"As always, it is necessary to completely identify your vehicle by year, engine, and transmission."
Did they scan for Check Engine Light code? That would have been a good starting point. If they disconnected the batter, then the codes are probably gone by now. As for the cost of the starter and labor, if it were me, I probably don't have a choice at this moment (and seeing that it is probably not acceptable to work on your car outside your residence, maybe HOA issues or covenants or something like that).
An earlier post mentioned the gas in the tank, was it below 1/4 tank or so? Fuel filter clogged maybe? It could be a number of things. We are also troubleshooting. Sorry if I can't be of additional help. Other more experienced Contour owners may be able to chime in with stronger opinions on what to do.
