Just an update. After 8 months, investment in a lawyer and a firm commitment to go to court they finally returned my money. But not without a fight and threats for posting the review on this site. At least they care what people write about them.
It almost cost me the same in lawyers fees as the the money I received back, but I simply cannot stand the behaviour of such companies. They know that it is costly to fight and likely speculate in that people give up. Stay away.