Gulfstream IV / G350 / G450
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
We received our clearance from clearance delivery while on the ramp. Our clearance received was 'cleared to destination; radar vectors; direct; climb and maintain 10000.' and transponder code. I read back the clearance as received and it was again confirmed by clearance delivery as; 'read back correct'. We received our taxi cleanse from ground and taxied to the assigned runway. Holding short; we contacted tower and requested full length. Tower approved our request for full length and issued the takeoff clearance; 'No traffic on final; cleared for back taxi for full length; on departure turn left heading 270; cleared for takeoff'. Takeoff and departure were normal. On assigned departure heading of 270 and climbing through roughly 6000 ft MSL; tower handed us over to departure ATC. I called departure and checked in including 'climbing through 7000 for 10000'. ATC immediately questioned our initial assigned altitude; which I replied 10000. ATC stated that they believed we were assigned an initial altitude of 5000; therefore they believed there was a potential pilot deviation; and gave us a phone number to call ATC once we landed at our destination. The Flying Pilot; and jumpseater heard the clearance from clearance delivery and also confirmed they heard 10000 as the initial altitude. They also confirmed that there was no other altitude assignments heard differing from the 10000 assigned altitude. On the ground; the three of us called the number given by ATC. Immediately upon answering; ATC stated that 'the error was on their end'. There was 'no pilot deviation'. The clearance delivery person was supposed to assign us an initial altitude of 5000; and to expect 10000 within 10 minutes of departure and they instead issued the initial assigned altitude of 10000. It reinforced the practice of both (or in this case all three) pilots listening to the clearance when given to assure the assignment and read back were correct and confirmed by all.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
G-IV flight crew was chastised for exceeding their cleared altitude by ATC during departure. Upon arrival at their destination ATC advised that the mistake was made by Clearance Delivery.