booking.com ***** your money

A warning to all thinking of utilising Booking.com - DO NOT!! I made a reservation and paid upfront as a surprise for my wife unbeknown to me she had done the same elsewhere. I had until midnight to cancel, which I did. Received confirmation email of cancellation 8 hours before the deadline. I have spent the past month trying to get my money back but Booking.com keep declining saying I missed the deadline EVEN though I have sent them their e-mail confirming receipt of cancellation. The hotel I had booked at has been amazing and not even they can get booking.com to refund me or provide a positive result! DO NOT USE booking.com, go direct to the supplier rather....thousands of dollars I am fighting for!