My-Flight-Search and Spirit Airlines review: I don't fly a lot... they lied to take advantage of my cancelled flight

1.
I thought I was calling Spirit Airlines (my fault for not looking closer) to confirm a reservation I had made through a third-party. The guy at MyFLightSearch found my reservation and told me that it was "an economy class ticket which meant I was flying on stand-by and did not have a secured seat and the chances of us (me, my wife, and two kids) of making that flight were not good". The only way "to get secure seats was to pay an extra $115.00 per ticket". My original flight to NY on Frontier got cancelled minutes before so I was panicked and emotional. I told him I would just cancel the reservation and he said "you cannot cancel the reservation - it is too late, the flight is tomorrow". I needed a minute to think so I ended the call and remembered the original guy who booked the res said I COULD cancel. So I found Spirit's real phone number (tip to those who don't know - there is always a recording of the airlines FIRST when they answer..never a live agent) and they assured me I could cancel. I can't speak for the company but the person I spoke with was unethical and seemingly predatory.
2.
Spirit Airlines said I could cancel my flight and then they retained $227.00 of it. They call it "spoilage Fee" = $79.96, and "Other" $146.84. The agent, though difficult to understand with her lovely yet thick accent, was very nice. I had the reservation for 2 hours before I canceled it and it cost me $227.00. My day was awful, and that was the icing on the cake. This wouldn't phase a rich person, but we can't afford this. Ugh.