The Polish police in my apartment, asking for my passport and phone number.

mephias:

I moved warsaw a month ago. 15 minutes ago a police came to my apartment. I couldn't understand what she was saying I tried to call my flat owner but didn't answer. She then asked for my passport and phone number and took some notes and leave.

Is this something usual ? What it can be for ?

mephiasThreads: 15 Posts: 811 Joined: Nov 14, 08 MEMBER	Jun 23, 09, 17:49 / #
I moved warsaw a month ago. 15 minutes ago a police came to my apartment. I couldn't understand what she was saying I tried to call my flat owner but didn't answer. She then asked for my passport and phone number and took some notes and leave. Is this something usual ? What it can be for ?

aphrodisiacThreads: 19 Posts: 3,907 Joined: Apr 15, 09	Jun 23, 09, 17:56 / #
mephias: I moved warsaw a month ago. 15 minutes ago a police came to my apartment. I couldn't understand what she was saying I tried to call my flat owner but didn't answer. She then asked for my passport and phone number and took some notes and leave. Is this something usual ? What it can be for ? ??????????beats me.

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 857 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jun 23, 09, 17:59 / #
mephias: I moved warsaw a month ago. 15 minutes ago a police came to my apartment. I couldn't understand what she was saying I tried to call my flat owner but didn't answer. She then asked for my passport and phone number and took some notes and leave. Is this something usual ? What it can be for ? Are you running a terrorist cell or a paedophile ring?

AvalonThreads: 3 Posts: 708 Joined: Sep 11, 07	Jun 23, 09, 18:01 / #
You are from Turkey?.......do you look Asiatic?.........do you have a visa to work or study?..........are you on holiday?......are you a muslim fanatic?.........lots of reasons that the police or immigration authourities might check up on you. As long as everything is legal, why do you need to worry?

HarryThreads: 59 Posts: 7,996 Joined: May 2, 07	Jun 23, 09, 18:02 / #
mephias: I moved warsaw a month ago. 15 minutes ago a police came to my apartment. I couldn't understand what she was saying I tried to call my flat owner but didn't answer. She then asked for my passport and phone number and took some notes and leave. Is this something usual ? What it can be for ? Have you applied for a residency permit? If so, it is a requirement for the police to come and confirm you live where you claim to live. With my last card they came three times before they were finally satified that I was who I claimed to be and did actually live in the flat I own.

mephiasThreads: 15 Posts: 811 Joined: Nov 14, 08 MEMBER	Edited by: mephias Jun 23, 09, 18:06 / #
I have work permit, I registered my apartment and haven't applied for residence permit yet. I have nothing to worry about. But I don't know why she was here and it's annoying enough. Also I have a regular look and working in a multinational company.

SwiteziankaThreads: - Posts: 525 Joined: Jun 17, 08	Jun 23, 09, 18:08 / #
Take someone Polish with you and go to the nearest police station to ask what it was all about. This is not normal, and it's better to know what the matter is.

mephiasThreads: 15 Posts: 811 Joined: Nov 14, 08 MEMBER	Edited by: mephias Jun 23, 09, 18:10 / #
Switezianka: Take someone Polish with you and go to the nearest police station to ask what it was all about. This is not normal, and it's better to know what the matter is. Tomorrow I can ask my colleagues about it. I also finally reached my flat owner. He will try to check it from Police Station tomorrow :).

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,181 Joined: May 28, 09	Jun 23, 09, 18:47 / #
mephias: She then asked for my passport and phone number and took some notes and leave. Maybe she's trying to find illegal aliens.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Jun 23, 09, 18:48 / #
This is not the Mexican border patrol here, PP

mephiasThreads: 15 Posts: 811 Joined: Nov 14, 08 MEMBER	Jun 23, 09, 19:05 / #
I don't make any noise, Only someone knocked on the wall 3 weeks ago While I was taking shower around 01:00 am. Now I'll try to take shower before 10:00 pm or in the morning. I wish I could make a party :) but Have very few friends yet,

michalekThreads: - Posts: 59 Joined: Jun 14, 09	Jun 23, 09, 19:11 / #
in poland it's normal to have a terrible neighbours, so maybe some old lady called for police because new guy moved in... she was worried :)

mephiasThreads: 15 Posts: 811 Joined: Nov 14, 08 MEMBER	Jun 23, 09, 19:12 / #
michalek: in poland it's normal to have a terrible neighbours, so maybe some old lady called for police because new guy moved in... she was worried :) It's possible nearly all my neighbours are old ladies, bad luck :)

aphrodisiacThreads: 19 Posts: 3,907 Joined: Apr 15, 09	Jun 23, 09, 19:15 / #
mephias: It's possible nearly all my neighbours are old ladies, bad luck :) it is possible. Make friends with them or move to another place where there are more young people. Why bother?

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,181 Joined: May 28, 09	Jun 23, 09, 18:52 / #
Seanus: This is not the Mexican border patrol here, PP It sounds like what they do when they are checking to see if someone can legally work or what kind of Visa they got.

michalekThreads: - Posts: 59 Joined: Jun 14, 09	Edited by: michalek Jun 23, 09, 18:58 / #
PlasticPole: Is this something usual ? What it can be for ? don't worry ive been [written <<is this correct word for 'spisany' ?>>] a lot of times and nothing happened :) maybe party was too laud :) just chillout, as long as they dont give you a ticket :)

mephiasThreads: 15 Posts: 811 Joined: Nov 14, 08 MEMBER	Edited by: mephias Jun 23, 09, 19:21 / #
aphrodisiac: it is possible. Make friends with them or move to another place where there are more young people. Why bother? Thank you for the suggestion.., Unfortunately none of them speaks English and came here only a month ago. Maybe a little bit later.

ragtime27Threads: 1 Posts: 245 Joined: Feb 20, 09	Jun 23, 09, 19:21 / #
mephias: #13 I don't make any noise, Only someone knocked on the wall 3 weeks ago While I was taking shower around 01:00 am. Now I'll try to take shower before 10:00 pm or in the morning. you reminded of the movie "the pianist" the guy had to live indoor and he can't even caught,fearing for his life from the Nazis Maybe Poland is large scene from the movie!!

aphrodisiacThreads: 19 Posts: 3,907 Joined: Apr 15, 09	Edited by: aphrodisiac Jun 23, 09, 19:29 / #
mephias: Unfortunately none of them speaks English and came here only a month ago. well, try to say "Dzien Dobry" when you passing by them in the building and flash a polite smile. Could not hurt for now and keep an eye on other possibilities:) for the future. Sometimes all it takes is saying Hello. If those ladies are older, they maybe be having some trust issues. People are the same all over the world, but older people could be tricky sometimes:). Who knows. In one months time you might be singing a different tune. I am an optimist:)

mephiasThreads: 15 Posts: 811 Joined: Nov 14, 08 MEMBER	Jun 23, 09, 19:37 / #
aphrodisiac: well, try to say "Dzien Dobry" when you passing by them in the building and flash a polite smile. I do it, "Dzien Dobry" or "cześć" all the time with a smile but some of them are though :).

aphrodisiacThreads: 19 Posts: 3,907 Joined: Apr 15, 09	Jun 23, 09, 19:42 / #
mephias: "cześć" it is more for friends then for older ladies LOL

michalekThreads: - Posts: 59 Joined: Jun 14, 09	Jun 23, 09, 19:50 / #
you have to make some 'parapetówka' for your neighbours :) 'parapetówka' is a house party when someone moves in :)

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,143 Joined: Jun 7, 07	Jun 23, 09, 20:09 / #
mephias: She then asked for my passport and phone number A woman in uniform....blimey , if she had been nice looking i would only give her my phone number if she gave me hers....

pgtxThreads: 48 Posts: 6,269 Joined: Feb 14, 09 [Moderator]	Jun 23, 09, 23:25 / #
Avalon: You are from Turkey?.......do you look Asiatic?......... stupid questions... Avalon: the police or immigration authourities might check up on you. they should start learning english.... what a shame... michalek: maybe some old lady called for police because new guy moved in... it'd be that... i feel for you... old ladies are pain in the ass as neighbors...

nauczyciel	Jun 23, 09, 23:58 / #
my business partner is a police officer here in PL, so when there are any issues with the police, i just call him, he translates, they leave. but not that i've had any problems to speak of

King SobieskiThreads: 7 Posts: 1,103 Joined: Jan 22, 07	Edited by: King Sobieski Jun 24, 09, 06:05 / #
Harry: Have you applied for a residency permit? If so, it is a requirement for the police to come and confirm you live where you claim to live. With my last card they came three times before they were finally satified that I was who I claimed to be and did actually live in the flat I own. harry has probably answered your issue in post 5, but continue your mindless whingeing. ragtime27: you reminded of the movie "the pianist" the guy had to live indoor and he can't even caught,fearing for his life from the Nazis Maybe Poland is large scene from the movie!! good comparison flogtime27...are you always this astute?

datThreads: 2 Posts: 84 Joined: Oct 5, 08	Jun 24, 09, 07:33 / #
wildrover: A woman in uniform....blimey , if she had been nice looking i would only give her my phone number if she gave me hers.... I'm with him. I think your neighbor called for a stripper and requested her dressed up in police uniform.

mafketisThreads: 15 Posts: 1,830 Joined: Mar 31, 08	Jun 24, 09, 08:32 / #
I would say don't smile at them (older Polish people are likely to think you're making fun of them). Just say dzień dobry (cześć is too informal) with a poker face (or a slight 'I'm dying inside' smile) and nod slightly. That's much better manners than grinning for no reason. You should only smile if you've been introduced and know their name, "Dzień dobry Pani Leokadio!"

T_JThreads: - Posts: 3 Joined: Jun 9, 09	Jun 24, 09, 12:21 / #
Ohhh...i had an experianced wt the polish police during my visit 3 months ago. im asian and I lives in europe and have been travelling to many difference country in europe but never had this kind of experiance. I was alone in the bus station wtg for the bus in Gdynia. I saw the police car on the other road and out of suddent they came to me and there is 2 police guy asking for my ID. Normally i just bring my danish ID in my wallet and never bring my pasport just to go out for lunch or drink. But that day, it was good that i bring my pasport. I was asking them why they stop me bcos i feel emberassing when other people look at me like im 'running terrorist cell or a paedophile ring' or prostitute??!! but no explanation!! They was asking me what im doing in Poland (wtf??) i love visiting Poland! but after checking my pasport (which is stated my working/residence permit and my working position) they left without saying any word!!!!! I was calling my polish friend straight away and complaning and condemn over the phone and after we meet i cant stop complaining and made a stupid joke with them...haha! they have to hear that by time to time :p

nauczyciel	Jun 24, 09, 22:21 / #
/\ they just need something to do. they have to take your info and show their superiors that they are actually working. With PL being a rather homogeonous society, visible minorities are usually targeted. Myself in a group of 5 were stopped just after Sylwester, for walking .5 meter out of a zebra. They questioned us and took our names. We were told they couldve given us mandats.... but they were letting us off with a warning.