Mike Adams wrote:
Emily wrote:

My favorite subtle hint is, "N#, say altitude."

Or have them tell you the altimeter setting, as if that's the reason for
the altitude discrepancy. (Yea, that must be the reason)

One night Champaign Approach just wouldn't get off my back. He started
by giving me the altimeter, which I had just received when Indy Center
had handed me off. I shook my head, looked at the altimeter, yes, it's
correct. Five minutes later, "N#, recycle your mode C." Huh? By
this time my altitude, which admittedly had been 50 feet off, was dead
on and my friend and I were both pretty confused. Approach then called
another two aircraft, gave them the altimeter setting, and asked them to
recycle. Another huh. Five minutes later he called me back and asked
altitude...I replied 6000. He replies back, "Oh, ok. Because I have
you at 900 and two other aircraft at 650, so I was just wondering what
was going on."