An Update On The Ex-Date

Me: “Hi, have you shopped at [Store] before?”

Customer: “Yes, I have.”

Me: “Fantastic, what’s your last name and zip code?”

(The customer provides info, which I enter, and I find a single customer entry for this info.)

Me: *wanting to confirm I have the right customer* “What’s your first name, please?”

Customer: “[Customer].”

Me: *a little curious, since that isn’t the name I have in my database* “Hm, can you please confirm your address?”

Customer: *address that matches the info on file*

Me: “Yes, that’s what I’ve got. It must have been entered by another woman in your household; I have [Other Name] on record.”

(All this time, the customer has been friendly and pleasant. However, at the mention of [Other Name], she turns cold in an instant — calm, but furious.)

Customer: *enunciating forcefully and glaring daggers at me* “That’s. The Ex. WIFE!”

Me: *frozen in place, not sure what to say*

Customer: “She’s been The Ex-Wife for ten years; how is she still on this account and I’m not?! I’ve been shopping here forever!”

Me: *recovering from my shock* “Well then, it seems we are well overdue to update your info. Let’s just take care of this, shall we?”