FLC OF MLG UNDERSTOOD CLRED TO FL260. NEXT CTLR STATED 230. FLT HAD OVERSHOT TO 23500.

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AFTER DEPARTING CMH WE WERE LEVEL AT 10000 FT INDICATING 320 KTS WHEN THE CTLR ISSUED A HDG OF 240 DEGS REDUCE AIRSPD TO 260 KTS AND CLB TO FL260 WHICH WAS OUR FILED ALT FOR CRUISING TO ORD. I ACKNOWLEDGED WITH A READBACK OF HDG; ALT; AND AIRSPD. I ALSO SET THE ALT IN THE ALT CTLR WINDOW AND THE PF COMPLIED WITH THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS. AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH FL230 THE CTLR ISSUED A FREQ CHANGE FROM 124.8 TO FREQ 125.07. ON THE NEW FREQ OF 125.07 I CHKED ON AS CLBING OUT OF 23500 TO 26000 FT. THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO DSND TO FL230. WE IMMEDIATELY COMPLIED. WE WERE THEN ADVISED THAT THIS WAS AN ALT BUST BUT WAS NOT A TFC CONFLICT. I RETURNED TO 124.8 ON THE OTHER RADIO TO TALK TO THE PREVIOUS CTLR ABOUT THE SITUATION BUT WAS GIVEN A 'NO COMMENT'. IN THE FUTURE WHEN I AM ISSUED A CLRNC ABOVE FL230 BY A LOW ALT CTLR I WILL CLARIFY THE CLRNC. ALSO; I THINK THAT WHEN MULTIPLE INSTRUCTIONS ARE ISSUED IN ONE CLRNC AT ONE GIVEN TIME SETS UP PLTS AND CTLRS FOR MISTAKES WHICH WE CAN ILL AFFORD IN TODAY'S MODERN AVIATION ENVIRONMENT.