An MD80 captain reported altitude overshot, due to confusion between 2 ZTL controllers.

Attributes
ACN	515610
Time
Date	200106
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ztl.artcc
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : slc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	515610
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Center gave us a climb from FL290 to FL330 and switched us to another ZTL controller. Passing FL310 we asked controller (new one) to verify clearance was to FL330 as our filed altitude was FL310. He said that we were to maintain FL310. By this time, I was at FL313 and immediately initiated a descent. We informed controller and he said there was 'no problem' and to maintain FL310. Maximum altitude we attained was FL315, there were no traffic conflicts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CAPT RPTED ALT OVERSHOT, DUE TO CONFUSION BTWN 2 ZTL CTLRS.

Narrative: CTR GAVE US A CLB FROM FL290 TO FL330 AND SWITCHED US TO ANOTHER ZTL CTLR. PASSING FL310 WE ASKED CTLR (NEW ONE) TO VERIFY CLRNC WAS TO FL330 AS OUR FILED ALT WAS FL310. HE SAID THAT WE WERE TO MAINTAIN FL310. BY THIS TIME, I WAS AT FL313 AND IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A DSCNT. WE INFORMED CTLR AND HE SAID THERE WAS 'NO PROB' AND TO MAINTAIN FL310. MAXIMUM ALT WE ATTAINED WAS FL315, THERE WERE NO TFC CONFLICTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.