The BEST Guide to POLAND
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Posts by delphiandomine  

Joined: 25 Nov 2008 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - Q
Last Post: 17 Feb 2021
Threads: Total: 86 / Live: 15 / Archived: 71
Posts: Total: 17813 / Live: 4639 / Archived: 13174
From: PoznaƄ, Poland
Speaks Polish?: Yeah.
Interests: law, business

Displayed posts: 4654 / page 2 of 156
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delphiandomine   
18 Jul 2009
Life / Price of cigarettes in Poland? [192]

To the uk 200 per person,so if you need cheap Cigarettes the best idea is to send a football team!

Poland is now a full fiscal member, so the 3200 guideline now stands.
delphiandomine   
21 Jul 2009
Life / Price of cigarettes in Poland? [192]

HOW MANY CIGGARETTES CAN I BRING BACK TO GLASGOW.

Can you read, or indeed spell?

In theory, as much as you like, however, you'll still have to satisfy Customs that they're for personal use. The reality is that 3200 is the limit.
delphiandomine   
25 Jul 2009
Law / Old Polish money banknotes - what's their value today? [415]

i have 3 paper money bills in the denomination of 10,000 zlotys each. they are from 1987 and 1988. what are they worth and where can i convert them to USD.

They're worth about 1 cent US - for all three.
delphiandomine   
6 Aug 2009
Life / Things that annoy you in Poland. [133]

And no matter how many times it is advised, it still isn't true. The tap water here is perfectly safe to drink.

Tastes vile, but I've never heard of anyone getting ill from drinking it. To be honest, it's no worse than the water from Essex or other parts of England where the water is heavily treated.
delphiandomine   
6 Aug 2009
Law / POLISH BEER IMPORT TO UK [37]

I don't think it's actually that difficult - you just have to sort out the payment of excise duties when the stuff is imported. There's things such as bonded warehouses where the goods can be stored upon importation without duty being payable - but when they're removed, you have to pay.
delphiandomine   
15 Aug 2009
Life / Exam for Drivers License in Poland; English? [99]

I think that Americans are allowed to solely sit the theory test, which is available in English. You'll have an exemption from the practical test as you've got an American license. I'm not sure if you'll have to complete the 30 hours mandatory theory training first, but it's possible to do this in English in major cities.

Course materials are another question - I've never found English language materials, but it's possible that they do exist.

As for the commercial categories - it may be that you'll be allowed to simply sit the theory tests for those, too. But I'm not at all certain on this point.
delphiandomine   
4 Sep 2009
Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [143]

they need a certificate that, i think, proves that you dont owe any tax, e.g. here in britain. what do you think? (this requirement is listed in the polish consulate's website).

But what for?

It's certainly not needed for residency here if you're an EU citizen.
delphiandomine   
10 Sep 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

Pure rubbish! The reason there is not a very high pass rate is because of the difficulty and hardness of the test and things you need to learn. It is a brilliant system of driving and a very safe way. It teaches you to be responsible and considerate about your and other driving.

So put yourself in the shoes of a UK driving examiner. You know that if you pass too little people, there'll be questions over you - but you also know that if you pass too many, then some examiners may be made redundant, which may include you. Therefore, there's an implicit pressure to fail people for trivial things or simply to overly nitpick at their driving.

Brilliant system of driving? You must be joking. I could pass my test in the Shetland Islands and receive a licence which allows me to drive *anywhere* - how is this brilliant when I would have absolutely no training on dual carriageways, motorways or otherwise?

Safe? See above. Our Shetlandic driver would receive a licence which allows him to drive on the M25 at rush hour without any extra training, even though he clearly would be dangerous in such a situation.

Responsible and considerate? Yes, because the UK is well known for considerate White Van Men and sales reps, aren't they? :) That would also be why young drivers have such incredibly high insurance premiums, because the system is producing responsible and considerate drivers...err...wait a second.

How bloody irresponsible is it to buy a liscence just to drive in another country in my eyes you are potential murderers if you have an accident and kill somebody.

Dearie me, yet another Daily Mail reader. If you actually knew anything about Europe, you'd know that it's nigh on impossible to 'buy' a licence from an EU country. It might be possible to get a fake, but any Brit driving around with a foreign licence is going to be scruntinised very, very carefully.

It forces you too get your head down and learn and be safe on the road and recognises responsibility behind the wheel.

No. It forces you to drive to pass an exam. It doesn't take into consideration *many* of the skills needed - such as driving at 70mph, overtaking on 60mph limit roads, driving in terrible conditions, what to do in the event of a blowout at 70mph and so on. It only teaches you how to drive according to what the DSA want - and this isn't producing safe drivers!

You talk **** and i suppose you advocate buying a liscence if you think its ok by a persons standards to believe they can drive then thats ok.

Clearly you haven't been reading what I've been saying.

Buying a licence is idiotic and you deserve to be ripped off. But the UK system is equally rubbish at producing good drivers - how is it logical that on the basis of a theory test and a 40 minute practical test, someone is qualified to drive a 7 seat MPV at over 100mph on the Autobahn in Germany? Simple answer - they're not!
delphiandomine   
13 Sep 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

More drivel, stop knocking a system which works and gets improved all the time.

Improved? I struggle to see what 'improvement' was made when the DSA introduced the swerve test into motorbike testing without considering the consequences if the test was carried out in adverse weather conditions.

Or what about the Hazard Perception part of the theory test which actually punishes you for noticing too many hazards?

Or should we talk about how the UK (unlike Poland!) hasn't got cameras in the examination cars, thus leading to a situation where examiners can fail people with absolutely no consequences?

Or we could even talk about how it's possible for someone to pass their driving test without any driving lessons whatsoever, unlike the superior Polish system which demands that all drivers undergo 30 hours of theory and 30 hours of practical training before being allowed to sit the test.

As i said or mean't to say. The uk has one of if not the safest driving criteria towards obtaining a licence in the EU. Obviously everything has flaws if you look at it and i agree with what you said about all weather driving and motorway driving etc etc.

The UK criteria is actually one of the weaker elements in the EU. There's no compulsory medical checks, there's no compulsory training, and the theory test is weaker than countries such as Spain. And let's not forget that in the UK, there's no standardised test car, unlike in Poland.

But don't knock it mate unless your gonna try and improve it. Most accidents and deaths are caused by drivers who have never or had very few driving lessons in there lives, let alone a licence.

Do you have a source for that outlandish claim? I find it hard to believe that at least 50% of accidents and deaths in the UK are caused by those without valid driving licences...

If you took enough lessons to have passed your test, then you will know how safe a driver you are. If you haven't then you are never ready to pass your test because you haven't learned to drive properly or even make comments.

You don't need lessons to pass your test in the UK. They're compulsory in many parts of Europe. I wonder which system is safer?

The DSA criteria covers you for a lot more than just passing its test. You need to attain awareness, responsibility as well as safety before you can pass your test. You can't fluke a test.

Oh yes you can. The amount of awful new drivers on UK roads are testament to the fact that while the DSA criteria gets people to drive in a way that they deem 'safe' - those very same drivers are actually dangerous because they've been taught to pass an exam, not taught to drive safely. The amount of accidents from young drivers is proof of this - if the system taught good drivers, they wouldn't be crashing, would they?

The examiners cannot fail you on something you haven't done wrong and to suggest otherwise is just utter bollox. Also you need to fail on the same thing more than once before you fail.

Are you suggesting that DSA examiners are completely fair? Of course they aren't. There's plenty of evidence suggesting that as long as there's no way of recording the test, DSA examiners aren't honest. And let's be honest, why would they want to be? As I've said, they have an implicit pressure to not pass too many people - as there'll be redundancies as a result.

And if its dodgy why are you allowed to take somebody with you in the back to observe when the test is being carried out.

That's one way to ensure the impartiality of the examiner. However, plenty of people don't avail of this. Of course, the examiner can still fail someone and without documentary evidence, there's no way of proving him/her wrong. The Polish system is far superior to the UK system in this respect.

Basically maybe we should all sit in the backs of our mates and families cars on test day. That way the examiners won't be inclined to fail them. Great idea Einstien.

It would be much easier to simply install cameras.

Ahh, just another Brit with an over-inflated sense of their importance in the world :)
delphiandomine   
14 Sep 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

Why have you started a race war between Britain and Poland? I wasn't even comparing Poland and Britain, you seem to be very defensive.

A race war? Who mentioned race?

Which to goes to show your bias and predjudices.

And for your info, i am not British. Doh!

So if you're not British, what qualifies you to talk so authoritatively about the driving system in the UK?

And to be honest i am typing off the top of my head, most of what i am saying is my opinion and not really researched, but then i can acknowledge that, you just are thick my friend and cant expand upon a mundane boring conversation written because i have nothing better to do at present.

So you don't actually have any sources or statistics to back up your claims?

Thought so.

Funny how i can not be bothered to supply hard facts and admit it whereas you seem too dull that you couldn't even know where to begin or to even weigh up evidence to support for or against your arguments. Oh! yeah! wikipedia i suppose Ha!

On evidence of driver training systems in the EU, the UK is way behind many other states. The UK even allows drink drivers to drive after their disqualification - many EU states will demand psychological testing to be done and a re-test taken.

Or should we talk about how the UK allows a very high amount of alcohol to be taken before a positive test can be registered compared to most other EU states?

As for the Britain vs Poland stuff - let's be honest, the UK is simply inferior to most of the EU when it comes to driving standards and laws. Even the speed limits in the UK are ridiculously low - 112km/h on motorways? Even Ireland has 120km/h!
delphiandomine   
14 Sep 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

Lets just cut to the chase is it, you hate the UK and anything to do with it or its people is basically the lowest form of life. Basically **** on the bottom of your shoe.

Of course, you've just made the mistake of assuming that I'm not from the UK ;)

Inferior? British drivers are among the safest and most courteous in Europe,

Driving on a british motorway during the week the whole thing works like a well oiled machine and you can predict what other drivers are going to do, when somebody has overtaken they usually pull straight back in using indicators to show their intent.

Aha, I didn't say a word about the abilities of drivers :P

British drivers are among the best in Europe, but I think it's a lot to do with national mentality - the Spanish driving test is ridiculously tough, yet they produce shockingly bad drivers with absolutely no idea how to drive apart from tunnel vision. Likewise, the Polish system is harder, yet it produces absolutely shocking drivers. Yet even though the British system is quite easy to get through, it doesn't produce absolutely dreadful drivers.

Maybe it's to do with enforcement, I dunno.
delphiandomine   
1 Oct 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

I have a Australian (Queensland) provisional licence that is valid for 1 year, A provisional is a full legal licence in Australia, we have a 3 year provisional graduate licence for Young Drivers in Australia with P plates. and i am not a young driver

Aha, well, if it's not a full unrestricted licence, then you can't blame EU states for refusing to accept it as a full licence.

Why don't you just wait until you have a full Australian licence?
delphiandomine   
2 Oct 2009
Real Estate / Could you recommend a good property management company in Warsaw [41]

Also, if anyone has any advice on maintenance fees...

Depends on what you wish to do - usually the charge will be loaded in there somehow, so either charge extra for the rent and pay the fees yourself, or make them pay themselves. It's quite common in Poland to have to pay these on top of the ret.
delphiandomine   
5 Oct 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

I still don't see what the problem is. You can drive in the EU for a year on your Australian licence, which is more than enough time to pass the EU driving tests. You'll need the International Driving Permit - which is just a translation of your Australian licence into other languages.

You'll then satisfy the 185 days residency condition without a problem.

Is it really that big a problem having to pass a driving test in the EU? You'll be able to work perfectly legally on the Australian licence for a year - and all evidence suggests that you can get away with a foreign licence for more than a year!
delphiandomine   
6 Oct 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

but visa hassles and drivers liceence hassles are cousing me greef. as i have a native drivers licence and a IDP that are useless for what I what to do. DRIVE a truck lorry Camper vehice though Europe,

There should be nothing stopping you - you'll need to apply for a visa to stay longer than 3 months in Schengen, but if you've got proof of funding and a clear plan to return to Australia, I very much doubt they'll have a problem. The driving licence and IDP is enough to drive in the EU.
delphiandomine   
17 Oct 2009
Life / Things that annoy you in Poland. [133]

That really is a horrible number.

Isn't it just?

Yet the Polish state seems happy to allow it to continue - when they could cut the death rate dramatically by putting unmarked police cars out there with cameras. A few instant-bans handed out for dangerous driving (let's say - 7 days in the first instance) would soon change driving habits.

The saddest thing of all in Poland is that people take risks with small children in the car and a wife on top.

Having said this - our sport of 'let's annoy as many 40 year old idiotic male drivers as possible' seems to be great fun :D
delphiandomine   
23 Oct 2009
Travel / Hard Candy - Krakow, Poland - reviews? [131]

Apparently it is a cocktail bar but after seeing the drinks prices there I figured it was more of a scam for foreigners.

Probably a bit of both at that price, or it's a place for people who take pills and don't drink ;)
delphiandomine   
12 Nov 2009
Travel / Hard Candy - Krakow, Poland - reviews? [131]

If they want more foreigners in Krakow then the Police have to take some action and close bars like this..

Why? Call it a tourist tax...!

The exact same practice goes in throughout the world - London is notorious for it, though you don't often hear of complaints because it's often gullible/wealthy businessmen targetted.

Having said this, I always strongly advise foreigners new to Poland not to listen to the recommendations of overly friendly people in the street. It's a safe practice in general, and avoids situations such as this happening. The problem is that often, people are blinded by beauty and think with their little man in their trousers :(
delphiandomine   
17 Nov 2009
Real Estate / Where to look on the internet for Poland Real Estate [113]

in spite of all prices of real estate going down, are among the only ones who saw some imaginary 22% rise of prices (!?!?) in Lublin and Krakow... which brings big questions about the validity of this website

As I recall, many of the native English speakers working in 'property' in Poland use Mamdom - and these people are among the worst when it comes to property prices.
delphiandomine   
18 Nov 2009
Law / Opening a Polish Bank Account by a foreigner in Poland. Recommendations. [299]

there's no where to complain to

You don't have to complain. Just take the money out and go elsewhere - simple!

They charge 5PLN for ATM withdrawals which ain't good. The staff are friendly enough mind you. Too many surcharges for my liking but I went through an arduous process to set up everything so I'm labouring on with it.

Is mBank no use to you where you are? They're wonderful here on account of WBK machines being plentiful (so free withdrawals!). Utterly painfree bank and certainly no hassle with stroppy counter assistants.
delphiandomine   
18 Nov 2009
Work / Teaching English in Zakopane, is it safe? [53]

I just wanted to know what anyone Polish thinks of this plan?

It will be safe as long as you use common sense - but there is one important thing to consider. It's quite likely that you'll experience 'indirect' racism from students - there is a definite attitude in Poland that those of colour are inferior teachers. I've seen and heard this for myself - classes of well educated people telling me that they wouldn't want a black teacher, and even among my friends, I've heard such similar attitudes. It's not racism as such, more just a lack of experience with those of other races.

If you don't mind me asking - do you have previous experience in Poland with teaching?
delphiandomine   
18 Nov 2009
Work / Teaching English in Zakopane, is it safe? [53]

I will be volunteering at a summer camp.

Aha - well, if you're happy with them using you, then you won't have a problem. But I'd actually try and recommend finding a paid summer camp in Poland - the money won't be that great, but it's certainly better than not being paid for it!

I wouldn't recommend summer camps where you volunteer for many, many reasons.
delphiandomine   
21 Nov 2009
Law / Climate change/environmental businesses or NGOs in Poland [66]

The truth is that the vast majority of these jobs go to people that are connected. Virtually every expat in Poland either started out teaching English or was placed here by a company, or they had connections with people who got them the job.

My company can use our connections to investigate the market for you and to promote you in the right circles.
delphiandomine   
25 Nov 2009
Off-Topic / PF members MEETUPS.....everyone welcome! [122]

Ahhh, one step ahead of me!

There'll be a meetup on the 11th December - I need to go into the city tomorrow and find a suitable venue. Could anyone who is interested please e-mail me @gmail so I can place you on a mailing list about meetups? :)
delphiandomine   
26 Nov 2009
Off-Topic / PF members MEETUPS.....everyone welcome! [122]

Drop us a text if you are venturing out..i am actually in poznan this weekend so would be around and it woudl be nice to catch up.

Will do - there's some stuff going on this weekend, I'll text you when I know the details!
delphiandomine   
26 Nov 2009
Real Estate / Where to look on the internet for Poland Real Estate [113]

That's one thing I'm trying to do with my company - avoid the situation where most of these companies have links with certain businesses and they cream off two lots of profits. I like to think that we can actually be impartial. I've certainly got no interest in promoting overpriced property - I wouldn't buy it myself, and I can't expect anyone paying me to actually recommend something like that to them.

(rare in Poland, I know...!)