The car saga...yes, it just seems to be never ending. Steph and me were pretty clear about what car we wanted. We needed a 7-seater mini-van because we'll have plenty of visitors for our first 12-18 months...we hope. And since Steph's been driving a Chrysler Town & Country rental we thought we'd go with one of those.
Of course the US is an easy country to buy a car in. What with it's love affair with the automobile and the fact that it's built to drive across and all that. So, armed with everything we thought we needed we set off to lease one. Got a good deal and were told there'd be no problem. As if...
The car couldn't be registered in Steph's name (who was going to be driving it...until I can drive again later in the year) because she doesn't have a social security number. She's not allowed one, but that's a whole other story. And it can't be registered in my name 'cos I don't have a NY state driving license (of course, I don't have a UK one at the moment). So, even though we'd gone through the incredible pain of sorting out a NY state driving license for Steph - which involved dealing with the DMV (aaarrrggghhhhh !!) we weren't able to lease the car.
No problem, I thought, I'll get an auto loan from my bank (Bethpage Federal) and there'll be no problem. Er, wrong. Can't have a loan because although they're happy with my earnings, etc. an auto-loan will mean that they have to put something called a 'lean' on the car - basically something that states that they have an interest in the asset (which then means you get a lower interest rate than, say, a personal loan). And they can't do this 'cos, guess what? Steph doesn't have a social security number...'cos she doesn't qualify for one and won't get one until I get a green card. In about 4 or 5 years. Aaaarrrggghhh !!
Happy to let me work here; happy to let me pay taxes, etc. just can't get this important number for my wife. Or my children. Not right; not fair.
0 comments:
Post a Comment