2003 Volkswagen Polo erratic idle and difficut to start.

OK here goes.

I've had the car nearly 3 yrs and I've had no major engine problems until recently. 9 mths ago it started shaking more than it usually does (3 Cyl) and the EML was coming on intermittently so I took it to a garage that could hook it up to a comp and had to have one coil and the spark plugs changed. This seemed to make a difference at first but then a few weeks later it was doing it again, as it wasn't that bad I left it until 3 weeks ago when I took it into my local garage to have the brakes replaced and a full service. Since then the EML has been on constantly, the oil pressure and alternator warning lights keep flashing and beeping at me, again intermittently, and everytime I try and start from cold it splutters and dies aon average 3 times before it starts, it also feels like I'm sitting in a spin drier. I called the garage and they said to check th oil which I did and it was actually over the max, so they said it could be a seal or something but when I took it back down they said that the pipes to the air intake have collapsed and will need replacing. Can any one please advise as my car never stalled before this and I feel like I'm being conned.

Cheers for reading this!