Travel / What is your opinion of Gorzów Wielkopolski? [11]


Yes, same as Poles having to leave cities and villages in today's Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania... wars... ;-(

Po polsku / Krótkie tłumaczenia z polskiego na angielski i z angielskiego na polski [32]

Lekcja angielskiego - Kabaret Łowcy.B

Hehe, tych dwóch nawet by uszło za Brytoli (z wyglądu), nie?

youtu.be/ZIjMXl-vC60

UK, Ireland / Polish man beaten to death in London! [99]

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3774733/Polish-immigrant-broke-woman-s-home-brutally-raped-filmed-attacks-mobile-phone-jailed-13-years.html

no comment, no link

UK, Ireland / Polish man beaten to death in London! [99]

That qualifies for the electric chair in some countries - no excuses.
Another point regarding the beating: tragic, yes - but so much media hype... Poles also commit crimes abroad. Other times they are the victims. Would you expect in any other way from nearly a 1m strong population living in the UK?

UK, Ireland / POLISH MAN 25 MURDERED IN LEEDS UK [19]


I don't think Leeds is bad at all - it is up and coming and has its good and bad parts. I doubt Liverpool or Belfast are any 'nicer' - especially Liverpool was a scary ----hole last time I was there...

News / Petru wants Tadeusz Mazowiecki monument in Warsaw [25]

The problem with Mazowiecki is that he kissed the RC church's arse too much... and allowed religion back in schools.

Law / Buying a USED CAR in Poland, my personal experiences and TRAPS to avoid !! [133]

Gniezno does not have a good reputation - a lot of revived post-accident/major repair sales... I would rather look for a private seller.

Travel / Driving from UK to Poland in Christmas Time - winter tyres? [46]

The current requirement to drive on winter tyres (or all-season tyres bearing the correct marking) in conditions where they represent a safer option than summer tyres, regardless of season, will remain the rule.

Life / What is the worst bank in Poland that I should avoid at all costs? [21]


Not sure which ones to avoid. The selection is decent...
But Alior is one that I personally do not like for some odd reason - probably their hopeless adverts...

ING is great for that actually - they offer free accounts in foreign currencies and free transfers between ING accounts. Combine that with a free service like walutomat.pl and you'll be getting the best exchange rates and transfers between your accounts.


PKO BP charge for everything, but omnipresent and has a good app. Getin Bank was also OK some time ago offering some money back each month, high rates, and with a nice app - probably the most Polish (in terms of capital) of all banks in Poland.

But all depends what you will need the account for - no one size fits all, I am afraid.

Life / What is the worst bank in Poland that I should avoid at all costs? [21]

Well, you've the one who has asked for opinions and you're claiming my experience is false just because it's different to yours!?

edited

Life / What is the worst bank in Poland that I should avoid at all costs? [21]


Agreed in avoiding them, although strictly speaking SKOKs are not banks but member-owned financial cooperatives (credit unions), so they are not obliged to abide by the same banking regulations - which obviously many people fail to realise...

Life / Cheapest Marlboro White and Lambert&Butler cigarettes in Poland [17]


Believe it or not, there exist limits on transporting legal drugs (tobacco and alcohol) within the EU.
ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/individuals/travelling/within-eu_en

Not sure how this works in practice, but with a 100 cartons, I would imagine if you ever get stopped and checked by the Customs Police you will no doubt be questioned and will have to convince them that it's all for personal use (good luck with a 100 cartons in your boot), otherwise probably a (hefty?!) fine will be imposed.

Life / What is the worst bank in Poland that I should avoid at all costs? [21]

There's a new bank out there (Nest Bank - looks to be British held) that offers what is advertised as a completely free account with a card, including free use of any ATM in Poland - and apparently no minimums to spend and without any strings attached:

nestbank.pl/indywidualny/konta/nest-konto.html?utm_source=2&utm_campaign=in&utm_content=main_nestkonto&utm_medium=www

Travel / Traveling to Stuttgart from Poznan and back [7]

You could also try blablacar....

Life / Costs of living in Bialystok [17]

numbeo/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Poland&city1=Bialystok&country2=Poland&city2=Warsaw

Travel / Two weeks in Poland - would like to get an idea of costs please. [5]

numbeo/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=South+Africa&city1=Johannesburg&country2=Poland&city2=Warsaw&displayCurrency=EUR

Life / Health system in Poland one of the worst in Europe: report [78]


From my experience most specialist consultation visits are 50-150pln. But yeah, with any treatments that will quickly add up...
But the most likely alternative would be to deduct more from salaries to fund the system...
No easy way out of this one...

Life / Costs of living in Bialystok [17]

It will be a challenge to make a move like that, no doubt about it - especially with the children at the age where they are... It will be a culture (not to mention the weather) shock - I will be on the lookout for your impressions and comments... Are you Dutch?

All the best!

Life / Health system in Poland one of the worst in Europe: report [78]


Well, I do and a member of my family happens to work in a hospital...


It is not ideal for sure, but that would be an overstatement... Overall, it is probably improving as more $ is being pumped into it, but it cannot meet the demand and the standards of Western EU countries, not to mention the pay, development opportunities and work conditions offered there to attract all medical professionals away from PL (but also RO, GR, CZ, etc...).

But this is not to say that say the NHS in the UK is doing that much better (massive mismanagement issues, etc) - and probably the same goes for many other Western EU countries. The general trent seems to be to attract medical staff from the East - so say India/Pakistan for UK, and so I would imagine we will see Belarusian and Ukrainian medical staff in PL more often in the coming years...


True, and also to Scandinavia & UK...

Life / Health system in Poland one of the worst in Europe: report [78]

It is no secret the NFZ is a mess and needs a proper reform from the very top down, no doubt about it.

One major issue is that there is real control or accountability of the hospital directors and the deals they do with the heads of the disciplines when awarding lucrative contracts for private consultations and procedures in the NFZ hospitals and clinics - using NFZ equipment without any contribution/deductions... The whole arrangement seems more like the mafia as it is typically all kept between family members/friends rather than the best/competition... it is also common practice for chief hospital specialists to monopolise their specialist services and actually not allow younger competition to get their training simply out of fear that they could become their competitors. How vicious is that? But that's how short-sighted the system (or the people who are responsible for it and those who take advantage of it - I'll let you decide) here have become...

This is something I wish the media focused on more that the idle BS political news...

Yet, similar to the NHS, there are no volunteers who would be willing to take the risks and responsibility for fixing it properly... (is it even possible?)


Unfortunately, and I hate to say it, this seems to be as common as vanilla ice cream in the States now that I think about it. How is it justified in practice? As far as I gather, since the NFZ is so overstrained/inefficient/underfunded/mismanaged, the waiting lists for specialist consultations/tests are typically so long that the medical staff seem to view it as a work-around as this way patients get access to the tests and specialist consultations, as they would otherwise have to be placed on waiting lists. So the way it is seems to be viewed by the medical staff is that it is actually a win-win situation for both: patients and hospital.

Life / Health system in Poland one of the worst in Europe: report [78]


Well, some of the staff (the ones up in the ranks) to be precise are the ones who benefit from the bleeding system - your average resident, doc, nurse, etc. is not in the position to take advantage of it...


Well, you make it sound as simple as making a PB& jelly sandwich, and it probably is in the West... I think Poland has not reached the level of rule of law and public trust in the highest national institutions that would enable such approach - see below for more


Spot on, Braveheart. I think this is the rarely mentioned sad, sad reality I don't like about Poland... the system is broken and the people either do not believe they can fix it, or do not want to fix it... speaks volumes about the Polish society, I think.

Thanks for sharing your story - not really a pretty picture...

Travel / Best place to exchange money in Poland? [98]

I don't know any other places except the banks - and their rates are always lower.

To get best exchange rates, you will need to sign up to on-line exchange services such as walutomat.pl or cinkciarz.pl - best real time rates and small provisions.

Travel / Suggestion for nightlife in Poland [28]

Oh dear...!

Life / Poland's Alior Bank reviews / ING / Millenium [26]

I am with ING and I cannot think of anything negative about them...

Life / Costs of living in Bialystok [17]


How recently have you left PL? I think it's time for you to wake up and smell the... bacon... ;-)
This is utter nonsense - survive you could (and on a budget), yes, but it will not be a comfortable existence after you've paid your housing, car/transport/costs associated with children... forget any savings or vacations, especially if the kids are in paid schooling or want to attend after school activities...

Po polsku / Polecam to, strony i wiadomości w sieci o Polsce [181]

A taki sympatyczny ekonomista był z niego; szkoda, że w politykę wdepnął...

Law / Insure your British car in Poland for a full year. [15]

I believe you can now also register your UK vehicle - may be even cheaper in the long run - search the forum, I recall a post about it.

Life / Feedback on Smart Bank / Nest Bank [4]

I use Nest also as I like the no-fees for cash withdrawals at all ATM policy, and the account+card are free, no strings attached (no min monthly pay-ins, etc) - no problems thus far...

Life / Poland's Alior Bank reviews / ING / Millenium [26]

Fresh off the press re Millenium Bank: seems they are being fined 20M PLN for misleading customers
businessinsider.com.pl/finanse/kara-dla-banku-milennium-od-uokik/nx986we

Life / Poland safe for a Greek? [93]


Well, always dangerous to generalise, but in comparison to some other EU countries, I think the people tend to appear more tired/worried and gloomy, are not that courteous on the streets/shops, not to mention aggressive (especially on the roads). And this is actually what a Greek friend of mine pointed out after visiting Warsaw recently...

By far most violence is a result of aggressive drunk idiots as Dominic pointed out.

There is a growing gay awareness, especially in Warsaw.

Overall, I thing Poles have a soft spot for Greeks in general, so you should be fine.

Enjoy your stay.