Any Suggestions how to deal with medical CA reporting 3 years later?

[hapagrrl]

Hi,

I had a medical bill (that I didn't even know about to begin with! - seriously, I never got a normal bill, just a letter one day from a CA). Anyway, it went to collection, which I paid *immediately.*  At the time, the letter said that if I called and paid immediately, I'd only need to pay x amount - a "discount opportunity," they called it. That was over three years ago.

As of Jan. of last year, this started showing up on my CR!!!  :

I still have the CA's letter *and*  the confirmation number for my payment (including the date and time I paid it).  Is there anything at all I can do here? Would a GW letter help me?

I just don't understand -- why bother reporting it 3 years later?? And they never told me that it'd show up as an "account paid for less than full balance." What the??

This may not normally be a big deal, but I've been working insanely hard over the last 1.5+ years to clean up my old messes that this just seems like an un-necessary setback. Please help. 

Here's the item from my CR:

BRIDGEPORT FINANCIAL Address:  Account Number: 1111 WILLOW ST FL 2 695433 SAN JOSE, CA 95125 (408) 295-7085 Address Identification Number: 0191725126  Status:  Paid in settlement.  

Date Opened: 11/2007 Reported Since: 01/2010 Date of Status: 01/2010 Last Reported: 01/2010 Creditor's Statement:  Account legally paid in full for less than full balance.

[LIGHTNIN]

Yes you are correct,send off a short and sweet GW letter.

Good Luck to You!!