Sounds like you've had a response from someone who has absolutely no idea what they're talking about. Providing you meet the subset of ATPL requirements (500hrs multi-crew, 250hrs P1, 200hrs XC, 75hrs instrument, 30hrs night etc) the other hours can be anything and everything. Provided you were in an appropriate aeroplane (ie. no flying tents) and logging the flight in some legitimate capacity, they're all good.
Whilst I only have around 500hrs I meet all those requirements except for the multi-crew which realistically you'll never get without working for an airline (or paying to work for an airline if you're one of the desperate sorts with money to burn).
Do PUT hours count? Of course they do. If you've done a PPL, CPL, IR and FI then you'd be mighty miffed at being 200hrs short for your ATPL issue. They count towards an ATPL just like they count towards any other license.
Read this:
http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?ca...90&pageid=4462