The trouble here is that there is so little information - no receipts, no copies of what you signed and every thing sounds too vague - if you just handed over $500 and said, "thanks I will get an inspector" they will get away with your money.
Now, it all comes down to the paper. Sadly if you cant convince anyone in a forum online, there's no way that a judge of Consumer tribunal member is going to side with you - well I can't see it anyway.