What are my options?

[The real Apache]

Took our car into a Specialist of some repute to have the starter motor replaced, picked it up with wifey driving when she said "it doesn't sound right" we got home, had a look and the exhaust is blowing from, what I thought was the join for the downtube to the main section. Next day I took it to our local exhaust people to have it nipped up and they found it had been cracked, I explained what had happened and the mechanic said it would seem that they had unclamped the exhaust to access the starter motor and left it un supported which would be a likely cause of such a crack.

Wife then phoned the garage back to get a haughty receptionist who said "he hadn't been anywhere near the exhaust" but to wait while she spoke to the guy who did the job......on her return she admitted that, yes, he had disconnected the exhaust but that it was probably a weak point and that they would not admit liability.
I can understand her saying this as the boss isn't around for another week or so as he's on holiday but, I feel that they should show some responsibility. This is a car we have owned for some 3 years that has had no hint of a problem with the exhaust and has suddenly developed a crack after they had admitted to having worked on it.
Am I wrong?

[Allokazam]

The problem is proving that it cracked because of their work. if the problem had been found when it was at the garage you would have stood a good chance of getting something done about it.
As much as im sure you dont want to hear this i really cant see you getting them to claim responsibility without kicking up a huge fuss and wasting ALOT of your time. Depends how badly you want to get them to accept responsibility?

[The real Apache]

Allokazam said:

The problem is proving that it cracked because of their work. if the problem had been found when it was at the garage you would have stood a good chance of getting something done about it.
As much as im sure you dont want to hear this i really cant see you getting them to claim responsibility without kicking up a huge fuss and wasting ALOT of your time. Depends how badly you want to get them to accept responsibility?

Yeah, I can see it going that way...thing is I went to them because they had a good rep on the forums so I would have expected better treatment, and personally, I'd prefer to maintain that rep for the sake of a bit of weld if I was the owner of such a business

[Allokazam]

It might be a good idea to speak to the boss when he gets back. likely hood is that he is the one who has make the place have a good rep and the cowboy who did your starter is usually kept under control by him.
Id speak to the boss and tell him the situation, get the repair done by that same garage if they will do it and maybe, just maybe when the boss gets bk he'll re-pay you for the repair.

[soad]

They way i see it - if damage was caused there, they should put it right.