Experian Dispute: From "PAID" to "PAID CLOSED"

Hi. I have a pathetic case which happened in November of 2003. Pathetic because it was a traffic ticket in Windsor, Canada (I live near Detroit, MI).

I can't remember if it was 2 tickets for $130 a piece but apparently they reported me to collections w/o any notifications sent to my mail or a phone call or anything. I actually was sentenced to boot camp during December 2003 and January 2004 but paid the petty tickets off by February 2004 (late a couple months, never received any mail).

Anyhow, I checked my credit report for the first time in the summer of 2007. It showed up on all 3 credit bureaus. 2 separate collections, each for $130.

I disputed it with the collection agency and they knew it was ridiculous and that I paid the tickets way back in early 2004. So they updated their systems and said the credit bureaus would update theirs as well.

So TransUnion and Equifax took these items off.

I checked my report again this year and Experian still had me for the 2 marks of $130 a piece in collection. They had the status as PAID.

I disputed it online and found out just now they "UPDATED" my status to "PAID CLOSED".

What does this mean? I was denied an American Express credit card because they use Experian and Experian had me w/ 2 items in collection. I don't think it is deleted. So what is the difference between paid and paid close?

Thanks!