LIVE FORUMS / ARCHIVES / 2005-2007
PolishForums - ARCHIVE Witamy in PolishForums Archive :
Archives / 2005-2007 / Business, Economy / posts: 21

Organised Crime - Mafia Business in Poland



szkotja2007Threads: 38
Posts: 2,544
Joined: Dec 29, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 12:45 /  #
Everyone I talk to about small businesses in Pl talks about organised crime - mafia types. How bad is this in Poland ? Is it just protection type rackets, local "tax" type things. How much of a hassle is it when starting up a business ? Any particular areas worse than others ? I am thinking of the Gdansk bay area in particular.
helloThreads: 37
Posts: 1,104
Joined: Dec 5, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 12:50 /  #
Organized mafia that harass Polish businesses is a BIG problem in Poland. It seems the businesses in the best locations (like shopping stores, currency exchanges, all kinds of agencies, even law offices) are prone to mafia and are expected to pay a fee to be "protected" by them. Sometimes even legal companies force the company owners to pay them to be "protected" - if they don't, they may have their business arsoned or even worse.

The Polish police must do something about that - but the problem is that the police is said to be corrupted too.
plk123Threads: 30
Posts: 6,415
Joined: Aug 29, 07  Pictures: 2 		  Nov 14, 07, 12:56 /  #
just have enough $ to grease a lot of palms and you should be in business. lol
szkotja2007Threads: 38
Posts: 2,544
Joined: Dec 29, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 15:54 /  #
Quoting: hello
but the problem is that the police is said to be corrupted to

Yes, I heard that too. I suppose to a certain extent its just accepted then ?
Grzegorz_Threads: 81
Posts: 6,204
Joined: Nov 16, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:11 /  #
Quoting: hello
are prone to mafia and are expected to pay a fee to be "protected" by them.


BS. Something like that happens only in cases of brothels, night clubs involved in illegal things etc. Generally small crime pays to bigger crime.
helloThreads: 37
Posts: 1,104
Joined: Dec 5, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:17 /  #
BS? Then what can you say about guard companies that have sprung like mushrooms in Poland? Some if not most of them were established by the former milicja officers. Some of them even blackmail the owners if they don't want to renew their services...

I think it's a Polish sensation on the world's scale that there are so many guards seen in businesses or stores (not to mention banks). Go to an expensive store in a city downtown and you are likely to be invited by a guard... One private guard or more per one store or city business location is weird...
randompalThreads: 7
Posts: 431
Joined: Jul 10, 07 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:17 /  #
government=legal mafia. whenever you hear of government busting a mafia ring it just means that they are rubbing out the competition...
Grzegorz_Threads: 81
Posts: 6,204
Joined: Nov 16, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:18 /  #
Quoting: hello
I think it's a Polish sensation on the world's scale that there are so many guards seen in businesses or stores (not to mention banks).


You're trying to be funny ?
smooth_jazzThreads: 12
Posts: 122
Joined: Jun 21, 07 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:19 /  #
Quoting: szkotja2007
Everyone I talk to about small businesses in Pl talks about organised crime -


I don't know but you could ask davidpeake, I know he own's his own business in Poland.
helloThreads: 37
Posts: 1,104
Joined: Dec 5, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:20 /  #
Quoting: Grzegorz_
You're trying to be funny ?

No, but sometimes I think you have never been abroad and only know other countries from articles. Go to a store (even the biggest and most expensive) in the US and you won't notice a guard starring at you as if you wanted to steal something.
LukaszThreads: 73
Posts: 2,396
Joined: Sep 1, 07 		Edited by: Lukasz   Nov 14, 07, 16:20 /  #
Quoting: Grzegorz_
BS. Something like that happens only in cases of brothels, night clubs involved in illegal things etc. Generally small crime pays to bigger crime.


I agree with G

I dont pay any money for mafia (I m business owner), and all business owners I know dont do it I think it is mostly problem of (like G) other illegal busniesses.

I have to admit that in 90's it was real problem for small business owners ... but now it isnt
Grzegorz_Threads: 81
Posts: 6,204
Joined: Nov 16, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:23 /  #
Quoting: hello
No, but sometimes I think you have never been abroad


Sometimes I think that you've been eating too much American food.
BubbaWooThreads: 46
Posts: 4,438
Joined: Sep 26, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:26 /  #
it cracks me up that the alcohol is kept in a closed section in many supermarkets... its almost as if they expect people to steal it...!
szkotja2007Threads: 38
Posts: 2,544
Joined: Dec 29, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:31 /  #
OK - so I am getting mixed picture from the forum.
The friend I spoke to in PL does import/export and so has dealings with the docks. Harbours and docks throughout the world are known for scams etc I suppose.
The other person I spoke to had their own plumbing business and after installing a new bathroom the customer just said "thanks" and didnt pay him. When he asked again he got a visit from some people.
Maybe its not as bad as I first thought.
Grzegorz_Threads: 81
Posts: 6,204
Joined: Nov 16, 06 		Edited by: Grzegorz_   Nov 14, 07, 16:36 /  #
No one says that there's no crime in Poland but there's a difference between usual crime and saying that business owners have to pay some "tax" to mafia.
WroclawThreads: 76
Posts: 7,418
Joined: Apr 1, 06 [Moderator]  Pictures: 3 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:37 /  #
Quoting: szkotja2007
The other person I spoke to had their own plumbing business and after installing a new bathroom the customer just said "thanks" and didnt pay him. When he asked again he got a visit from some people.


That was just a scam to get a free bathroom. Some 'heavy' laying down the law.

In the past it was bars and night clubs. Other groups dealt with cars.
LukaszThreads: 73
Posts: 2,396
Joined: Sep 1, 07 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:38 /  #
Quoting: Grzegorz_
No one says that there's no crime in Poland but there's a difference between usual crime and saying that business oners have to pay some "tax" to mafia.


exactly
BubbaWooThreads: 46
Posts: 4,438
Joined: Sep 26, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 16:41 /  #
Quoting: Wroclaw
Other groups dealt with cars.


did i ever mention car thefts in poland back in the 9Os...?
randompalThreads: 7
Posts: 431
Joined: Jul 10, 07 		  Nov 14, 07, 17:04 /  #
Quoting: BubbaWoo
did i ever mention car thefts in poland back in the 9Os...?

yah yah, we've all heard the stories
BubbaWooThreads: 46
Posts: 4,438
Joined: Sep 26, 06 		  Nov 14, 07, 18:09 /  #
oh, sorry... have you heard it all before...?
z_dariusThreads: 22
Posts: 5,091
Joined: Oct 18, 07 		  Nov 14, 07, 22:30 /  #
Quoting: hello
Go to a store (even the biggest and most expensive) in the US and you won't notice a guard starring at you as if you wanted to steal something

Ever been to China Town in NYC? When you have a chance, take a stroll along Canal Street.
Go UPtop of page


Similar discussions:

Similar to: Organised Crime - Mafia Business in Poland
Crime in london versus Crime in Poland.
Mafia taxis in Warsaw
Business taxes in Poland
Business Schools in English in Poland
Amount of capital to start a small business in Poland?
Interested to study bachelors of business administration in Poland
Humorous Crime about a Polish burglar
Foreclosures and crime waves hit Slavic Village in Cleveland
"Difficult Customer" business in Poland
Considering Buying a Polish Business

Plan to start a Film School in Poland  "Difficult Customer" business in Poland

Random: Trying to find out what Poles like to do in the UK
Archives / 2005-2007 / Business, Economy /posts: 21


This forum is archived (read-only).
Category:
© 2005-2010 PolishForums.com | PolishForums LIVE | Archives | Random | Statistics