layby refund

good day

I did a layby at Mr price the wheel, due to relocation 300km away it ended up expiring. I called the call center for refund they told me l can go to any Mr price for a refund of R500, when l got to Mr price Richards bay they said l need to go to where l opened a layby, to my surprise Mr price is not a franchise, correct me if am wrong.

so I am unemployed and l need to spend +-R500 to get a refund of R500