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When you work near a company, you sometimes have people thinking that you work for that company.

What would you do if you were the parking lot attendant for an area near many businesses, including the Social Security Administration, and an older couple asked you to help them look at their paperwork?

That is what happened to the guy in this story, so he tried to nicely explain that he didn’t work for the Social Security Administration, but they wouldn’t believe him. They got upset and kept trying to ask questions until they finally drove away.

I think he handled the situation well. Sometimes you just can’t make people happy, and that seems to be the case here. Read the full story below and see what you think about it.

I’m just the parking lot attendant, not the Social Security Administration

Back in college, I worked as a parking lot attendant and booth clerk.

This seems like a pretty easy job.

They stationed me at a parking lot for a small 2-story office complex. The building had tax offices, lawyer/notary, some clinics, water/electric utility offices, and a Social Security office.

I was at the booth, handing out a ticket to each car that entered, which they would get stamped at one of the offices, and hand it back to me on the way out. The parking lot was near a beach, so they had to make sure cars parking there were on official business, and not taking up the lot to go swim.

Did she really think the parking attendant could answer questions about her Social Security?

Anyways, I’m sitting there in the booth, and this older lady and her husband approach me. She tells me “The Social Security office is full, and I have an important question that I need answered.”

She then hands me a letter from Social Security. I immediatley hand it back to her, saying that I don’t work for the Social Security office, and tell her to just go back in and take a number and they’ll answer any questions she has.

Sorry, lady, but he literally cannot help you, even if he wanted to.

She and her husband go back into the office, and about half an hour later they come back, and this time she’s huffing and puffing.

She tries to hand me the letter, saying that she doesn’t understand what they’re saying about her benefits, and if I can clarify it or call someone from the Social Security office to see them right away.

Why would they even want this guy to help them with their issues?

Once again, I kindly explain to her that I’m just the parking lot attendant and am in no way affiliated or employed by Social Security.

Her husband finally spoke up and he asks “You can’t do us this one favor??”, and starts looking around as if trying to find someone to complain to.

It isn’t that he doesn’t want to help them; he can’t.

I keep telling them that my employer is Atlantic Midway Parking, and NOT Social Security. I even tapped the company logo on my shirt and the same logo on the parking rules sign.

He then says “So this means you don’t want to help us.” I tell them that if they come earlier the next day, the office will have fewer people and someone there can see them, but that I can’t do anything for their case.”

How rude.

They went to their car, pulled up to the exit side of the booth, and threw the ticket at me. Unstamped.

I stared at them without pressing the button to raise the gate, and told them that if they’re going to be like that, they won’t be welcome to park there any more.

They aren’t worth the effort to argue with. Clearly, they wouldn’t understand the situation.

The husband just rolled up his window and I finally pressed the button to get them out of my hair and they drove off.

I never saw them again after that. Maybe they parked somewhere else and walked to the building.

What a frustrating situation for this guy. It isn’t that he didn’t want to help them, but he couldn’t. Even if he tried, he would almost certainly give them bad advice.

Let’s see what the people in the comments have to say about this crazy story.

People of all generations get upset.

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Now this guy has a perfect reply.

Here is a commenter who is scared of becoming like these people.

This actually would be a good reply.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a woman who received a work email from a place she never even applied.

Yeah, he should have just told them what to do.

He would have helped them if he could, but there was nothing he could do. What was so hard to understand? These seniors needed to go inside. I’m sure the SSA workers would have helped.

He couldn’t help them even if he were an employee of the Social Security Administration.

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Author

Michael Levanduski

Senior Contributing Editor, Workplace & Community

Michael Levanduski is a veteran journalist and digital culture specialist with over 15 years of professional writing and research experience. While his background spans emerging technology and complex technical subjects, Michael specializes in analyzing workplace ethics, property disputes, and viral interpersonal dynamics across modern digital forums.

Since joining TwistedSifter in 2024, Michael has authored some of the publication’s most widely read coverage on corporate policy, malicious compliance, and neighborhood relations. Rather than simply aggregating online debates, he brings rigorous research, organizational context, and an empathetic editorial voice to everyday human dilemmas—transforming raw forum discussions into insightful, highly engaging narratives.

When he isn’t covering internet culture, Michael enjoys traveling, keeping up with tech trends, and spending time with his family. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn and Facebook.