[spindlelurcher]

Title may sound harsh but in my view thats exactly what United staff are guilty of.
I'm wondering if anyone has any advice, or similar experiences.
I am a UK resident but travel internationally.
On a recent return flight from London I encountered the following.
My flight was from Mexico where I have been on vacation, had to fly to London from Mexico for a week of work.
My problems started in Heathrow when I tried to check in to return to Mexico.
United staff refused to check me in, saying I had to have a return ticket to the UK before they would check me in as I didnt have a mexican tourist permit on me (the reason I didnt have one is because United staff in Mexico remove the permit on departure and replace it on reentry) I tried to argue this to no avail, spoke to 3 different members of staff, who all told me I had to go and buy a return ticket. So I had to buy a 1279 dollar ticket (money I do not have) on my credit card on the grounds that it was fully refundable. I requested a fully refundable ticket.. checked and double checked with the salesperson (whos name I now regret not taking), she told me I would be able to refund it over the phone when I arrived in Mexico.
All of which has proved to be a lie, 3 days into my vacation I have got not further..apparently my ticket is not refundable at all. And after checking at Immigration in Mexico I know United also lied about the immigration issue. were they all working on commission?? were they trying to fleece me.
any advice would be greatly appreciated as now I going through the painfully slow process of phone calls to India, the US, and complaints numbers that hang up on me if I manage to get through at all. I wont be flying united again.