I was supposed to go to Brazil this past week but I didn't get my visa in time. A few weeks earlier, since I was hurried about getting my visa in time, I contacted one of those companies that attempts to expedite the visa process. In conversations with them, they told me flat out that I might not get my visa in time, but once I put in the order I would not be able to get my money back.

It seemed like the bet on the low odds was worth the trip to Brazil. But, quite obviously, I did not get my visa in time and thus I lost out on both my plane ticket fee and the visa expediting fee (the plane ticket was also non-refundable). When I mention this to some friends, they say that I should have gotten my money back from the visa company, even though I agreed up front that I wouldn't get my money back if they weren't able to get me the visa in time.

So my question(s): Should I have not agreed to the no-refund offer up front? Is that a thing that these companies do, or was I just dealing with a less than reputable company in my haste to get my visa in time? I'm also a bit embarrassed by not getting the visa in time; I've had numerous people tell me that I should be more aggressive in trying to get my money back but on the face of it that doesn't seem likely. But is my "doesn't seem likely" feeling true or a rationalization?