This is very strange but just happened to me. My Discover 08/11 statement balance was $0. I initiated a dispute on EQ because of the comments listed. After the dispute was resolved, Discover updated the balance to $988 which is a balance I had sometime during the cycle but never a statement ending balance.
I have experienced some quirky Discover reporting in the past, as have some other members here (HTSU, got your ears up?)
It seems to me that a CLI request, a dispute or anything involving what may be a quick look at credit reports (hard or soft) may trigger a mid-cycle report of outstanding balance.
That's the best I can come up with, and that's just based on my personal experiences and past reports from other members here.
In other words, ask 'em for something, and that mid-cycle report may happen.
Glad you got that Discover, and also glad that it helps your utilization. A year down the road, if you use this card, your CL may be much, much higher than it is now. Discover is conservative out of the gate, but becomes quite generous once they know you a bit.
Hope this helps! 
john398 wrote:
So you disputed a $0 balance and they corrected with a higher balance making your util go up? I dont think I would dispute a $0 balance even if it was incorrect just curious of the reasoning
I disputed it because of the comment on the TL which said "consumer disputes this acct" and in order to get that comment deleted, I had to initiate a dispute. My 08/11 and 09/11 are $0, however when Discover updated the TL they reported a balance and of course removed the comment.