Jeff wrote in message ...
I dont know if its up to the controller or not on how they process IFR
requests, but this was not a pop up, he had my flight plan.

Jeff, not meaning to pick on you, but this is one of the points:

How do you know he had your flight plan?

If you filed an IFR flight plan originating in ABQ airspace, the
Phoenix TRACON wouldn't have your flight plan or a strip on you or
any other info about you, until the ATC facility where your flight
plan originated "departs" you. I didn't know this until we were
"bitten" in a somewhat similar way, departing in ZKC airspace and
trying to pick up a clearance from T75 (Stl Tracon) and I followed
up on it. Even though we departed from an airport quite close to
T75 they wouldn't get a thing on us until ZKC "departed" us, the
controller had to call ZKC. Depending on the airspace maybe
figure out who to call.

In hind site, I know now not to expect to be able to do this in the phoenix
area, and to get any clearance I need going into phoenix from ABQ.

Well, at the least, I would remain where you're comfortable while
you get the situation sorted out...or make sure you file an IFR plan
which originates somewhere inside PHX airspace so they'll definately
have your plan.

Just my $0.02,
Sydney