Lost money due to companys bad communications

mags1962

Hi
Hope this is the correct place to post, i will try and keep this long story short.
Hoping somebody can help.
Iam in scotland
I purchased 2 gift experience vouchers for a helicopter scenic tour over Loch Lomond costing £240 flying from near Glasgow airport as a surprise, for my daughters 21st birthday.
The flight was to take place on the 5th August, i live in Fife she lives in Glasgow.
That morning the weather was terrible with heavy rain but i made my way to Glasgow hoping that the rain would subside.
I was given a telephone number (helicopter confirmation line to call & check to see if flights were going ahead.)
I was calling the number often to see if there were any changes & the message always said the same 'all flights are going ahead'
Once i arrived in Glasgow the heavens opened & it was thunder & lightning however i still hoped.
I went to my daughters house & we both got ready, our flight was to take place at 3.30 we were to be there ten min before.
Calling the confirmation line constantly at this point and still receiving the same message i could not believe that the flight was still going ahead so at 2.25 just before i booked us a taxi i decided to call it again & was given this recorded message ' all Glasgow flights have been cancelled due to severe weather conditions & you will receive an email to reschedule, when you are finished recording hang up or press the hash key for more options, i pressed the hash key but there were no more options.
I tried to call there Edinburgh office but it was closed, it was a Sunday.
I let my daughter hear the message because up until this point i had not told her what her surprise was, we were both disappointed but it was understandable.
I waited on my email to reschedule but it never arrived so i called them on the 17th August to rebook & this is when it got messy.
They told me i was a 'no show' i said yes because the message told me that Glasgow flights were cancelled, they said Loch lomond was still going ahead i told them that i was flying from Glasgow over Loch Lomond so presumed that would include Glasgow.
I was to put in a complaint vie email which i did, the reply now said that the recorded message had said ' flights over Glasgow were cancelled but Loch Lomond flights were going ahead'.
The message did not say this & i listened to the message to the very end.
I called them & the guy i spoke with who is the company director was very pompous and rude & has no intention off giving us the flights or a refund, he says that other people flew that day from Loch_lomond and how come they turned up etc, i told him that i hoped he still had the recorded message, he said he didn't.
Went to C.A.B & was advised to contact consumer direct which i have done and was advised to write to them stating the supply off goods and services act 1982 giving them a 14 day deadline to reply which i have done recorded sighed for delivery.
Iam sick to the pit off my stomach as this money was used for my daughters 21st & makes it all the more sickening.
I have all the calls logged on my iphone there are 7 calls altogether & i told him this along with why would i call if i had no intention off going.
I am very angry & just wondered if anybody else had experienced similar & what are my chances.
Thanks

magpiecottage

Did you pay by credit card?