As much as I do like living in Poland, there are times when my appreciation for my host (hostess?) country wanes a bit. Such as, when I've been trying to open a bank account for 2 months and it's still not open. No, that's not entirely accurate, I can now put money into the account, I just can't take it out.
Let's go back to January, when my wallet was stolen and I decided it was a good time to close out my bank account, since I wasn't really happy with my bank and there was only 3 zloty in the account. I went into my local branch, told them my wallet had been stolen (with my bank card inside, of course), and I'd like to close the account. The only ID I had was my Washington state driver's license, but it's got my picture & signature on it so it shouldn't be a problem, right? Oh wait, this is Poland. I couldn't close my account here in Poznan, in person, with a photo ID, because the account was opened in Walcz (the town I lived in for one year, for those of you who are new to the program). In fact, they wouldn't even tell me if anyone had tried to access the account, because I didn't have my bank card.(???) But, I could send a letter to the Walcz branch asking them to close the account. Yes, a letter. No ID, not even a copy of one, just a letter.
OK, step one, old account closed. I found an online bank that offers online banking, no fee accounts, and they pay interest, AND their website has an English version! So I called them, they walked me through the online application for an account, and I waited for the paperwork to come in the mail. It came in a relatively timely manner, I filled it out, copied my new IDs, and mailed it all back to them. Then I waited. Two weeks later, I called them again. Oh, there's another form I need to send in, it's on the website, ok, I printed it, filled it out, mailed it. Then the fun began.
I got a call from a bank representative. She didn't speak English. She asked if there was someone who spoke Polish she could speak to. She managed to communicate to me that I had put the wrong information on the form & I'd have to send it again. Of course I couldn't just correct it over the phone, have you forgotten I'm in Poland? Fine, I printed, filled in & mailed the form again. A few days later I called to find out if my account was active & was told they'd just received the form but it was wrong again. The woman couldn't tell me why because she didn't have access to the form. Not to worry, I got a call the next day. Again no English, again the form is wrong & by the way we need another form as well. Swell.
This brings us to last Wednesday, when I again printed & filled in the form, photocopied the additional info they needed & mailed it all off. I just called them & the account is still not active, though they have received the form. No word on whether it's correct or not, I should call back on Monday.
With any luck, I'll have an active bank account by this time next year.
12 comments:
"I want my two dollars!"
Hey!
I read Youre blog,and I'm so delighted,Pole may understand many things while reading Your blog.I think many people said to You that You should publish it in a book,or something like that,but I give You just one reason for this,it would be just perfect idea for textbook to learn english.My english is not so advanced, but I read it with curiosity,and I just couldn't miss any word,even if I didn't understend it. Ok no more adulation,I read almost all post and I've noticed that You watching Poland more objective.Bla bla bla...(here should be some other analisys of You blog)
Anyway I'll be happy to read more post about You adventures here in Poland. And dont worry about the bank,I spent for the opening my account (I think in the same net-bank) 1 month,but now I'm really satisfied for it.
With good thought! Pozdrawiam.
Mari - thanks, I needed that! :)
Bartosz - I'm pleasantly surprised that you can find useful English in my babblings, glad to be of help!
Of course it is useful! Reading in English some funny histories or adventures,when someone know why or where it is happening,makes story more atractive.
With all good thoughts!
Ps.I've noticed that Youre blog is very popular!Gratulation!
I just joined in and have read your banking story with interest. My brother just moved back from 18 years in Canada and has tried to open a bank account with great difficulties. He's got one now, but it took forever...mostly due to the fact that he does not have a meldunek. What a pain. You get all our sympathies.
Btw...Walcz? As in, small town in north-western Poland? Walcz Walcz? If that is true, how did you end up there? That's my hometown and I didn't think anybody actually ended up there, except for those who were born there.
As far as I know, there's only one Walcz & I lived there for a year. It's the home town of my closest Polish friend & she helped me get a job at the college there. If you know the Wojtan family, that's my connection to Walcz.
Hey,
I spent about 6 months just outside of Poznan in Owinska as an English assistant in a blind school. It was part of a Gap programme and was the most rewarding experience I have ever had. I remember going through similar difficulties when trying to renew my visa after 3 months (as I'm from New Zealand). Long waits and lack of English were the biggist difficulty. But hey...it's Poland.
Wanda just remeber:
"nie ma,nie ma,nie ma.... BITCH!" So the banks have not goten any better. I think I finaly got my bank account closed in Walcz but they kept five zlote and told me to come back for it in a month. I asked them what would happen if I did not come back for it as I was leaving the country in two weeks,and no one was able to tell me what would happen.
The bureaucracy is so annoying in my country :-(
I am MBA student from Houston, TX trying to do research on Poland. Can you help me?
Im trying to find the retail prices of Energy Drinks in Poland.
Any pricing data you could send me on Red Bull, Powerade, Tiger Gellwe, Isostar, and/or XL would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry for this totally random question, but any help you could give me would be huge.
Thanks,
Ryan
tulane_team_3@hotmail.com
Wendy,
I currently working towards my MBA at Tulane University (Houston Campus) and have a project in a global marketing class. I have spent so much time searching the net truing to find these numbers and was at the end of my rope. Then I came across your blog and thought what they heck, lets see if you could help. And you did - You Rock!
Your quick reply was just what I needed. You will be listed in big bold letters as a key resource for the paper I have to right. - cheers!
I hope all is well with you in Poland and I would like say a big thanks!
If I ever make it there or if you are ever in Texas, I will for sure buy you a beer or an energy drink, oh what the heck, I'll get you both!
I am originally from Kamloops B.C., Canada. I lived there for 18 years and then went to university in Edmonton, AB, Canada. Through different jobs, I ended up in Houston, TX and have been here for ~3 years.
Anyways, thanks again....
Ryan
Oh, man. The pain.
Yes, my hopes also got all high when I saw that online banking site, which not only had an english translation but offered useful maps and instructions for strangers. Oh my.
(we must be talking about the same one because there seems to be only one, 2 years later...)
And the honeymoon also lasted just as long as I tried interacting with them. They managed to find someone who spoke english after 10 minutes in the phone. They sent me to a local kiosk to accelerate / ease the process. There no one spoke english either... and anyway they would do nothing without a PESEL or passport. (I am spanish, we have our own identity document which is accepted across Europe and so I have not needed a passport in my 31 years :P).
So back again to the international red tape. And I thought that spanish bureaucrats where nasty... I am now missing them.
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