[jimworcs]

I am still confused:

If you bought the ticket on the 9th October 2008 and you requested a refund on the 10th October 2008, then you are clearly entitled to a full refund. I suspect you bought the ticket on the 9th October 2008 and requested the refund on the 10th October 2009. That is one year and 1 day. The maximum validity of all CO tickets is 12 months.

These are the rules:

B) Refunds - Voluntary
For tickets eligible for refunds, unless it is an involuntary refund as stated in Paragraph (A) above, CO will upon the Passenger’s surrender of the unused portion of a CO issued ticket or voided eTicket, refund to the Passenger as follows:

1. 1. 1. If no portion of the Ticket has been used, in accordance with these rules, the refund will be an amount equal to the total fare and charges paid.

1. 1. 1. If a portion of the Ticket has been used, in accordance with these rules, the refund will be an amount equal to the positive difference if any, between the fare and charges applicable to the Ticket issued to the Passenger, and the fare and charges applicable to the transportation of the Passenger covered by the used portion of the Ticket.
         
      2. Refund will be made, provided application for such refund has been made not later than the expiration date of the Ticket.
         
      3. CO assumes no obligation to issue a voluntary refund unless such Ticket was issued by CO as a CO Ticket. The term "CO Ticket" means Tickets printed, imprinted or issued electronically with the CO carrier code (005) as part of the Ticket serial number.
         
      4. Any applicable administrative service charge or cancellation fee included as part of the published fare rule for the Ticket in question will be deducted from the amount to be refunded under 1) and 2) above.
         
      5. CO will issue refunds for eligible tickets within seven (7) business days for credit card purchases and 20 business days for cash purchases.

The highlighted section details the relevant point. However, I think you have a valid point. A fully refundable ticket implies you could get a refund at any time. What possible justification is there for Continental to keep your money? What service have they offered for this money? It is outrageous, however, I suspect it is also legal.