AN MD80 TECHNICIAN RPTS CONFUSION ON DEFERRAL AUTH OF A PAX SEAT HEADREST. DEFERRAL AUTH MEL OR PARTS DEV LIST?

Narrative

ON NOV/SAT/02 I WAS ASSIGNED TO WORK A FLT FROM ZZZ TO DFW; FLT #ACR X. BEFORE DEP; THE OUTBOUND CREW FOUND A HEAD REST AT AISLE SEAT #12 D DAMAGED AND BROKEN OFF. WHEN I CALLED MAINT CTR FOR AN MEL; THEY TOLD ME TO PLACARD IT UNDER REF 25-18B; OPTIONS #2. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH THE ENTIRE MEL PROC. THE WAY I READ THE MEL IS THAT I MUST BLOCK OUT THE AISLE SEAT #12 D; THE SEATS INBOARD OF THAT; AND THE SEATS DIRECTLY BEHIND THE INOP SEATS. MAINT CTR IS TELLING ME NO; THE ONLY SEAT I HAVE TO PLACARD INOP IS THE 1 SEAT #12D; WITH WHICH I DISAGREE. I DO NOT SEE; NOR DO I READ INTO THE MEL THE OPTION TO DEV FROM THE MEL PROC. AFTER CALLING BACK FOR AN AUTH NUMBER; I SPOKE TO ANOTHER MAINT CTR REPRESENTATIVE; WHO SUGGESTED TO USE PDL REF 10-99F. AFTER REVIEWING THE PAPERWORK; I MADE THE DETERMINATION THAT PDL 10-99F BETTER REFLECTED THE PROB I WAS DEALING WITH; AS THE HEADREST IS PART OF THE SEAT CUSHION. AFTER CALLING BACK FOR THE PDL AUTH; I SPOKE TO YET ANOTHER MAINT CTR REPRESENTATIVE; WHO SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT THE PROPER PROC EITHER; AT WHICH POINT I MADE THE DECISION THAT PDL 10-99F BEST COVERED THE PROB. I AM ASAP'ING THIS; BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE; I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHICH PROC I SHOULD USE SINCE I TALKED TO 3 DIFFERENT MAINT CTR REPRESENTATIVES AND GOT 3 DIFFERENT OPINIONS. I FEEL THAT MEL 25-18B IS NOT CLR; AND I WOULD LIKE THE ASAP COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THIS.