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One of the problems of being unorganized is that it can frequently cost you money. Yesterday, on the way home from work, I noticed flashing lights in my rear-view mirror. I pulled over, and while I was waiting for the police officer to walk up to my vehicle, I wondered what I had been pulled over for. I had just pulled away from a red light, so I wasn’t speeding, had my seat-belt on, and really couldn’t think of what I had done. When the officer approached, he asked my if my registration was current, and I told him that I though so. He told me the registration sticker on my license plate expired in 2007. When I reached in to the glove compartment to retrieve my registration (which was obviously expired), I grabbed my insurance card, and I suddenly felt panicked. My insurance card expired a week ago! Now, I pay my insurance online, and knew I was current, but in Louisiana you must have proof of current insurance in your vehicle, or you can get a ticket or even towed. Oh Boy……
The police officer explained what could happen-my car could be towed, according to him (although I believe it is rare-they usually take your license plate, which is pretty bad as well) and then went back to his vehicle. He returned a short while later, and told me that as a favor he had called my insurance company, Geico, (the phone # was on my expired insurance card) and confirmed I had coverage. He then presented me with a ticket for the expired registration, and strongly suggested I put my new insurance card in the vehicle and get my registration renewed. So, I guess I did end up getting a little lucky by only getting one ticket.
However, all of this was entirely avoidable if I had paid the renewal, which I had received in the mail, when I received it in Dec. 2007. I am now looking at an additional $100 to $150 because I procrastinated, and then misplaced the bill due to my being unorganized. The irony of it all is that I have been working on organizing my bills and finances, and have been pretty good at paying them fairly soon after I receive them, but apparently my past caught up with me.
Photo by conner395
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You learn’t a lesson the hard way there. It is wise to have all your bills pay automatically then you never have to remember to pay them and sometimes you can get a discount by paying this way.
@Rachel:
I sure did! I have been putting more and more of my regular bills on autopay. Unfortunatley, this one is only due every two years and I cannot automate the payment-Although I did pay it online. But if I was more organized, it would not have happened.