http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/Sami's Page - Finland2017-05-03T09:40:36+00:00Random things of a random worldSami KuhmonenBlogEngine.Net Syndication Generatorhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/opml.axdSami KuhmonenRandom things of a random worlden-GBSami's Page0.0000000.000000http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2017/05/03/the-curious-case-of-an-expat-companyThe Curious Case of an Expat Company2017-05-03T09:30:00+00:00Sami<p>As you may know I moved to Lithuania from Finland almost three years ago. I have been running a company in Finland for almost 20 years, the current one for almost 13 years. Now that I moved I naturally didn't want to change anything. Why would I? I know how Finnish things work and my company is running there without problems.</p>
<p>But the moving part... That's another story.</p>
<p>It seems that other companies don't know how to handle this situation. A company in Finland with address in Lithuania. It's unfathomable to them. And to me it's unfathomable that they can't handle it.</p>
<p>Microsoft was the first one. I tried to change address. No can do. Finnish company, address <em>must</em> be in Finland. Country cannot be changed. No sir, no. It's impossible. Ok, I guess they don't need to send me anything because I don't have an address there.</p>
<p>Then Apple. I've had a huge problem with address changes with them anyway. They used to require <em>faxing</em> on <em>official company letterhead</em> the request, and paper proof of the address. Now they don't want that at least. But they still want papers.</p>
<p>In Finland we have online system for company information. It can be checked by anyone. Official page telling my company's address. Not ok for Apple. They have never heard of digital records it seems.</p>
<p>But that's not all. Now they want me to sign papers transfering our developer account to another company. I've been trying to explain that there is no other company. Our company is a Finnish one. Has been the same always. Only address changes. Nothing else. But they just don't understand it. I don't know why.</p>
<p>A local internet company in Lithuania also has this issue. They won't allow Finnish VAT number to be used if I have Lithuanian address. Nope, can't do it. They couldn't even manually change that. So they just added a Finnish address that is not mine so they could have a Finnish VAT number for us.</p>
<p>Upwork is the same. They claim they check VAT IDs from a European system. Funny, that's not true. They don't even allow the input of a Finnish VAT ID, because of Lithuanian address. The same as everyone else. Unbelieveable.</p>
<p>So am I the crazy one here? Doesn't anyone else ever move countries and keep their company running in the other country? Do I have to buy an address in Finland just to get wrong information to be a bit less wrong? Since the company still wouldn't exist at that address.</p>
<p>Unbelieveable. In this day and age of movability and everything, I still can't do things easy.</p>
<p>And the funniest part? The instance that would be the first to have an issue if anything I did was illegal has no problem with it. Finnish company registry is fine with it. Finnish tax office is fine with it. They've never wanted me to have a Finnish address. Why do other companies require it then?</p>2017-05-03T09:30:00+00:00SamiAs you may know I moved to Lithuania from Finland almost three years ago. I have been running a comphttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/pingback.axdhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post.aspx?id=7c7b28f0-d1f2-4f67-9b67-0560bafe137f0http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/trackback.axd?id=7c7b28f0-d1f2-4f67-9b67-0560bafe137fhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2017/05/03/the-curious-case-of-an-expat-company#commenthttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/syndication.axd?post=7c7b28f0-d1f2-4f67-9b67-0560bafe137fhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2016/03/02/vilnius-vs-helsinkiVilnius vs Helsinki - A Series on My Experiences2016-03-02T19:08:00+00:00Sami<p>I've already written a post about some things at <a href="http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/it-s-so-same-but-different">It's So Same But Different</a> but that's just a scratch on the surface.</p>
<p>I am starting a series of posts on <a href="http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/category/Vilnius-vs-Helsinki"><em>Vilnius vs Helsinki</em></a>. It could be more of a Lithuania vs Finland, but since I have never really experienced Lithuania in any other way than being in Vilnius, I cannot make such a comparison. I know much more about Finland having lived there most of my life, so maybe it is Vilnius vs Finland. We will see.</p>
<p>The posts give <em>my view</em> on the differences and similarities in things between these places. Maybe even compared to some other places I've been. It's not a way of saying "this is better than that" even though there may be <em>my preferences</em> on how things are better <strong>for me</strong>. So don't take anything personally if you happen to disagree. But do leave a comment if you do.</p>
<p>I find differences in cultures and ways very interesting and since I have been living in Vilnius for over 18 months I have experienced many things. A lot is yet to experience and I am sure some of the things I may mention aren't done by every single person here, or people may think totally differently. But since it is <em>my experiences</em>, I won't go make proper research about it.</p>
<p>I'm writing on several categories and when I have enough to say I'll publish it. There's going to be things about food, apartments, public transport, mentality, this and that. Time will tell.</p>
<p>So I hope the upcoming posts will be interesting to show my view of things as a Finn living here and maybe spark some conversations about other people's experiences.</p>
<p>You can find all the posts as they come at <a href="http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/category/Vilnius-vs-Helsinki">Vilnius vs Helsinki</a>.</p>2016-03-02T19:08:00+00:00SamiI am starting a series of posts on Vilnius vs Helsinki.http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/pingback.axdhttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post.aspx?id=2732e8d4-aa55-4c53-9bcb-bd78954d5b561http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/trackback.axd?id=2732e8d4-aa55-4c53-9bcb-bd78954d5b56http://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/post/2016/03/02/vilnius-vs-helsinki#commenthttp://blog.samikuhmonen.fi/syndication.axd?post=2732e8d4-aa55-4c53-9bcb-bd78954d5b56