Edgars refuses to close my account

I had an edgars account which I kept because of club benefits. I realized that the benefits were not worth it and paid up the account in March and requested a closure. I was told that I could only request a closure 48 hours of making payment. Covid came and I didn't get to visit edgars for the closure. After covid I got calls that I owe around R700

At first I resisted paying it because I was denied a request to close the account. I eventually got tired of taking calls from their debt collectors and paid the R700. I was given a number to call after 48 hours of paying to request a closure.I called and requested that the account be closed. I was told that they first have to confirm that there is no outstanding amount as closure cannot be done otherwise. After holding they confirmed that there was no outstanding amount and that the account closure had been done. I was further advised that it would take a number of days to finalize on their side but that nothing more was required from me.

You can imagine my shock when I received a notification weeks later indicating that I owe edgars money. I have been going back and forth with them challenging this but as of today I now owe R205 before the account can be closed.

I have not had accounts in decades so perhaps I don't understand how things work. Should closing am account be this difficult and costly?

I feel like I'm stuck in a relationship that refuses to end despite my continued requests for termination and all the while being forced to pay for staying.