What would you do in this situation

[MondeoFan]

Basically my car wouldn't start close to my work over a week ago. I called the AA and they came out and said "I don't think it's the battery, I think it's the starter motor"
I found a mechanic through click mechanic and he came and said I think it's the starter motor too. He fitted a new starter motor for the sum of £220, then phoned me and said it still won't start and as far as he's concerned he has come out and done the job he's been asked to do, and as his diagnostic machine was stolen from his van couple days previously he cannot go any further with the car.
I left it a couple days as I was busy with work and had to get a cab back and forth etc
I asked someone I knew if they know anyone that could come and look at it.
They sent me a phone number of someone they use and said he's reasonable and always gets the job done etc...
The guy came and looked at it on Monday and said I have to pay him £50 just to look at the car and go from there. He asked me why I got the starter motor changed and I told him it was on advice from the AA. He said he thinks it's the alternator and it would be £150 plus £70 for fitting it. So basically another £200 odd pound.

I just said ok go ahead as I really need my car. I didn't hear from him Tuesday so sent him a text and he didn't reply. He phoned me Tuesday evening and said he will try and do the car tomorrow (Wednesday) if not it'll have to be Thursday (Xmas eve)
I haven't heard a thing since. I've texted and called. The lack of contact is bothering me. I'd rather he text or called and said he doesn't have time to do it etc
But radio silence. I thought I might have heard from him last night to say he couldn't fit it in yesterday but would do it today.
AIBU to just ask for the key back and get someone else to fix the car who is more communicative? And who will stick to a day.
Obviously I need to pay him the £50 too for looking at the car.
It's really getting to me that I'm no closer to getting the car done and I don't feel he is being honest with me.

Anyone?

I've phoned him now and he answered the phone and said he is finished for Xmas. I said I'm upset with the lack of communication and can I have the key back and I will give him the £50 for the 20 minutes he spent looking at it

Don't pay him the fifty quid, he's taking the piss. If he demands payment before he hands over the keys bounce a cheque for him.

Why didn't you just take it to a garage - somewhere there is chain of accountability - even kwik fit?

I wouldn't pay him as he's messed you around and I'd also contact the previous chap for a refund as he was paid to fix the car and he hasn't

In this situation I’d have had it recovered to a garage and had it properly diagnosed.

Mates of mates should be avoided always where possible.

The only time the alternator failed in my car, the battery light came on, and the warning lights for ABS, traction control and engine management as well. It was hard to mistake.

Do you know anyone who has a regular reliable garage they trust?

Don't pay anything upfront. How will you know if they change anything?

What ???
Do not pay him anything get the key back ! Why has he got your key anyway? .
Also paying someone to fix something that obviously wasn't what was needed is ridiculous.
You've been badly advised op and you are throwing money away .
The aa was giving his opinion you should of got a local garage to look at it and check not tell someone what you want to do but he hasn't even got a diagnostic machine .
Get the key back today !!
After Christmas ring a local garage , ask family friends to recommend someone and get them to look it over they will tell you properly whats wrong and give you a quote so do not pay anything until it's fixed . You don't pay people to look at your car ffs .

For a start, I’d take it to somewhere with appropriate diagnostic equipment as at the moment you appear to be paying people to guess what’s wrong with it.

He has the key as the car is outside my work but not in a car park of any kind just in a lay by. He knocked on my work and got the key so he could try and start the car then kept the key I guess until he got his £50.
I'm honestly so annoyed I don't want it to spoil my day.

I just wanted someone to come out to it as I couldn't start it and it was in a lay by. I've looked at the website of the mechanic and someone else has commented about the communication too so isn't just me, but some positive comments too

I put on my local Facebook page anyone know a decent mechanic that can come out to me and his name was given.
I also had another number but I phoned him and he was too busy to even look at it.
It's been 10 days today I haven't been able to use it

Fair enough but you've been without a car for 10 days .
Like I said don't pay anyone any more money until fixed .
Put it to bed for now , enjoy Christmas as you can't do anything until after the bank holiday and ring round local garages .

Yes thank you. I've just got the key back and haven't given him his £50 yet. He put the key in a plant pot outside my work for me to collect.
He knows I'm annoyed but doesn't care.
I will try and sort it out Tuesday onwards. I'm surprised no one has reported it dumped as bern there so long.
Thanks for everyone's help

@ivfbeenbusy I've tried to contact the previous guy through click mechanic website. They say as far as they are concerned he was asked to change the starter motor and that's what he's done.
But on the request form you can clearly see that I stated 80% chance it's the starter motor but need the car looking at. When the bloke got there he said he thought it was the starter motor too in his opinion. When he phoned me and said the car still wouldn't start he knew I was annoyed and said he had to change the starter as it was broken when he removed it and he sent me a photo of the broken starter motor. I think that he either broke it when trying to remove it as he said it was hard to get to or he broke it on purpose when he knew I'd say when did you replace the starter motor then. The fact he took pictures of a broken starter gives him something to fall back on. Click mechanic are only the middle man and have just washed their hands of it!

Find a garage that can go and collect your car and do the work I think you’d get a better service by the sounds of what’s happened so far

You're considering paying him £50 for looking at your car for twenty minutes?!

You don't even know if his opinion of what the issue is is correct!

You've got your key, that's the end of it/him. He ignored you, now you ignore him

Have car towed to a garage. Do not ask anyone to look at it before Monday, when hopefully everyone will be sober. Do not pay until it starts and runs.

I came in to say exactly what @GeorgiaGirl52 said already!

I don’t understand why these random men are getting involved. Phone a local garage, ask them to collect it and fix it.

Or get a friend to tow you to a garage.