When should the cam belt be changed on an Alfa Romeo T-Spark?

I would welcome your advice regarding my Alfa Romeo 156 T-Spark. It was registered in 2000 and has now covered just over 50,000 fairly trouble-free miles. It has been regularly serviced by an independent guy and yesterday the car failed when the cam belt broke. Would you kindly confirm for me when this should have been changed? Also, I feel let down by the fact that my mechanic has never pointed this out to me, and obviously the car is now 12 years old and I previously was not aware of this necessity.
On this engine the cam belt should be changed every four years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The water pump and tensioner also need to be changed. The belt is well known for coming off or snapping. There is even an Alfa Romeo TSB to change them every 36,000 miles: www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/alfa-romeo/156-1998/...d
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