No More Closing Arguments

(I work at an auto auction for a salvage yard. A customer approaches me at the counter.)

Me: “Hi. Can I have your buyer number?”

Customer: *gives it*

Me: “Hmm. It looks like that account is closed or suspended.”

Customer: “Why?”

Me: “Let me look at the notes.” *does so* “Okay, sir, it looks like on April 26 you emailed our member services department asking them to close your account.”

Customer: “Well, I didn’t mean to close it completely!”

(The customer goes on for a while. I inform him that he has to get in touch with member services to reopen his account — the office doesn’t handle this in person — and the customer gets angry at ME because I can’t do it from here. Finally, we get to this point:)

Me: “Sir, you asked them to close the account, so that’s what they did.”

Customer: “Well, I wish they would have told me that meant I couldn’t use it anymore!”