I wish I could have threatened to close my account, but I already did that six years ago.
Well, I stopped using it, cancelled the credit card it was billing to....but they continue to refuse to actually CLOSE my account, and I still get policy updates via email.
I'm getting the same evasive response from PayPal that you have experienced. I used PayPal for only one transaction in the past and removed a credit card associated with my PayPal account long ago.
On three separate occasions, over a period of a few months this year, I have contacted PayPal Customer Support to close my account because my online request reports a problem. Each time they claim there is no issue with my account and that the problem is with their system that will be investigated. They promise to promptly close the account and notify me when the system problem is resolved. I never hear from them again and the account remains open. I don’t believe PayPal is being honest with account owners. I suspect it's a ruse to avoid closing existing accounts.