In some countries (Scandinavia for example) the company would be bound by law to pay the fee. Why? Because you can assume that the recruiter is acting on behalf off the firm. So the firm would have to pay what the recruiter promised, and the firm & recruiter would have to sort it out between the two of them.

So, in your position it is more reasonable to expect the firm to pay, since that was what you where promised.

In some countries (the countries in Scandinavia for example) the company would be bound by law to pay the fee. Why? Because you can assume that the recruiter is acting on behalf off the firm. So the firm would have to pay what the recruiter promised, and the firm & recruiter would have to sort it out between the two of them.

So, in your position it is more reasonable to expect the firm to pay, since that was what you where promised.