Rentalcars & Thrifty car rental are ******!!!

If I could give them a NO star, I would. I spoiled my kids with first time flying ticket down to Durban, I went online to book a rental car(also first time), got one in Rentalcars.com through Thrifty car rentals, paid R814.00 online. When we wanted to collect the car, the Thrifty consultant informed me of the high deposit, i arranged for more money to be transfered into my account, wehen the money was cleared and i wanted to pay the consultant informed me they do not accept my cheque bank card, i asked her why not the money is in my account and what about the R814 that i already paid, she told me she could not reverse the payment, i should contact Rentalcars direct, i was relieved, cause i remembered seeing they advertise NO CANCELATION FEE. I went next door to Tempest Car Rental who assisted me and accepted my card. When we reached our holiday destination, Margate, i rep**** to Rentalcars email confirmation of car, that i did not collect car and would like to cancel it... When the didnt respond i went online to search for a contact nr, which i also couldnt find, i tried the "live chat" several times through out our holiday without any luck, so i gave up. After ou weekend away i returned the car to Tempest, and they assisted me with the correct nr. The Rentalcars consultant informed me that i will not get a refund as Thrifty has a cancelation fee... Im confused, Thrifty couldnt assist with the refund when i was there cause i booked the car through Rentalcars, but Rentalcars(NO CANCELATION fee as advertised), couldnt assist cause Thrifty has a cancelation fee... Im a single mother of 2 boys who just wanted to spoil her kids with a holiday, R814 is a lot of money for us, now to just lose it cause nobody at Thrifty or Rentalcars can assist, i think they are a bunch of ****** and will never use either of them ever again!!!