Thomson flight TOM 599 7/7/2011

Tazngaz

We were booked on this return flight from Antalya to Bournemouth. As soon as we got on the coach from the hotel at about 5.30pm we were told by the Thomson rep that the flight would be late but no reason given. We were told to book in as normal at the airport & it was at the check in we were told that the outgoing flight had not even left the UK! We knew then we were in for a long wait. We were given a voucher to exchange for a burger, chips & soft drink at the Burger King outlet. No mention was made as to the estimated departure of our flight & we had to monitor the screens & listen for announcements. We spent a miserable 7 hours waiting with no where comfortable to sit & freezing cold with the air con. We eventually arrived back at Bournemouth at 5am. No explanation was given at all about the delay . It didn't occur to me afterwards to try & claim compensation until the EU ruling was mentioned in MSE newsletter. I sent a letter to TUI ( templated from the site) on 11/3/2013, received an acknowledgment on 22/5/2013 & a final reply refusing compensation on 19/6/2013. Apparently our flight was delayed due to 'a technical fault being detected prior to a previous scheduled flight' This, I assume was the outgoing flight. The letter goes on to state that the fault was not something that 'ought to have detected during routine maintenance '& therefore ' the circumstances are not of a kind which would fall outside the definition of Extraordinary Circumstances' What the technical fault was we do not know.
Can anyone tell me if we are still able to claim even if we were delayed by a 'knock on' effect from a previously delayed flight?
Has anyone any advice as to where we go from here?
Thank you