Compenstion in a vehicle repair dispute

Most mechanics I have come across are honest. But there are always those who would aspire to making a quick dollar at our expense.
I was approached recently by a lady who has just lost her husand and believes she is the victim of a scam. It appears she had paid a mechanic to buy and install a part on her car which he never did but attempted to get the vehicle partially overhauled. The bottom line is that the car broke down and had to be returned. So she paid 1,500 dollars for a job and then had to look for more money to pay this dishonest chap.
Is this a Fair Trading Commission matter or a dispute for the Office of Public Counsel?
In either case she is taking the correct route of going with an other mechanic to see if she can get back her money before taking it further.
My advice to her was that in the event of a small claims disoute which she and the mechanic cannot resolve her option probably would be the Office of Public Counsel. But that she should check with the Fair Trading Commmission to confirm this.
If there is a positive spin to this it is that she is prepared to see to it that her rights are not trampled on.

Hallam