If u can't do it at home, do it abroad!

[crojoe]

Is it like in bred into certain persons of Croat origins to swindle others?

Ok, there are many good folks here and abroad, but for such a small nation I am quite amazed at the percentages of criminal elements or intriguing methods of conduct "some" Croats demonstrate. Must be something about the “BAD GUY” mentality or look in life?

Thankfuly there are also many wonderful Croats, who by the way do make good freinds (just don't forget to pay for the coffee).

www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2011-09-29/22200/_Croat_in_the_middle_of_historical_fraud_in_US

[Kaskader]

Yeah, I think there is 1 good Croatian in every 20 bad ones and thats if Im being optimistic..

[dalmatiadreamin]

Greed and corruption are like cancer, if left unchecked it will just keep spreading with no nationality or national boundaries. I believe they are both nature and nurture traits, some people are just born that way, while others have the mentality "If you can't beat them, join them".

Crojoe, I think Mr. Raguz thought he would be left of the hook like so many before him in the subprime mortgage scams.

[Kaskader]

He obviously did not steel enough to be bailed out like others.

[crojoe]

Oct 2, 2011 6:23:29 GMT 1 dalmatiadreamin said:

Greed and corruption are like cancer, if left unchecked it will just keep spreading with no nationality or national boundaries. I believe they are both nature and nurture traits, some people are just born that way, while others have the mentality "If you can't beat them, join them".

Crojoe, I think Mr. Raguz thought he would be left of the hook like so many before him in the subprime mortgage scams.

I don't know what is, but it sure seems like a lot of Croats get busted for bribes, which makes me think it was or still is a major problem, and it become so common over time that people no longer think it to be worthy of being a crime (a bit like Russian tycoons stealing the wealth from conning the people).

Yes, many countries have their far share of such crime, but here it seems to be something extra, more grand and outlandish, almost a dare or pride trip.

[gmh]

Well, it's fairly obvious, if you read the international press, that Croatians are not the only criminals in this world.
It's just that they seem to be the most obvious (stupid?) criminals in this world.

[crojoe]

Oct 2, 2011 18:40:30 GMT 1 gmh said:

Well, it's fairly obvious, if you read the international press, that Croatians are not the only criminals in this world.
It's just that they seem to be the most obvious (stupid?) criminals in this world.

True, even my beloved UK has a load of crooks, scammers and what have you, but I just notice some (notice "some") Croats pull some real whoppers (not the Berger King hamburger). They make the House of Commons" look like pocket change. For example former directors of the national rail in HR ran off with a train load of money, former PM with suitcases, even the big famous general (that is a "national hero") has an amazing past, then another general took of with diamonds, others seem to acquire properties, building land, use the army for private building projects then you got some abroad that export the practice. Then you got the worst crooks of all in my books and they are the bosses and companies owners driving around in fancy cars, own several houses, go on holidays and they don't pay their employees salaries. The list just goes on.

[Madgolfer]

Crooked or just stupid I cannot make up my mind?

A Cro company that we have been building a working relationship with for nearly 2 years have just tried to "steal" a client of ours from under our nose.

We made the initial introductions back in May and have held the companies hand for six months as they try to come to grips with and learn about dealing with foreign clients.

Then last week our client tells us that the company has approached them about "doing the deal" without us, they have even offered to pass on our trade discounts direct to the client?

With 4 previously successfull contracts between us I have no idea how they think that can work in their favour, either in the short or long term, maybe they think they can somehow "rip-off" the client directly?

Its not the first time I have wasted months trying to work with Cro companies only to find they default or cannot perform at the end of the day.

Oh well, you live and learn as they say.

[Ribaric]

"Crooked or just stupid I cannot make up my mind?"

I've got that t-shirt. I think it's the prevailing business "culture" and all parties appear to expect such underhand dealings.
When I confronted one chap he was surprised at my anger, he merely asked "wouldn't you have done the same? It's just business!".

It's bad business IMHO.

[crojoe]

Oct 8, 2011 11:07:21 GMT 1 Madgolfer said:

Crooked or just stupid I cannot make up my mind?

A Cro company that we have been building a working relationship with for nearly 2 years have just tried to "steal" a client of ours from under our nose.

We made the initial introductions back in May and have held the companies hand for six months as they try to come to grips with and learn about dealing with foreign clients.

Then last week our client tells us that the company has approached them about "doing the deal" without us, they have even offered to pass on our trade discounts direct to the client?

With 4 previously successfull contracts between us I have no idea how they think that can work in their favour, either in the short or long term, maybe they think they can somehow "rip-off" the client directly?

Its not the first time I have wasted months trying to work with Cro companies only to find they default or cannot perform at the end of the day.

Oh well, you live and learn as they say.

Dog eat dog mentality. I don't understand it either, but they feel it's just like you said "business". It may be business, but they sure won't win friends, have long term clients, get good contacts and invest in the future. Maybe to many just live for here and now, no care about tomorrow. Like my company did some work for a company and now the due date has passed 10+. Even before the official contract I sent an offer. Anyway, yesterday got told by a company person that their accounting department will pay it in 90 days (they say this is their policy). Funny thing is on my contract it says payment must be made in 45 days. On Monday the guy who I communicated with will get an ear full. I mean, it didn't take me more then 1 hours to send him my offer (he said it was urgent). My team was on location on time and worked their time (which the company hiring actually changes on location and we adapted) and my team did a good job. Now, they want to tell me that their company does such and such and I have to wait. This is the problem. Their attitudes are you cannot, but we can. If my team was late, didn't bother to show or did a bad job would I hear about it? Could I demand payment for a no show? I doubt it. It seems to be a big problem in Croatia with service providers and the clients or guy holding the money.

[furious]

If there would be a court decision within say 30 days and punishment immediately all this crooking and thieving would fall away. Having to wait for a court decision 3 to 4 years for something small, no wonder no one worries about the law. Why even bother to have authorities if they don't function.

[redtank]

Seems to me the laws and court system has been designed specifically to help these croatian businesses work the way they do. the government and the crook business people are the same.

There is a local business man in my town that I think has declared bankruptcy several times. Owes money to hundreds of people. One friend just wrote the dept off because the court said to wait in line but most probably will never see a penny. How this guy manages to drive a flash car and own properties and STILL manage to do business is beyond me.

Another store owed money, declared bankruptcy and put the property for rent and sale for a year. It recently reopened. I was told that after a year the dept was wiped clean and they could start afresh. How can this be?

I don't speak the language very well so maybe i miss understood.

[crojoe]

Aug 31, 2012 16:02:16 GMT 1 redtank said:

Seems to me the laws and court system has been designed specifically to help these croatian businesses work the way they do. the government and the crook business people are the same.

There is a local business man in my town that I think has declared bankruptcy several times. Owes money to hundreds of people. One friend just wrote the dept off because the court said to wait in line but most probably will never see a penny. How this guy manages to drive a flash car and own properties and STILL manage to do business is beyond me.

Another store owed money, declared bankruptcy and put the property for rent and sale for a year. It recently reopened. I was told that after a year the dept was wiped clean and they could start afresh. How can this be?

I don't speak the language very well so maybe i miss understood.

Yep, welcome to HR, a country within a country or business within a business where certain people can do as they like and pretty much get away with whatever they so fancy. One major problem in HR is the judiciary, in that it is defunct and a lawyers heaven on earth. Your signature means nothing, anything of importance must be notarized and if certain businesses decide not to pay, well, time to just write it off. Jealousy in business is huge, with most companies in the same field battling it out against one another. It's not what you know but who you know, so know your friends well, and your enemies even better.