Sounds like they're trying it on...
But unfortunately, you are at their mercy. If you dig out EASA regulation 4321.32 sub paragraph 23.x and show them that they're wrong, they'll just say "Ah, OK, us bad". And then, in 12 months when you have flown another 50 hours with them, they'll tell you that you are just about starting to approach test standard, irrespective of whether or not you reached that level 20 hours earlier.
What I am saying is that if you cannot trust them on this, you may not want to trust them at all.
B.