I’m curious to hear opinions on how bureaucracy/inefficiency impacts day to day life. We often hear how Western Europe is horrendous with being able to get things done efficiently- but I’m curious to hear for Europe as a whole, are there any exceptions? Would like to hear about the “less popular” expat locations in Europe.
For activities such as getting internet set up in a new flat; or having the heat break and needing the repair company to come look at it- which countries in Europe would be the most efficient?
Germany least efficient, a nightmare is more like it even by crazy American standards
…and those infinite number of hidden rules do change quite often, so you never know if you’re in violation or not… practically it’s a scam scheme the government level
100% on point, hidden bs non-existent rules everywhere. Do you have experience with german divorce courts? I had this on and off German gf that got drunk at Weihnachten and told me that the good news is if we ever get married, she would be entitled to half of what I have. I was really shocked and taken back by this
You’ll be more in shock if I tell you, it depends. Depends on how expensive lawyer she (eventually) get. Mine got SPD party feminist fraction city council board member. And courts are by default pro women (we had no kids luckily). In short, not half, you may lose everything and end in debts. Remember this. I’ve got 3 lawyers, this game of feeding lawyers for trying to clean cut relationship, the experience you don’t need in life. Marry in your own country if you must.
I beg to differ honestly. Have you tried getting US citizenship for your child or VA benefits…or any sort of benefits that you have a right to during or after service? My husband has been out of the army for closing in on a year and the VA hasn’t even begun to examine his claim for disability and keeps requesting documentation in paper and digitally that he already provided threatening to decide his case without documentation if not provided within 30 days. Also we tried getting oha while he was still in the military, we went there FIVE times and every time they claimed we didn’t have all the documents and needed XYZ in addition. Then we had to get it all translated by an approved translator (even though we were assured the first four times it was fine without a translation but oops the rules changed yesterday, were so sorry) and also you have to come by IN PERSON or we won’t do it. Also, you can’t make an appointment, just show up and hope you get called. If we’re too busy it sucks to suck and you have to come back and wait a couple hours again hoping you get your chance, bye!
And have you tried doing your taxes while your spouse is not American? Bahahahaha. You better figure it out! You need a tin for a tin and a code and whatnot or your claim won’t go through, also better don’t file jointly if your spouse makes any money or the US will tax you double, enjoy!
I personally think, if you’re a foreigner you have it hard in almost any country. I definitely can’t speak for how much better the US is in comparison to Germany as dealing with their stuff has made me extremely appreciative of how easy and smooth the German system is.
Strange to hear given the term German efficiency has always been instilled in the minds of North Americans.
Let me tell you that in other places it’s even worse. E.g. Italy
Please enlighten us, entertain us with an example or two please but based on personal experiences please. I know Italy’s demographics are even worse than Germany’s, every second person in Germany is a 60 year old granny
I have a lot of examples just from the couple of month I have been here. It’s basically like Germany, just that it’s hard to find any useful information and different authorities tell you completely different stuff. And the worst part is, that they are so badly understaffed everywhere.
To collect my student ID/finish my enrollment, I had to book an appointment in advance, collect a number and wait 2h just to pick up this plastic card. The lady at the counter apparently did a mistake as well, so I had to redo the whole process, to see the lady again. Phone numbers or email addresses do basically not exist at the university. They have a ticketing system but you never get a response. So for every question you have, to stand in line for hours to get an answer.
Other story: I want to get Italian health insurance. The website of the health service says I have to get my residence first in order to get the insurance. The authority for the residence thingy says I have to get the health insurance first in order to get my residence. I asked another Student from Germany for advice and he told me that he put a lot of effort into getting Italian health insurance but he did not manage to get one.
If you want to get a monthly subscription for the public transport, you have to collect the ticket in person. You have to be there in time to get one of the 400 numbers they issue daily and wait in a super long line then.
That’s just three of the many things I experienced in the last month. It’s really grotesque how bad things work here. And it’s not only me as a German who says that. My friends from Belgium, France, Portugal etc etc have the exact same impression.
Just like in Germany, both very lazy and incompetent. I sincerely hope you don’t ever have to deal with any of this bureaucracy again, it makes it hard to get anything done