Learning the hard way

I’ve had the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder for 15 months now . It’s been running rough for a while now . The engine lights been on the whole time but I haven’t wanted to spend the money . Yep not a habit I had in Aus but little things bug me over here . Car repairs and the quotes here are at least the same as back home , if not slightly more expensive . It irritates me as you know the wages are poor here , so it’s obvious someone is doing well . After being pulled over for having the car unregistered , a chain of events have been set in motion . I’m forced to get it registered but I’ve caught a lucky break ; I’ve got roadside assist and can pay through their office . I get in there and the 1st of a series of frustrations begin . ” Sir we have not got card facilities, you must pay in cash or Californian cheque “. My shoulders slump and I turn my head to either side to multiple staff serving clientele. ” Are you serious ? And what do I need to pay ?” , I reply in exasperation. “It will be $286 sir . ” Ok , I have to now leave and find an eftpos machine and come back to line up to pay . I’m not real happy . I’m back in 15 minutes with $300 cash . ” Have you got the exact amount sir ? ” ” No , I have $300 cash . Is that ok ? ” ” So you don’t have $286 ?” “Yes I have . I have $300 in cash ” ” So you will need change sir ? “. ” Yes , I will “. Now you can see my patience is getting thin . ” Ok , sir have you got your smog test receipt with you ? “, she asks . “Smog test ? I didn’t know I needed one ?” ” Yes sir . You will need a smog test pass with appropriate paperwork. When you come back with that I can give you your registration sticker . For now you will have a note on the system that your registration is paid waiting on a smog test pass “. “Ok, so I can rock up anywhere and put my car in for a smog test ?” , I ask “It’s possible you might get it done today but you could have to wait a day or two ” , she replies . I head off and find a smog shop in no time . I ask the guy if he can test my car and he’s says sure ,but once I show him my registration request he informs me that he he is not AAA approved and I will have to find a AAA dealer . I find the next guy up the road and he squeezes me in . I go for a walk and come back to find that my car has failed on the account of the engine light being on . I knew it would come back to bite me on the arse , and here it is . He can’t test the car until it is serviced and the engine light switched off . He says he can do it tomorrow. Eventually the engine light is fixed for a further $286 , with the car now booked in for Friday for a further $50 smog test . After all this I then get to go back AAA roadside assist to get my registration sticker . Did I say I learn the hard way ?