Unfortunately I have purchased the ticket from their website directly. I have just never heard that an airline could decline the refund within the first 24 hours before. I had always assumed based on what I read that it is a hard and fast rule for all airlines operating in the US.

I have never utilized the 24 hour reservation hold, as it is usually subject to the condition "fare is not guaranteed until ticketed" which makes the hold useless.

Looks like no one has had any success obtaining a refund from Qatar before either.