I was told by my FTO recently (within the last month) that I do not need 200 hours total time before doing the CPL test,
They told you wrong.
Hence the point of this thread.
As some of the posts suggest the schools are behind on this and the exam cannot be conducted as it is clearly defined in Part FCL that you may not take the test. Examiners should, and are, refusing to test those who do not meet those requirments.