Unfortunately, BA are correct that if you don't book the tickets as a single trip they are not responsible for consequential damages. However, EU regulation 261/2004 may help a bit. If you arrived more than 3 hours late, a recent court ruling says that the airlines must compensate you as if the flight was cancelled. The court ruled...
"Articles 5, 6 and 7 of Regulation EC 261/2004 must be interpreted as meaning that passengers whose flights are delayed may be treated, for the purposes of the application of the right to compensation, as passengers whose flights are cancelled and they may thus rely on the right to compensation laid down in Article 7 of the regulation where they suffer, on account of a flight delay, a loss of time equal to or in excess of three hours, that is, where they reach their final destination three hours or more after the arrival time originally scheduled by the air carrier."[4]
You Would therefore be entitled to €400 compensation which would go some way to cover some of your costs. Write again to BA asserting your rights under 261/2004. You can get further information from wikipedia. You can also file a complaint via the CAA at
Complaints
Civil Aviation Authority
Room K401
CAA House
45-59 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6TE
If all else fails you can get EUCLaims.co.UK to help you, but they will charge a fee, on a no win, no fee basis.
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