Sorry to hear your story, but don't lose faith, this happens to me all the time when trying to mod games 

I have used techs too and now start to see some crap work done by one. When you learn a few things over the years you start to notice wrongs coils installed or wiring that's just dodgey.

Pity I just left hoppers recently. Interesting hearing you're a crime writer. What's been happening recently up your way would mean yo could sleep in and go straight from home rather than go into work. Some dumb arse stuff been going on hoppers xing way.