Unmarried Partner Visa

Hi there,
Can anyone help? Me and my boyfriend applied for the Unmarried Partner Visa in September 2008 and were refused in Ocotber 2008 on the grounds that he didn't apply from Canada, which we and our visa company weren't aware he had to do. £1300 down the drain (Visa company within their rights to keep their feee as it was a Government "policy change"). So I was committed to a job in Argentina for work in Oct for 2 months and he goes back to Canada and applies for the Visa on December 17th. We haven't heard anything. Meanwhile, my Dad is diagnoised with Cancer and I am desperate for my boyfriend to come home for support, but he says there is no way of tracking or finding out any information about how much longer it might take. Can anyone suggest a way of speeding up the process apart from me faxing/emailing/sending my Dad's doctors letter so I can prove he is seriously ill and I need support from my boyfriend? My boyfriend is unable to find work in Canada because of the recession and money is getting tight. Also we have only seen each other for 6 days in 4 months! So I might have to take a job working in Argentina again as it is good money and it is short term. But more than anything, I want him to come home. We also recently got engaged but won't be telling anyone that as that would only complicate matters and we don't have the time, money or patience to apply for another (fiance) visa!
Did anyone else get refused this visa from the UK last year?
The thought of waiting any longer is killing the both of us, and I can't take time off work to visit him in Canada and he can't visit me in UK as he has no passport!
Would love to hear from anyone who thinks they might be able to help us.
Equally, anyone who thinks they have an idea how we might be able to get any money back from the Visa Company as surely they and the UK Borders Agency shouldn't have accepted the application if they knew he should apply from Canada and not the UK?
This situation is having an effect on both mine and my boyfriends mental health! I can't believe what people have to go through to be together. We have been together for nearly 4 years and lived together for 2 years, although our proof was just under 2 years because of when we had to hand in the application.
Thanks in advance,
Cheryl