Confusion as to assigned altitude near bhm.

Attributes
ACN	460050
Time
Date	200001
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bhm.airport
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	460050
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

We were cleared to FL330. After leveloff, the controller said 'verify assigned altitude of FL350.' we said 'negative, we are at FL330.' he said 'climb and maintain FL350.' no conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION AS TO ASSIGNED ALT NEAR BHM.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO FL330. AFTER LEVELOFF, THE CTLR SAID 'VERIFY ASSIGNED ALT OF FL350.' WE SAID 'NEGATIVE, WE ARE AT FL330.' HE SAID 'CLB AND MAINTAIN FL350.' NO CONFLICT.

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.