Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (mon) 7
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Aircraft
After listening to the recording; it appears that this aircraft had a faulty Mode C.  His altitude showed he was level at FL320 in the previous sector; then his Mode C showed him at FL375 and someone changed his data block to a hard altitude of FL380.  I never saw any of this.  When I took the handoff; I observed him at FL376; I assumed he was climbing to FL380.  When the aircraft checked on to my frequency; I missed the initial call that he was level at FL320.  I flashed the aircraft to the sector 71 (ALO); the data block autos flashed to 76 (ARL).  However; I technically violated the 75 (COTON) sector since the aircraft was at FL320.  We didn't have any other aircraft in the vicinity; so luckily we didn't have a situation; nevertheless; this is a major concern. Active listening and not assuming you hear what the data block says.
ZAU describes situation where he did not hear the initial call up with altitude and assumed the aircraft was doing what he thought it should be doing; when it wasn't.