TurboTax is free to use and see if it works for your situation. If it does not work, then you do not pay for it. The reason they do not refund online is because there is nothing to prevent you from using it after you got your money back. If it does not meet your needs, then you should not have paid for it.
If the policy was different, then most people would get their money back and then file for free.
I do understand that you were advised to pay early and save money. That is not really deceptive advertising. You did save money but were in the weird circumstance that the software did not meet your needs. In your case, you should get refunded if the software really cannot work for you.
