Prompto Oil Change - K Brothers Faulty oil change burnt my gears, ruined my vehicle Biddeford, Maine

I went to Prompto for an oil change in May 2009, I felt grinding and asked them to check and see if anything was wrong.  They told me I was leaking front-end fluid and to have it checked out ASAP. 

My mechanic said the plug was loosened and then retightened off-center and that was where the leak came from.  They said it was probably done during an oil change.  I contacted Prompto to file a claim.  They told me that the damage had started within 6 months and to check with whoever else had worked on my vehicle. 

After checking all records of maintenance, no work had been done on my vehicle in more than 2 years.  Prompto was the only one to work on my vehicle in that time frame.  They denied responsibility.  I did not keep my receipt of my last oil change, never do.  They would not check their records to see if I had been there.  Their accountant logs all oil changes and they would not even search the database for my vehicle.  I gave them the rough time frame of when I was there last.  They would not even budge. 

I filed a small claims case against them for damages, but because I could not produce a receipt or the fact I called headquarters instead of the local office (a phrase at the bototm of their receipts for guaranteeing their work), I lost my case and am out $5,300.  I have spent 20 years going to this location about 6-8 times a year.  I will go to them no longer and go to self-run, local garages. 

They made a simple mistake this time and I was okay if they just fixed their mistake, but they pretty much called me a liar and I am without a vehicle until I cough up $5,300 for their mistake.  I urge everyone to be aware of this as it could happen to you just as easily.  Makes you wonder how qualified the people underneath doing the oil changes are.  I've heard from many auto mechanics that they are not too well trained.  That's my story, hope everyone learns from it.