[mootothemax]

Yeah, the tech side is great, it's just a shame that borrowing costs - for anything in złoty, e.g. mortgage - are gigantic, saving interest rates are abysmal, and you really have to watch out for bad actors thanks to the close-to-zero consumer protection rights.

For example, a number of online shops show items as being "in stock" despite having an empty warehouse (or no idea if their supplier has anything in stock). It's possible to transfer large sums, and then have to sit around waiting for a month or two while the shop decides what to do, all with close to zero repercussions for the shop themselves.

If you've paid with a credit card instead of a bank transfer, it's simple enough to kick off a chargeback. (well, not as simple as in other nations, but a short form and a quick chat with a moody call centre rep).

As a recent example, I had a ~5,000zł purchase go wrong (to a well-known Apple authorized store) after the payment was successfully taken, but the store's website had an error and failed to process. Trying to get a response out of the payment processor or the shop was like getting blood out of a stone; the only thing that worked inside of a reasonable timeframe (I gave them a week to even reply to me on phone -or- email) was a chargeback.

While I can live with unfavourable rates, give me the UK's consumer protection laws any day of the week!

[koliber]

It's interesting how different people can interpret the same situation in different ways.

I am wondering why you consider borrowing costs for a mortgage in PLN to be gigantic. I just checked and the total annual rate looks to be around 3.3%. Is that what you consider gigantic?

I've lived in Poland for over five years now. It took me some time to get used to operating procedures here. It is different than in the US, which is what I was used to. There are things that are worse than in the US, and there are things that are better. It is not as horrible as you make it seem.

Like everywhere, you have to know how to maneuver. A person having just arrived in the US may not know what to do when faced with bad service. Things that tend to work there is insisting to talk to a manager, and threatening a chargeback. Both will be difficult if you don't speak English.

In Poland, depending on the situation, threatening to report the company to UOKiK (the consumer rights groups) works really well. This will be difficult if you don't speak Polish.

I've had bad experiences in both countries. These were few and far between, both in the US, and in Poland.

Regarding the bad experience you've had... Could the delay in replying been to language difficulties, or were you communicating with the store in Polish?

P.S. You're right on about many retailers listing stock they don't have. Lot's of just-in-time types of stores. It comes down to finding reputable retailers. Not once though have I had a situation where something was not shipped. I've made hundreds of purchases online.

[mootothemax]

>I just checked and the total annual rate looks to be around 3.3%

Lowest I've seen is 3% plus base rate. If you typed "poland mortgage rates" into Google, you might be seeing the same infobox as I am, which references a US-based credit union. Taking Millenium Bank as an example, the calculator on their site offers 3.6% - base not included - for 25 years on a house value of 1,000,000zł with a loan of 700,000zł. That seems gigantic to me, and over 25 years it's just painful.

In a way, this kinda illustrates my frustration with the country; you really need to read the fine-print.

> threatening to report the company to UOKiK

Which I severely resent having to resort to; the companies should want to offer great service, and not have to be beaten into it.

Thankfully, since I've been here, I've seen a great increase in the quality of customer service. The Polish people I've met seem to fall into two groups though: either they'll complain; or they'll put up with absolute nonsense for months on end. It's such a shame.

>Could the delay in replying been to language difficulties, or were you communicating with the store in Polish?

Entirely in Polish.

>It comes down to finding reputable retailers. Not once though have I had a situation where something was not shipped. I've made hundreds of purchases online.

Five years ago, I would've said exactly the same thing as you. Then I bought a house, needed an oven, fridge, washing machine etc. etc. etc. all of which - from many different shops - had issues one way or another. I also had the same experience buying tires online recently, despite having thought I'd learned my lesson.

I love being here, and the country and people are great. On a practical level, though, it's not always as rosy as it's sometimes made out to be.

Edit: while I'm ranting, an anecdote: tried to buy a new nice-ish hoover online a few weeks ago. Looked up prices, and all the major players have it - Saturn etc. - and I see a small shop that's an authorized retailer for the brand and figure "Sure, I'd much rather give my money to you than the massive companies" went ahead, and hey presto, I receive every automated order received/packed/sent email from them, only to have the owner contact me a few days later and admitted he had a problem in his supply chain. Fine, these things happen, he promises delivery a week later, and I go with it. Of course, their website still listed the same damned thing in stock and, of course, there was another delay after that week. Cancelled the order, gave my money to Saturn mutter mutter grump grump and had the hoover the very next day. GRRRRR.

[zo1]

>"Lowest I've seen is 3% plus base rate. If you typed "poland mortgage rates" into Google, you might be seeing the same infobox as I am, which references a US-based credit union. Taking Millenium Bank as an example, the calculator on their site offers 3.6% - base not included - for 25 years on a house value of 1,000,000zł with a loan of 700,000zł. That seems gigantic to me, and over 25 years it's just painful."

Sitting with a 10.x% mortgage right now in sunny South Africa. It's all about perspective. Then again, we're on-par to paying the thing off within a few years, but plenty of people carry their mortgage around for up to 30 years, or more with re-financing.