Indeed a strange situation. Sending out a bill which can't be paid. But this is also a proof that automation doesn't solve everything. In the old days a person would have looked at it. Nowadays, a batch runs, calculates the bill, creates it, registeres the debt and sends it out. Even with such a small value, it could be that the system will continue the process and sends a reminder within a few weeks for an unpaid bill.
Paying up forward would indeed be a good solution. But a company doesn't want a situation in which they owe you, they prefer the other way around.