Most of the schools have a priority system, which includes students from the kindergarten/reception, siblings of existing students, debenture holders, certain passports or certain positions (i.e. diplomatic staff). It's VERY possible that a school will not have any openings outside of their priority admissions so when they say "we didn't offer any admissions" they mean "no one outside of the priority got in".
In addition, you are applying for Y1, not reception/kindergarden. There are very few openings for Y1 students who have not come up through the school's reception system. For example, say a school has 60 places for Y1. They had 60 kids in reception, and maybe 8-10 of those moved away this year. That means they only have 10 openings and probably 300 applicants. Of those 300 applicants, 50 have some sort of priority, be it siblings, debenture, etc. You'd be lucky just to get a response email to your application.
I can tell you from personal experience that a well-known international school, the year we were applying, had -0- new students from outside the reception / priority group for Year 1. None. Not a single one. I know from applying to an ESF school a year or so ago that they had 60 spots. 45 were taken by siblings / children of staff. That left 15 slots for 300 applicants or something. Most kids weren't even interviewed. The situation at many other international schools is the same.
Frankly, these are the hard numbers you are up against. While it would be nice to go to the school closest to where you live, the reality is that many parents end up moving to be closer to the school where they can find a seat.
At this point you have two choices:
1) Complain to the school that "lost" your application. Get the same response. Repeat, until you get tired or they don't answer the phone.
or
2) Apply to other schools.
Good luck.