C172 PLT HAD ALTDEV.

Narrative

OUT AND BACK FLT; 3N6-ABE-3N6. LANDED AT ABE. TWR GAVE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO RETURN TO TKOF AREA. TWR ASKED OUR INTENDED RTE AND REQUESTED ALT. I SAID EBOUND; REQUEST 2500 FT. TWR CAME BACK WITH XPONDER CODE AND DEP FREQ; NO HDG OR ALT. JUST PRIOR TO TKOF; TWR INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN TO 090 DEGS AFTER TKOF; WHICH I ACKNOWLEDGED. AFTER TKOF; HANDED OFF TO DEP; WHICH ASKED FOR MY REQUESTED ALT. IT WAS MILDLY TURBULENT; SO I REQUESTED 3500 FT; WHICH THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED. I CLBED TO 3500 FT; AT WHICH TIME THE CTLR SAID 'VERIFY ALT.' I SAID '3500 FT;' AND HE ORDERED DSCNT TO 3000 FT FOR TFC. I DSNDED IMMEDIATELY; AND HE SAID I WAS NOT CLRED ABOVE 3000 FT. NO FURTHER COM UNTIL WE LEFT THE RADAR SVC AREA. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY PAX; WHO ALSO HEARD NOTHING OF A 3000 FT LIMIT OR ANY OTHER LIMIT. I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT BY THE TWR TO SAVE US THE HASSLE OF CHANGING TO CLRNC DELIVERY; AND IN THE PROCESS THE ALT CLRNC WAS FORGOTTEN. I USUALLY FLY FROM UNCTLED FIELDS; AND I SHOULD HAVE PAID CLOSER ATTN TO WHAT WAS NOT SAID!