Ethics: a company goes back on its promise to pay interview travel expenses?

This is just an honest question. Please advice.

I had an interview with a company in Herndon VA. Its a software company and I was being interviewed for an open position there. I live in Manchester, NH. I was told that they will reimburse up to $750 of the travel expenses. I was given only 1 day notice to be at the interview. I understand that I could have negotiated the interview date, but thinking that:

1. They are paying up to $750, I might be able to make it. 2. The program manager apparently had only that time slot available in the entire week (who apparently did not show up).

So, I said I will be there. I had cleared three phone interviews so far. This was supposed to be the final in-person interview. Unfortunately, I was not selected even though I do feel my interview had gone well.

So, in such a short notice, I booked a flight and a car and the cost came out to be around $700. I submitted my expense report and receipts later and was told to wait till the payroll runs. I followed up after a month and they said they cannot process it because it is too much of an amount. I sent the finance personnel the email sent by HR that they have up to $750 for me.

Then he called me and started to haggle/bargain this price with me. I do not have a job at present and I hope people here at HN know what is it to be jobless and still take out close to 1000 bucks.<p>It has been 2 months now and despite my several emails, they do not even reply.

What are the ethics here? I have original receipts and I have their emails.

What should I do?

Am I right in asking them that reimbursement as they had promised?