Almost lost R3 500

At first I am insurance ranted a car for me in November 2019 which I had an accidental dent. I had to pay 3500 rands which was fine. This year October 2023 I was flying to eastern cape and I enquired first car rental services and only then I was told that I owed them 3500 rands from 2019 and before I could hire a car I needed to pay or present proof of payment. And come on that was over 4 and half years I dint have that proof. Luckily the banks stores their archives and I was luck to get it just in time. If it was a month later I would have to pay again the money I had already paid which is unfair. I would recommend them at all.