I'm fighting this EXACT same issue with United.

I was caught in Toronto last week on there return segment for my R/T flight when basically all flights were cancelled for 36 hours. What makes it all the more interesting, is that at the start of the week I changed my ticket (+ $411, they waved the change fee) in order to ensure that I was home Thursday night for an important personal event.

Since I was flying into Harrisburg, I rented a car at 11PM with 3 other random people in the same situation and we did an impromptu road trip (arriving back in Harrisburg around 6am).

I called United that day and the person told me they needed to cancel my ticket since I was no in Toronto and then I could submit my request for a refund... I just heard back and they gave my a $50 voucher for my "trouble" but are refusing to refund my return flight (around 1k)

Things like this are beyond ridiculous when an airline literally cancels your flight and then FORCES you to either accept a 36+ hour delay or if you find other accommodations you then are forced to pay for non-existent service.

I am going to call United one more time then I'm going to put a stop payment on the $411 change fee for the flight I never took