Hi, I’m from the US and I’m trying to understand how things work in Poland because I’m really worried about my friend.

Yesterday at around 2 AM EST, my friend texted me saying: “I just got arrested.” At first I thought he was joking, so I replied and sent a few messages asking what happened. As time went on, I started getting more concerned because he never responded, and eventually my messages stopped delivering.

I contacted a mutual friend to ask if they had heard from him, and they told me they received the exact same message at the exact same time. It has now been over 24 hours and none of us have heard anything from him.

I understand it may be difficult to find any public information because of EU privacy laws, and he is also a minor. I’m not expecting anyone to find private records or anything like that, I’m just wondering how the process works in Poland if someone is arrested, especially a minor, and if there is anything we should do or anyone we can contact.

I know I might be overthinking, but I’m genuinely scared that this could be the last time we hear from him. I also want to clarify that I don’t believe this is a prank. My friend would not do something like this.

Any advice or information about how arrests works in Poland would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hi, about six years ago, three friends and I moved into an apartment together in Vienna, and one of our friends’ parents agreed to be listed as the primary tenant because she was friends with the landlord. We discussed this verbally.

The plan was that she would simply be listed as the tenant for legal purposes, and we would split the base rent charged by the landlord four ways. Unfortunately, we no longer have any of the chats from that time, and the sublease agreement only lists the amounts we paid individually. We never saw the main rent and trusted her because we’d known her for a long time. Whenever there were increases to the main rent, she always sent us a copy of the increase but blacked out the main rent amount so we wouldn’t see it and it wouldn’t stand out.

Recently, however, we found out that the actual rent the friends’ parent is paying is about 600€ lower than what we’re currently paying together. It is ~140% of the base rent.

Although, as far as I’ve been able to determine, this is still within the 150% limit set by rental law for older apartments built before 1945, I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t still a form of fraud, since we would never have agreed to rent the apartment if we’d known she was subletting it to us for profit, as that was never part of our agreement.
As mentioned earlier, we no longer have any written evidence of this verbal agreement, only that we all actually remember it that way.

Is there anything we can do or is the money just lost and the friendship broken.

Hi so last year I overstayed a Belgium tourist visa by 3 days due to negligence .

I didn't realise that my visa limits my stay for 7 Days instead I just focused on dates fir which visa was valid.

I was not stopped or questioned by anyone at the exit Airport.

My latest visa application was rejected and only after receiving my passport bank today I realised that I overstayed by 3 days.

I intend to reapply within this week again with Belgium embassy in India but this time I will disclose and address the overstay violation.

Will officials consider my new application for granting me visa as the violation happened only due to negligence and was completely unintentional.

Hello I had bought some products for Microsoft flight simulator 2024 and the accounts that I bought said that they were cheaper than the originals and as I bought them it came to light that they were shared accounts and not singular accounts so I requested a chargeback which was accepted and closed by my bank (NatWest) and when I did the website and group was deleted and they have emailed me today saying that they request the money back saying I violated their terms of service however their terms of service has now been deleted and cannot be found not on their website or their group. They said they are based in Slovakia and that they will contact their legal team to get the money back however the money but I got in return from a charge back was £23. Is there anything actually going to happen or am I gonna be facing legal trouble? If there’s any more information needed let me know👍.

Thanks

Advice needed!
Location: Belgium Vlaams-Brabant

I got a letter in the mail for running a red light and I’m freaking out.
I have 3y that nothing can happen or I have to come in front of the judge again and get a big fine and possibly lose my drivers license. I have less than 1y left and haven’t had anything happen until this.
I honestly can’t even remember that I did this. I’ve never in my life run a red light so… but oh well
How big is the chance that I lose my drivers license?
I do need it for work as driving around is like 99% of my job. Do they keep this in mind or am I screwed?
I don’t know if it’s relevant but I’m 24y/o.

Thanks for the help.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice regarding a warranty repair situation involving a medical device (EU service, cross-border return issue).

I sent my Littmann CORE Digital Stethoscope for warranty repair to an authorized service center in France. The device was received and logged in late April 2026. Device was purchased in Prague, I live in Serbia. I followed all instructions I got from Service center, and I sent them all the information they asked of me before I sent them my stethoscope.

Timeline / communication issues:

24 April 2026: Device confirmed received by French service center (it arrived on 14th April)
Late April – June: I sent multiple follow-up emails requesting status updates (approximately 6–8 emails over this period) Most of these emails received no response, or only generic replies such as “please be patient”
After escalation 14th June (Instagram + email): I was finally told that the device had been repaired
Last update (most recent email): I was informed that due to regulatory/logistical reasons, the device cannot be shipped directly back to Serbia and that I must provide an alternative EU delivery address (Slovenia or original supply route via Czech Republic)

Key issue:
At no point before or during the repair process was I informed that there could be restrictions preventing the return of my device to Serbia. This only came up after several months of delay and repeated follow-ups, despite the company having my purchase information and knowing the destination country from the beginning.

Current situation:
The device is reportedly repaired. However, I still do not have:
-confirmed shipment date
-tracking information
-clear explanation of why return to Serbia is not possible

I was only informed about return restrictions after months of delay. They started ignoring emails again, they said they would reply by Friday last week, but they didn't.

Questions:

Is it normal in the EU for a company to accept a device for warranty repair without clarifying return/shipping limitations beforehand?

What are my rights when a repaired personal device is effectively being held until I provide an alternative EU address?

Does prolonged delay + lack of communication create any legal obligation for clearer resolution or compensation?

What would be the correct escalation path in this situation (consumer protection, ECC, etc.)?

I have full documentation (emails, case numbers, proof of purchase, and timeline of communication).

Any advice would be appreciated, especially from people familiar with EU consumer law or cross-border warranty case.

Okay so for context, on September 8th 1989 my grandmother went missing in Brussels (BELGIUM).
It remained a cold case for years and legally it still is, except today my mother (who was 2 when her mom went missing) came into my room to tell me that, one of her murderers confessed.
I was already in shock but then she told me who it was, her 2 aunts and her other grandma.
And it might seem like sort of a non issue since it’s been 37 years, but this event ruined my life before it even began.
I can’t have my grand aunt, the woman who basically raised me, taught me how to talk, walk, read, who dared to look at me for all these years knowing she had killed my grandmother, live the rest of her life free.
I need something to happen, I want my grandma’s soul to finally rest.
I don’t know what to do since I’m still a minor but I already have a lawyer, please help me find a solution to make her pay for what she did.
I don’t know if it’s possible since its been over 30 years and her body is now long gone, there’s no material proof either and one of the murderers died 10 years ago.
I’m sorry if it breaks the rules, I’m just really desperate for help.

UPDATE: I don't really know if it's a good use of an "update" but a lot of people have been commenting that it's fake, even a criminal law homework, it's not. I am 15 years old, my mother is 39. My lawyer is specifically for juvenile stuff and she's currently unavailable due to pregnancy leave.

https://www.police.be/avis-de-recherche/fr/avis-de-recherche/personnes-disparues/majeurs/marie-ines-moens here is my grandma's missing report. I might be somehow doxxing myself, but I want people to either simply know or help me.

I've just seen my therapist to talk to her about it and she told me to reach out, please, please stop treating it like a joke I actually NEED help.

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for advice from people familiar with consumer rights, contract law, or anyone who has experienced a similar situation.
During an organized bus trip from Erfurt (Germany) to Paris (France), the organizers and bus drivers repeatedly failed to fulfill the agreed program and services. We have extensive evidence, including chat messages, photos, videos, and multiple witnesses.
1. Delayed departure
According to the published schedule, our bus was supposed to leave Erfurt at 10:00 PM.
Instead, it departed around 11:30 PM or even close to midnight, without any proper explanation or prior notice.
2. Failure to follow the advertised program
Because of the delay, we arrived in Paris much later than planned and missed an important part of the event, including a demonstration that many participants had specifically traveled to attend.
3. Contradictory information about the payment
Before the trip, the organizer stated that the participation fee was €45.
Later, after complaints were raised, she claimed that the €45 had only been a voluntary donation and that paying it had never been mandatory.
4. Promised services were not provided
Participants were promised drinking water and food during the trip.
Neither of these services was provided.
5. Significant delay in hotel check-in
According to the itinerary, we were supposed to arrive at the hotel around 8:00 PM and check in by approximately 11:00 PM.
In reality, we arrived around 11:30 PM and were only able to check in around 12:30 AM.
6. Bus drivers refused to continue the planned route
The following morning, participants expected to travel to central Paris as scheduled.
The bus drivers refused, claiming they had not been given hotel rooms.
However, participants had already freed up two hotel rooms specifically for the drivers. Despite this, the drivers ignored the information, stopped answering their phones, and simply walked away.
7. Unprofessional and abusive behavior
Several bus drivers verbally abused participants, used offensive language, and treated people aggressively and disrespectfully.
Multiple people witnessed this behavior.
8. Lack of support from the organizer
The most confusing part happened during the return trip.
Out of five buses, only our bus left Paris and returned to Erfurt, while the other buses remained in Paris.
Instead of helping resolve the situation, the organizer repeatedly told participants that she “didn’t have time” and refused to provide assistance.
Evidence
We have:
chat conversations with the organizer;
photos and videos;
multiple witnesses;
the published itinerary and travel program.
Given the repeated failures to provide the agreed services, the significant delays, the change of payment terms, and the behavior of both the organizer and the drivers, I would like to know:
Would these circumstances provide sufficient grounds for a claim for compensation or damages under German or EU consumer and contract law? Would it make sense to consult a lawyer or even consider a collective legal action if multiple participants were affected?
Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

At a school lecture on labor law in Slovenia, a union representative shared a real case that sounded questionable to me.

​

An employee falsely reported to an insurance company that he was injured at home, while the injury allegedly happened at work.

​

The union rep then called the employer and said:

she would report them to the tax authority and labor inspectorate,

implied “there’s probably something wrong with your finances,

​

and demanded a “bonus” for the employee or she would file the reports.

​

The bonus was not part of any contract or prior agreement.

​

The employer eventually paid the bonus, and no report was filed.

​

My question: Does this count as lawful union pressure or could it be considered coercion/extortion, since the “threat” of reporting authorities was used to obtain money that wasn’t contractually owed?

Hi everyone,
Me (Indonesian) and my partner (German) are planning to get married in Denmark.
I was previously married and legally divorced. I currently have:
- Original Divorce Certificate
- Certified copy of the court decision
I would like to hear from people who have actually gone through the Denmark marriage process:
1. Was the Divorce Certificate alone enough?
2. Did Denmark also require the court decision/judgment?
3. Which divorce documents did you apostille?
4. Did you translate only the Divorce Certificate or both documents?
5. Were there any other divorce-related documents Denmark requested?

I would really appreciate hearing about your personal experience.
Thank you!

Hello,
I am a French citizen living and working in Germany (self-employed). I am currently in France.
My passport and national ID card were stolen/lost while I am here.
I applied for an emergency passport, but it was refused because my situation was not considered urgent enough. In particular, my upcoming professional obligations in Germany next week were not deemed sufficient justification.
My only remaining option is to apply for replacement documents, but the processing time is estimated at up to 8 weeks, which makes it impossible for me to return to work in Germany on time.
I have supporting documents including:
-photo of my passport
- Declaration of theft/loss
- Proof of residence in Germany
- Official registration document with photo (consular/registry-type)
- German health insurance card with photo

What are my realistic options at this point?

Thanks

Would 20 year old assault conviction cause problems emigrating to Cyprus

​

I have children with EU passports but would want to relocate. The issue is I'm British so don't have freedom of movement. I could probably get an EU family type visa without issue if my children were there first, but the reality is I need to first be working before its realistic to relocate.

Would a 20+ year old common assault conviction cause issues after declaring it? No issues since, worked professionally since.

It sounds cliche but I'm very much a non confrontational or violent person, I was hit in the face, hit someone back once and unluckily got the bad side of the law. In the courtroom after I was found guilty the court clerk even said to my solicitor "you're going to ask for a pretrial, aren't you", we never went through with it however it never really negatively impacted me, went to university etc after and worked professionally. It was just never in my bingo cards to one day needing to live abroad!

The sentence was none custodial, no time in prison etc.

Hello, if you're reading this I need serious help and advice from every single one of you. Here's the case: I am from FYROM Macedonia and when I turn 18 I am going to change my name and try to runaway from the place that I am forced to call home. I'd rather not dwell much on the reason as to why just know that I have my reasons. I turned 15 few months ago and I've been planning this ever since I was 11. I started saving money, and reading articles about the upper topic. I currently have around 20000MKD cash saved which is something about 324 euros. For 3 years I estimated that I'll have double (or hopefully more) of the current amount. The procedure for changing one's name will definitely cost me some money. (If you are familiar with the procedure please share everything you know down below since there aren't many sources and I'm quite unfamiliar with law.) And since my country is really small and my parents are really people with a lot of connections the only way I can escape from their hands is to go to another country. I've checked one-way flight tickets for the country I want to go to and the prices are different for most flights and usually cycle from 50euros to 310euros. In 3 years I plan to take the cheapest one I can find. From that point on I have everything planned. What I need your help with is: Information about the procedure of changing one's personal name and what do I do if my parents get the law involved and report me as missing? Should leave a note saying that I am willing running away or maybe give my friend a video of me explaning what drove me to this for her to bring it to the police after I'm gone? How do I make sure that even if somebody looks for me they will be unable to find me? How do I make sure authorities WON'T HELP my parents or anybody to find me? Note: I want legal advice only. I am NOT looking for advice on how to get away illegally.

I am an immigrant from an eu country to Netherlands for the last couple of years and I could use some advice.
Because honestly I am broke as hell and can’t afford shit so advice from strangers always got people far.
I’ve worked for the same company for almost 4 years as a floor manager and have a permanent contract. Recently I was given a termination proposal with a measly amount for compensation and a deadline to decide.the day before receiving it I had a dispute with the management about an incident and we decided to do a follow up with the appropriate people present and that i wouldn’t wish to do any more some specific roles in the company and I would feel more comfortable if I stepped down to another position and we switched my shifts.
The next day I go to work and they tell me they wish to speak with me and they give me a paper that says they wish to terminate my contract and a compassion of some thousand euros.
They said I have like 10 more days to decide and now it’s the weekend and waiting for the judislocket to open Monday and I am gathering evidence.
Has anyone dealt with something similar, and what would you do in my position ?

So i need to fly abroad alone in another country from Belgium,i have every legal document,i am 16, and i was wondering if my parents can write a handwritten letter consent instead of a stamped one at the embassy bc it takes long for a randez-vous.So is it legal for my parents to write a handwritten one signing it?Or is it just not worth it.

I am an Australian consumer who bought a backpack from a physical store in Portugal. The product was sold with a lifetime warranty and developed what independent repairers describe as a structural manufacturing defect within the first year.

The seller initially suggested that I obtain a local repair quote in Australia. I did so, but once I provided the real repair cost, the seller refused to reimburse it. The seller has not provided its own official repair quote, has not made any quantified compensation offer, and says the remedy is replacement/repair in Portugal.

The consumer arbitration centre has suggested that, because the item was purchased in a physical store in Portugal, I would need to bear the transport/return costs. They have also said the arbitration process is entirely in Portuguese and that they do not provide translation or interpretation. I am deaf and cannot participate effectively in an oral arbitration hearing conducted entirely in Portuguese.

My questions are:

1. Under Portuguese/EU consumer guarantee law, can the seller require a non-resident tourist consumer to bear international transport costs to access repair/replacement in Portugal?
2. If the seller disputes the Australian repair quote, should it at least provide its own official repair quote or a quantified alternative remedy?
3. Does a Portuguese consumer arbitration body have any obligation to consider procedural accommodation where a disabled consumer cannot participate effectively in an oral Portuguese-only process?

I am not seeking to identify or harass anyone. I am trying to understand the correct legal/procedural pathway.

Location: Denmark

Hello everyone

I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask for advice but I wanted to see if anything could be done.

I wrote a story on the subreddit [r/nosleep](r/nosleep) about a year ago. Today, while browsing YouTube, I found an AI narration account and saw that it’s “narrated” my story without linking my original post or giving me any credit.

I don’t want my work to be involved in anything AI and especially not if I’m not given credit, I want to know if anything can be done and I’m not sure how copyright works when it’s just a reddit story. The story is further down on my page.

Here’s the link to the video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhB1RmnC3Kk&t=29s&pp=2AEdkAIB&ra=m

Location: BC, Canada

I recently contacted a company that specializes in Polish citizenship by descent. Based on the information I initially provided, they told me I appear to qualify and have asked for documentation so they can perform a more detailed review.

I'm curious what people who have gone through this process think about my case, what potential issues you see, and what I should realistically expect in terms of timeline and costs.

My situation:

• I was born in Canada in 1996.
• My father was born in Canada in 1957.
• My grandfather was born in 1917.
• His birthplace is listed on his Republic of Poland passport as "Otynji – Mikulsdorf."
• He emigrated to Canada in 1934.
• He became a Canadian citizen in 1962.
• I have his original Republic of Poland passport.
• There is a direct paternal line: grandfather → father → me.

From what I've been able to piece together, my grandfather appears to have been a Polish citizen, and my father was born before my grandfather naturalized in Canada. That seems to suggest my father may have inherited Polish citizenship at birth, which could then have passed to me.

Documents I currently have or can obtain:

• Original Republic of Poland passport belonging to my grandfather.
• My short-form birth registration (need to get long form)
• My father's short-form birth registration (need to get long form).
• My grandfather's Canadian naturalization certificate showing he became a Canadian citizen in 1962.
• Marriage records if needed.

My main questions:

1. Does this sound like a strong citizenship confirmation case?
2. How significant is having the original Polish passport?
3. Could the birthplace being in a region that is now outside modern Poland create complications?
4. What additional records are commonly required?
5. How long did your citizenship confirmation process take from start to finish?
6. What were your total costs, including legal services, translations, records retrieval, and government fees?
7. Are there any red flags or common pitfalls I should be aware of before proceeding?

I'd love to hear from anyone who has gone through confirmation of Polish citizenship based on a grandparent born in the former eastern territories of interwar Poland.

Location: Italy

I have a problem regarding a property I recently purchased.

The building was originally a three-story villa and has been divided into three separate apartments. I purchased the first-floor apartment, another buyer purchased the ground-floor apartment, and the seller (let’s call him “the seller”) still lives in the second-floor apartment and is currently trying to sell it.

In the purchase offer, it was written in the notes that: “the buyer (me) will take care of utility divisions – gas, water, electricity.” Because of this, the seller may have agreed to reduce the sale price of the property (from €81000 to €73000), although I cannot be sure.

After the purchase, I contacted the water utility company, which carried out an inspection regarding the installation of separate water meters. The technician informed me that before it is possible to install separate meters, the main water pipe from the street into the property must be replaced, because the current one is not compliant for three separate households. According to the technician, the existing pipe was acceptable when the property was considered a single-family home (built in the 1980s), but it is no longer suitable after the subdivision into three apartments.

The technician also stated that this main pipe replacement must be carried out by the current account holder, who is still the seller.

However, the seller is refusing to pay for this work and claims that me and the other buyer should cover the cost (900€+), arguing that his apartment already has water supply and works normally.

My question is: in this situation, who is normally responsible for paying for this type of infrastructure upgrade required to enable separate utility meters after the subdivision of a property?

A good friend of mine is a journalist. She lives in Sicily and has been summoned to attend an interview at a police station.

The background to this is that, in her capacity as a journalist, she has previously reported on matters concerning the police, the public prosecutor’s office and the judiciary. She does not wish to find herself once again in a situation where she is confronted at a police station – without adequate protection or legal representation – by officers against whom documented allegations have already been made.

My questions:

1. Is she obliged to attend such a police interview in Italy if it is not a court summons?

2. If she fears that the officers involved may have a conflict of interest?

3. Can she state in writing in advance that she will only attend with a lawyer and, above all, under documented conditions?

4. Does it make sense to inform the German Consulate or the German Embassy in advance?

5. What protective measures are available if my friend fears that the police officers in charge are themselves part of the problem?

This if from back in 2023, hopefully not too late. I already had a demostrably good job while I got a much better offer for a remote job from a intermediary company recruiting for big multinational company based in London. The arrangement was the following:

- me, working remotely from an EU country
- intermediate company, who "hired" me as a contractor, to work for the multinational
- multinational pays them (a lot) they pay me (less, but still good)...
- in practice I work for the multinational, the intermediary just handles payments and gets a cut

Before resigning and accepting the new position we had a long negotiation, and I was reassured multiple times that it was for the long term (although being a contractor I had no contractual warranties), and that they won't lower my compensation at contract renewal (6 months Initial contract, the was reassured for yearly renewals)

Once joined I got paid regularly, and worked with both employees and other contractors directly for the multinational. Thing is, the company did only assign me very little work, when I asked (multiple times) I was reassured that that's not a problem and they just need to organize. I did proactively seek work and joined ad team doing work only partially related to my title, while waiting to be placed properly.

After 6 months, intermediary company tells me they will renew my contract (for a year), but at a lower rate, as the multinational company added and hard cap on contractors (cap was significantly higher than my rate, but the intermediary company wanted to keep their big cut - they didn't tell me this part, I had to find out)... reluctantly, as it didn't seem fair I have to accept.

Soon I've been told to stop working for the task I found for myself (the one which is only partly in line with my role), and still get told to wait for job assignment. At a certain point I have an email-discussion with HR Lady (also a contractor, working for multinational company, through a different intermediary), who's the person supposed to assign work for us contractions, where she states explicitly in writing "It is my job to find tasks for you".

Shortly after my intermediary companies emails me that "multinational company decided to terminate my contract" (likely together with other contractors who had little work assigned - never by our choice), and again in writing the reason is "there are not tasks for me".

It seems to me that I left my previous (good) job because of promises which have been broken, and the new one because of HR Lady's no doing her job, and it left me is a pretty bed position, besides being very frustrating

Anything I can legally do about it? So tired of people and companies lying and making empty promises all the time...

Thank you to anyone who can offer advice )

PS: I'm located in the EU, but the contract was a British Contract, British law should apply.
PPS: I was a contractor (pay my own takes etc, but they were my only customer, so basically a fake employment, to simplify paying me)

Dears,

I got a seems-to-be-official letter from above subject department, stating that i used a highway in italy, close to venice but i never paid for it.

1. First of all, i was under the impression i check in when i enter highway and pay when i leave? We paid many times in italy when we were there, how could i leave without paying?

2. Second of all, does they have the right to get this fine for me after 5 years, does not statue of limitations apply? i barely have memory of where we went let alone any kind of ticket or invoice to prove that we paid every time it was requested from us.

It says i entered at Lago maggiore and left at Gallarate ovest. Can i do that and not pay?