Controller was confused on altitude assignment.

Attributes
ACN	437521
Time
Date	199905
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : bzm.vor
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	437521
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

ZTL controller asked me to say my altitude. I told him I was level at FL290. He then said 'I thought you acknowledged a descent to FL240.' I said 'no sir.' he then gave it to me and I acknowledged. Previously we had a conversation about routing, and possibly a misunderstanding developed at the end of that conversation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR WAS CONFUSED ON ALT ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: ZTL CTLR ASKED ME TO SAY MY ALT. I TOLD HIM I WAS LEVEL AT FL290. HE THEN SAID 'I THOUGHT YOU ACKNOWLEDGED A DSCNT TO FL240.' I SAID 'NO SIR.' HE THEN GAVE IT TO ME AND I ACKNOWLEDGED. PREVIOUSLY WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT ROUTING, AND POSSIBLY A MISUNDERSTANDING DEVELOPED AT THE END OF THAT CONVERSATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.