legal advice will cost me time and money, its simply not worth chasing except on a point of principle, however if I though I was being really done I would leave bad reviews. Latest correspondence below. BTW there is not written or verbal agreement. I asked for one but it was not forthcoming.

"Hello,

As per the agreement, the deposit was refundable in the instance of the car not being completed to the standard agreed upon. No provision was made for you choosing to end the agreement, and the very nature of any deposit otherwise is that it is a holding deposit, and non-refundable.
We will be using the deposit for the very thing it was sent to cover, that is, the liabilities you have left outstanding, following the commencement of work, ordering of parts and contracted specialist repairers booked in for this month to work on the car.


Best regards,"