

2) People might know that they had a relative who emigrated but they won't actively think about the fact that they have distant cousins in the States.

Some people won't like what I have to say now, but it's something I've observed. I've known a few people who've traced their Polish relations and found that the relations were friendly enough at first but that very soon they began asking for money. I knew an Irish man around your age, whose grandfather was Polish. He traced his Polish family and they were friendly and welcoming but his daughter said that after a while, he was receiving regular requests for money from various distant cousins. Mind you this was about fifteen years ago and perhaps with the new prosperity that will have changed.

On the whole, Polish people are not big on sentiment. They are practical, down to earth people and survival is their number one consideration. Their touchy feely, lovey dovey side is reserved for young children and dogs.

Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]


I don't think he would choose the university on that basis. It's more likely he would choose his centre of study based on its reputation, the particular teachers under whom he might have wanted to study, whether it contained a circle of like minded people etc.

Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]


There is a small museum in Płock. I was there years ago and really liked it. They had a wonderful exhibition of 'rooms' from a typical prosperous middle class home of the 19th century, very interesting. Also a couple of floors of Polish paintings, lovely and an exhibition of Bohemian and Czech art glass. The only down side was that there were no postcards or books to buy, no museum shop and no information in English. However museums will generally allow you to take photos if you don't use flash. It's probably changed a lot since I was there but based on what I saw, I would recommend it.

muzeumplock.eu/pl

I just took a quick look at the website and I see that they now have several locations around the town, well worth checking out while you're there.

UK, Ireland / Polish People are Welcome in Scotland [54]


It's not European law. I know that because in Ireland, which is an EU country, only Irish citizens may vote in referendums. That's because the result of a referendum requires a change in the constitution and only the citizens of Ireland have the power to change our constitution.

I don't believe it's Scottish law either as the referendum is not called by Scotland but by Westminster ie the British government decides that there will be a referendum, therefore Westminster decides the voting eligibility. As there is virtually no history of referendums in the UK (as opposed to Ireland where we've had about thirty, if memory serves me correctly) I think the voting rights are decided on a case by case basis.

As to Poland, you don't have many referendums either and your government doesn't need to consult citizens to change the constitution so the issue of foreigners voting in Polish referendums is not likely to arise.

UK, Ireland / Polish People are Welcome in Scotland [54]


They were eligible to take part in the last one. All EU citizens living in Scotland were eligible and the present proposed franchise is that the voting rights would be the same in any future referendum. So yes, any Pole living in Scotland will be able to vote.

Life / Why oh Why do Poles drive so incredibly poorly [100]


Did you ever drive down those narrow, winding country roads with the hump backed bridges or the little boreens, one car wide with the hedges grazing your car windows as you drive :)) On narrow country roads drivers reverse to the nearest gate-way or 'pull-in' in order to let another car pass them.

I suppose, the pace of life in general in Polish cities is more frantic and people are pushier and more aggressive, I think that shows in the driving.

I wonder what's the story with seatbelts and road deaths in Poland?? I know that many, many times when I've been a passenger in a Polish car, at least one of the seatbelts is broken and the driver isn't a bit bothered about it. In fact they tell you to pull the strap across you anyway, just in case there are any police around, so it looks as if you're wearing a belt :(

Life / Why oh Why do Poles drive so incredibly poorly [100]


I don't think that's the reason because Ireland didn't have many cars on the roads until the 1980s really and we have the safest roads in Europe after the UK. I think it's partly down to the fact that the tuition is of a very low standard, no defensive driving skills are taught and Poles don't know how to use their mirrors. My husband had driving lessons both in Poland and Ireland (he took his test and passed it in Ireland) and he was shocked at how in Poland, he was expressly told NOT to use his mirrors while driving and NOT to watch the road ahead as according to the instructor, this would distract him!!

Polish drivers also don't know how to use their brakes correctly, the don't apply the brake gradually on approach to traffic lights for example. This is because they don't read the road ahead and have to jam on the brakes at the last minute. Apart from that, excessive speed is a factor as they frequently lose control of the vehicle and end up on the wrong side of the road or even worse, mounting the pavement. I've seen this happen quite a few times.

Life / Cost of Utilities in Warsaw. [23]

It's not clear from your post whether your landlord is asking you to pay for central heating you've already used over the last year or central heating for the coming year. Obviously if you used it, you have to pay for it.

But anyway, here's how it works. At the beginning of the twelve month period, energy providers, gas or electric estimate the usage for the whole year and divide it by 12, so the same amount is payable each month (that's why there is a central heating bill for the summer). The person with the account (in this case I assume it's any your landlord) receives bills for the year in advance but they do not have to be paid immediately. Each bill covers a two month period and has a 'pay by' date. Near the end of the 12 month period the energy provider does a meter reading and an adjustment is made for the following year's bills so that any overpayment is returned and any underpayment is payable.

For the bills due over the next twelve months, you should ask your landlord to show you the estimated bills, make a note of their 'termin platnosci' date which is the date they must be paid by, and tell you landlord that you will pay the amounts to him/her as they fall due. You should not have to pay for a year's central heating in advance.

Love / How do guys from Poland flirt? [47]


I don't know what his height has to do with the price of spuds but if he's 49 and never been married...........


Yes and if you marry him, you'll live the life of a traditional 1950s Polish housewife, standing over a giant vat of soup from dawn till dusk.

Genealogy / Second gen Polish-American with little exposure [45]


PolAm, he just wants to come here on holiday. He's not going to be stopped at the airport and scanned for sincerity readings!


Maybe it's just you they're suspicious of ;) I would have to agree with Pawian that it's changing. Poles are not the friendliest to strangers but they're better than they used to be.

@Pawian, I'm so sorry, how could I have left your name off the list of 'trusted Poles' on this forum.
@Paulwiz, take note, Pawian is also a reliable source of up-to-date and accurate information regarding Poland and Polish people. He is Polish and lives in Poland.

Genealogy / Second gen Polish-American with little exposure [45]


Only sometimes, it used to be more common.


You'd need to be quite fluent to do that without resorting to dictionary and phrase book. Remember that apart from being able to speak you need to understand what they say to you in response! You would really need good intermediate level Polish and that takes some time and effort to acquire. Now having said all that, many years ago when I hardly spoke a word of Polish I had to spend the day alone with my husband's granny who was over eighty and didn't speak any English. I managed to communicate with phrase book and dictionary to a level where I found out which of her son-in-laws she didn't like (pretty much all of them!) and which members of the family were lazy and 'VERY lazy' :D, also that prices were very hign, especially clothes. So there you go, it can be done!


There's quite a variety of people on this forum who present themselves as all kinds of everyone and can be quite misleading. Some are nice enough people with good intentions but can be a bit misleading because they are not as well informed as they think, some are just trolls. Here's the background on posters who've answered you so far:

Me: Irish, live in Warsaw, married to a Polish man, speak basic Polish. Off to weekly lessons from next week, have to improve a bit!

Lenka: Polish, lives in Poland, has lived in the UK so speaks very good English.

Rich Mazur: claims he was born in Warsaw and emigrated to the USA, claims to have visited a couple of years ago, generally considered a big old troll on this forum. Take everything he says with a spoon rather than a grain of salt.

Mafketis: American, has lived in Poland for years, speaks very good Polish, very knowledgeable, genuine guy.

Milo: claims to be a Londoner of Polish descent, doesn't appear to have visited Poland recently.

Lyzko: American, was in Poland for a few weeks back in the 90's. Don't know what his other Polish connections are. Doesn't intentionally lead anyone astray or mess with their heads :)

Joker: Chicago Polish-American, harmless enough but a bit of a spoofer, don't pay too much attention to him.

Other Polish posters who are a reliable source of information are Kaprys and Ziemowit, if you should come across them on the forum.

Genealogy / Second gen Polish-American with little exposure [45]


You can get by with a phrase book. They have the phrases written in phonetic English alongside the Polish, if you're not sure of the pronunication, although it's actually easy enough to learn the sounds of the letters. It's just not that easy to put all the sounds together to form some of the more complicated words :) If you learn the sounds, you can read any word in Polish because it's a phonetic language like Italian, the sounds are always pronounced the same way, not like English where the same letter combos can have different sounds. So if you get yourself a little pocket dictionary too, that will get you through a visit to Poland.

Depending on what your budget is, you could also combine your trip to Poland with something like this which costs just over a thousand dollars:

iko.com.pl/iko-polish-language-school-for-foreigners-learn-polish/total-immersion-courses/

I did one of the intensive three week courses with that language school and it was brilliant. It gave me basic Polish which enabled me, a native English speaker to get by in everyday situations.


Neither do I :))

Here's some PRL stuff for you:

//culture.pl/en/article/the-communist-regime-in-poland-in-10-astonishing-pictures

Genealogy / Second gen Polish-American with little exposure [45]

Like the USA, Polish culture varies somewhat via region and more especially urban and rural. As you know which region your grandad came from, you could start by reading a bit about that place. Otherwise you might find this site helpful, it's written in English by Poles, based in Poland and it's 'modern', tells you about Poland and how life is lived there nowadays. Here's an example below

culture.pl/en/article/clean-eating-healthy-polish-cuisine

Also read up a bit about life in PRL Poland as that's what your grandad experienced.