ACR X FLC REFUSED DSCNT CLRNC DUE TO WX FACTOR TSTM BELOW FL310.

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ACR X 90 MI FROM HMV AT FL330 I NOTIFIED INDIANAPOLIS CENTER OF A LARGE ACTIVE TSTM OVER HMV AND THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DSND UNTIL PAST IT. THEY FIRST ASKED ME TO DSND TO FL290 WHICH I REFUSED. THEY THEN ASKED IF I COULD ACCEPT 310 AND I ACCEPTED. WE WERE SWITCHED TO ATLANTA CENTER APPROX 10 MI FROM HMV. THEY CLRED US TO 290 TO WHICH I REFUSED BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVE TSTM RIGHT BELOW US. THEY (ATLANTA) SAID THERE WAS A CONFLICT AND WE HAD TO DSND AND AGAIN I INFORMED THEM OF OUR SITUATION AND SAID WE COULD TURN S BUT COULD NOT DSND AND THAT WE WOULD BE CLR AFTER PASSING HMV. IT SOUNDED LIKE ATC PANICKED AND GAVE US A HARD TURN SW ABOUT 130 DEG OFF COURSE AND CHANGED US BACK TO THE PREVIOUS CENTER. WE WERE SHORTLY CLR OF THE TSTM AND CONTINUED ON OUR WAY. I WAS NOTIFIED TO CALL ATLANTA CENTER ON THE TELEPHONE. I SPOKE WITH THE SUPVR WHO SAID THAT THE CTLRS WERE NEW AND PANICKED WHEN I REFUSED THE DSCNT. SHE SAID SHE INFORMED THEM IT WAS MY RIGHT AS CAPT TO REFUSE A DSCNT IF SAFETY WERE INVOLVED. SHE SAID THEY HAD A XING RESTRICTION AT 'HMV' AND THAT PREVIOUS ACFT PASSED WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND THIS TSTM CAUGHT THEM BY SURPRISE. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A SERIOUS LACK OF COM ON THE CENTER'S PART! I HAD INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEM 90 MI PRIOR TO IT AND APPARENTLY IT WAS NOT PASSED ON.