26/04/2026
For you as an immigrant, before you even start driving, you need to understand some things, because not everything is as obvious as it looks.
I learned this the hard way.
Everything was normal. I was driving, minding my business, enjoying the smooth roads in Portugal. No barriers, no stopping, no person collecting money like the toll gates except some specific places and when you see the toll gate, it’s obvious. So in my mind, road is free.
I didn’t know I was already entering a system.
One day, a letter came to my house. I opened it small and saw it written in Portuguese. I said, “Ah ah, what is this again?” I dropped it because I couldn’t read and have not patience to translate.
Second, third, fourth letter came. Same thing. Portuguese everywhere. I didn’t stress myself. I ignored it again.
Life moved on like nothing was wrong.
Then the 5th letter came, but from another authority (Finances) and any letter from that office is……..
This one? It had a different vibe. You know that kind of letter that will just make your heart shift small? That was the one.
I said okay, let me not play with this one. I went to translate it.
That was when my eyes cleared.
Toll charges.
Those roads I had been passing freely, thinking that they were free (were not free). Cameras had been capturing my plate number, recording small payments I was supposed to make.
The original amount?
Less than 1 euro.
But because I ignored the letters and deadlines… it didn’t stay small.
It grew.
Fines entered. Penalties joined. Everything multiplied.
By the time I understood what was happening, I was now owing about 400 euros.
From less than 1 euro.
My husband went to the office to complain, we that cannot even speak the language (me I was just hiding outside the office because f you don’t understand language and you go to public office, they wud make life difficult for you. We he no option but to PAY!!!!
I just sat there in silence, asking myself, “All this… just because I didn’t understand one letter?”
That day, I learned a serious lesson.
If you are living abroad, don’t ignore any letter that comes to your house. I don’t care the language, translate it. Ask someone. Use Google. Do something.
Because as an immigrant, small ignorance can cost you big money.
Very big money.
We learnt in a hard way, I don’t want you to experience this
