AirlineComplaints.org - Canceled / Delayed / Overbooked Refused to refund seat assignments

On March 8, 2016, using our American Airlines mileage points, I booked two seats on the following flights to Rome (via London) on British Airways (American Airlines partner in the mileage program):
Sept. 06, 2016 BA 182 New York/London
BA 560 London/Rome
Sept. 21, 2016 BA 553 Rome/London
BA 113 London/New York
The flight reservation was made online with American Airlines; however, I was told by American Airlines, on a subsequent telephone call that the seat assignments had to be made by British Airways directly, which I did on the same day. The charge for seats on four flights was $356.00. I was NOT told by the reservation agent that the seat charge was non-refundable if the flights were later cancelled. Under those conditions, I would not have booked the seats.
On April 13, 2016, I cancelled the flights through American Airlines. I was told I had to call British Airways directly to cancel the seats which I did on the same day. I was told by the British Airways’ agent: “the back office would process the claim in 5-10 days.”
When I called British Airways at the end of April to follow up on my refund claim, I was told the seats were non-refundable. Company policy! They were sorry I wasn’t advised, but when I booked the seats I was told I was automatically agreeing to company policy even though no one told me anything about company policy, particularly as it related to seat assignments. Neither did anyone advise me to go online and read any terms and conditions before booking the seats.
Since I have travelled for fifty years, and have never been charged for cancelled seats, I had no reason to believe that such a policy would even exist.
The Reservation Department and Customer Relations Department of British Airways refused to refund my $356.00. I think this is a deceptive way to conduct business.