Does anyone getting a status match already have an MR account and/or existing but lower level elite status?

I know someone who is trying to get a status match from MR. What they have found out so far is that MR is not willing to make this exception/exemption IF the requestor is an existing MR members.

My friend is MR Silver and was asking to match his HHonors Diamond status and so far MR has refused to elevate his status. (And they have lost the statements he has faxed also -- apparently they don't save correspondence).

My advice based on this account might be to cancel his MR account (after cleaning out the points of course) and go for a "fresh attempt" later this year as a non-customer. Any thoughts?