Narrative:

My airspace is FL310 and below at sector 39. I got a handoff from sector 93 on what I believe was air carrier X. Air carrier X was at FL330 with an interim altitude in the data block of FL310. When air carrier X was about 10 mi within the vertical limit of my airspace; I noticed he was still at FL330 which would have put him in sector 50. I forced a data block to sector 50 and called sector 50 to make sure air carrier X was not in conflict with any aircraft sector 50 might have. I requested control from sector 50 and descended air carrier X into my airspace.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB CTLR FAILED TO REALIZE THE INTERIM DATA INFO IN THE DATA BLOCK WAS NOT THE ACTUAL ALT OF THE ACFT.

Narrative: MY AIRSPACE IS FL310 AND BELOW AT SECTOR 39. I GOT A HDOF FROM SECTOR 93 ON WHAT I BELIEVE WAS ACR X. ACR X WAS AT FL330 WITH AN INTERIM ALT IN THE DATA BLOCK OF FL310. WHEN ACR X WAS ABOUT 10 MI WITHIN THE VERT LIMIT OF MY AIRSPACE; I NOTICED HE WAS STILL AT FL330 WHICH WOULD HAVE PUT HIM IN SECTOR 50. I FORCED A DATA BLOCK TO SECTOR 50 AND CALLED SECTOR 50 TO MAKE SURE ACR X WAS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH ANY ACFT SECTOR 50 MIGHT HAVE. I REQUESTED CTL FROM SECTOR 50 AND DSNDED ACR X INTO MY AIRSPACE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.