It's very common. I can recall for example being cleared through the BDN overhead at FL45 - their ATZ only goes up to 2000, and the MATZ to 3000 !
I think some controllers forget what a FIS is on occasion. They really should in my opinion "request remain at", etc.
I may be wrong, but I think even in open FIR, a controller can require you to give information, "report passing", "report changing altitude", "report change in heading" if you have accepted a service from them. But if they don't ask, presumably they don't need or want this information?
G