Premiums not refunded

I took and education policy for my daughter in 2002 and cancelled it in 2008 because I could not afford the premiums. The consultant who assisted me told me that I could not get my premiums back until my daughter is 18. After my daughter turned 18 I went to Metropolitan life and was told that I had cashed up the premiums, when I asked for the bank details where the premiums were paid they referred me to their head office. HO told me that the policy lapsed and the premiums were deducted because they were not getting money from my bank account. Its strange that I am getting different information from HO and the offices in Newcastle and Durban. How is it possible that your consultant tells me one information and that HO has different information, and also if the debit order is unpaid why would you go and deduct from the premiums that sitting in the policy. This just doesn't add up