ZID center controller reported observing that the next sector changed the assigned altitude in the a...

Narrative:

This is another example of controllers 'pre-loading' the data block and changing the data block before they are actually working the aircraft! Aircraft X was requesting 32000 feet so I climbed him to 29000 feet (my top altitude) and handed the aircraft off to sector 89. That controller ended up taking the handoff while I was paying attention to another portion of my sector and the sector 89 controller changed the data block to show aircraft X climbing to 32000 feet and flashed it on the ZAU sector 47. When my attention went back to the aircraft X I saw that the data block was changed but I still hadn't switched the aircraft to sector 89. I began to question whether or not I had switched the aircraft yet; but realized that particular controller always does this. I ended up just switching the aircraft to sector 89 when that controller neglected to call me with information. Don't know what to recommend as I seem to be one of the few controllers in my area that follows procedures and doesn't pre-load data blocks without coordination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID Center Controller reported observing that the next sector changed the assigned altitude in the aircraft data block to a different altitude than the aircraft was cleared to climb.

Narrative: This is another example of controllers 'pre-loading' the data block and changing the data block before they are actually working the aircraft! Aircraft X was requesting 32000 feet so I climbed him to 29000 feet (my top altitude) and handed the aircraft off to Sector 89. That controller ended up taking the handoff while I was paying attention to another portion of my sector and the Sector 89 controller changed the data block to show Aircraft X climbing to 32000 feet and flashed it on the ZAU Sector 47. When my attention went back to the Aircraft X I saw that the data block was changed but I still hadn't switched the aircraft to sector 89. I began to question whether or not I had switched the aircraft yet; but realized that particular controller always does this. I ended up just switching the aircraft to sector 89 when that controller neglected to call me with information. Don't know what to recommend as I seem to be one of the few controllers in my area that follows procedures and doesn't pre-load data blocks without coordination.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1389039
Time
Date	201609
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZID.ARTCC
State Reference	IN
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 21
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZID center controller reported observing that the next sector changed the assigned altitude in the aircraft data block to a different altitude than the aircraft was cleared to climb.