Bartlett Automotive

I contacted [redacted] about replacing an engine in my [redacted] on May 11, 2015 and he stated that he could do the job cheaper and had located an engine immediately after my request. He told me to pay him $500 to purchase the engine that was being held for him and that my jeep would be ready 2 weeks from May 11, 2015. After 2 weeks I started inquiring about my jeep and he kept giving me deadlines and excuses about ongoing problems with the engine in addition to requesting more money each time at $500 finally totaling 2,000 leaving a balance of $500 to be paid on August 4, the day he claimed my jeep would be ready. When my mother and I inquired the day before pickup he gave another excuse saying he had to put a hose on and test drive it before pickup the next day. Well, the next day we showed up and he lied and told us to come back the next day, so he called my mom and left a message and text me stating he was in court for child support. He finally admitted that he had not fixed the jeep and that this second engine he supposedly had purchased was damaged and he could find another one or get a refund on the previous one. I told him to refund my money, which he said he doesn't have, because I felt he was not being honest. He previously claimed it ran good and needed a hose before pickup and now another engine and more money. He told me at the beginning that the total cost with the engine included would be $2,500 with a $500 deposit of which I paid immediately for the purchase of the engine he claimed was waiting for him to pick up the day, May 11, 2015. He text me on Saturday, August 8, to let me know he's returning the jeep but not my refund of $2,000. I still don't have a vehicle and must borrow money to purchase another one. I don't have much either and I need help getting my money to find something else. I trusted him and now I feel he used me to get money for something he couldn't do or just used it for his own personal use. I am young and I am learning a valuable lesson from this.Desired SettlementHe needs to refund my money.