wouldn't the asbestos have been identified during the pest & building inspection?
:yeahthat:

And you can get a normal builder to remove it - we have asbestos in this house and never had it even mentioned. Its not totally terrible stuff to handle, its just the dust, so if they wear dust masks they should be ok. I'm surprised that you are having trouble getting people in!!

And no - you can't get any money back unfortunately. Once its gone through, its gone through (sorry). You settled on those terms, if you had brought it up as a concern after the pest and building report was submitted, you *might* have been able to do something.

Sorry babe!