CPR PA31 FLC CLAIM THAT THEY WERE ASSIGNED 11000 FT; BUT DISPUTED BY CHA CTLR WHEN ACFT IS OBSERVED CLBING OUT OF 10500 FT.

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WHILE CRUISING AT 9000 FT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN; THE CTLR ASKED IF WE COULD ACCEPT 7000 FT. WE RESPONDED THAT WE COULD; BUT HIGHER WOULD BE BETTER. THE CTLR THEN SAID TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 10000 FT. WHILE CLBING; THE CTLR ASKED IF WE COULD ACCEPT 11000 FT. WE AGREED. THE CTLR THEN SAID TO MAINTAIN 11000 FT. WE RPTED LEAVING 9500 FT FOR 11000 FT. THE CTLR DID NOT RESPOND ANY FURTHER UNTIL AT 10500 FT WHEN WE WERE TOLD TO DSND TO 10000 FT. I RPTED THAT WE WERE CLRED TO 11000 FT. THE CTLR THEN SAID WE WERE NOT CLRED FOR 11000 FT. WE RPTED DSNDING TO 10000 FT. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT IS A MULTI-ENG LAND/VFR RATED. I AM AN ATP/CFII MULTI-ENG. WE PRACTICE CRM PROCS. THE OWNER WAS FLYING IN THE L SEAT WHILE I FUNCTIONED AS PIC AND INSTRUCTOR IN THE R. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WERE CLRED TO 11000 FT AND COPIED IT AS WELL AS I. HAD WE HAD A COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER WE COULD BE MORE POSITIVE AND ACCURATE ABOUT WHAT WAS SAID. I FEEL SURE WE DID THE RIGHT THING; BUT KNOW THAT I AM HUMAN TOO. I THINK PLTS AND CTLRS SHOULD WORK TO STANDARDIZE TERMINOLOGY AND PHRASEOLOGY AND USE CAUTION IN ISSUING AND READING BACK CLRNCS TO AVOID CONFUSION.