Yes you can get your money back. This is the usual trick they say to try and scare you away, all it does is gives them a bad name and bad press. They have to give you your money back and if they wont a good letter from a solicitor will usually do the trick. Failing that a trip to court will always work. They didnt earn the name
air for nothing - good to see theifcoate and greed are still at work - nothing changes!!
On a serious note - a little bit of work will ensure you get your money back. This is the sort of practise that does the UK flight training community no good at all and just earns everyone bad press.