Irctc — non refund of fare

I booked a tkt for my wife and child on 22.6 in Tatkal in howrah mail to Chennai. the status was WL 7 & 8. when I cancelled it by 3-30 pm on the same day the status was same. IRCTC did not give me refund saying "after chart preparation the status was 'confirmed' ". I had no printout of cancelled tkt as IRCTC discourages taking printout. before this also once it happened. this time I made it for sure that the tkt had been cancelled. IRCTC does not immediately confirm any action through SMS.