Thanks Michael, my head is still throbbing from this but the MP's assistant came back to us asking for application/case reference numbers as they are going to write to the UKBA requesting a refund on our behalf.

fingers crossed - we did everything - we followed the law and compared to the people we hear about in the news we are good citizens but when we rely on the "system" we get toe punted because we are a soft touch.
As tax payers we should be allowed to be heard and treated with some dignity but as I said we are pushed around whilst criminals get all the help and funding by the government..