Help!! Mechanic screwed me!, Dropped my 5th gen off for an estimate. Options

[LimitedST]

The other day i had my dad drop off my 5th gen celica at a mechanics to get an estimate. The car wouldnt start. It would crank, but not turn over. And today we get a phone call from the mechanic saying the car is fixed and it is going to be 700 dollars to fix it. 700?!?!?! for 700 dollars i woulda bought a new engine for my 6th gen celica that has been sitting for a year... or for 1200 i coula have picked up another 5th gen celica with no issues. Because mine needs a new windshiled (insurance does not cover it) the car blows blue smoke, and i know he didnt fix that on the car because he would need to order the parts, which is impossible to recieve and fix in one day. So theres still plenty of money that needs to be stuck into the car.
What are my options? theres no way im paying 700 dollars when i was never even given an estimate, or told what was even wrong with the car.

unfortunatly i have to go to work and wont be able to check this during the day, So if anyone with some good information on what i could do, text it to me, also posting here will be just as good but itll be awhile till i can check it.
Thank you
Jacob Strapko
623 326 5602

[jimmykay]

yes, he should have called you and told you what he found before anything. and then you'd be looking at anything from free-$50 tops for the time to diagnose the problem.

What did he say that he did for that $700?

What did your dad tell them when he dropped it off? If he said "I need this fixed no mater what" thats one thing, but they still should have called to let you know what it involved.

I'm not sure if you can refuse to pay or not. But depending on how this is resolved, you can always call the BBB and let them know.