Here in Oregon if you fail, you don't pay anything. But then all of our smog checks are also done at state run stations.

I don't know how it's done in Kali, but if they privitized the system and forced you visit private "certified" smog checkers, they will always charge for their time.

Something does seem fishy to me. Unless you disconnected the battery at the smog station, the computer should have data to go off of with the drive to the station. I wonder if the mechanic or smog station is taking you for a ride. What do they care if they get paid either way and when you return, they'll get paid twice.

I'd go somewhere else, at the very least.