UCC Document Community

For anyone reading this thread later - the Texas Secretary of State has a fraud alert section on their website specifically about UCC scam services. Worth checking out if you get one of these calls.

As someone who's been handling UCC filings for over a decade, I can tell you these cold-call services are almost always scams. The legitimate UCC service providers work through established relationships with law firms and financial institutions - they don't randomly call businesses. Your instincts are spot on. The Texas SOS portal is actually one of the better state systems, and at $15 per filing versus $150-300 these scammers charge, you're doing the right thing handling it yourself. Just make sure you're tracking your 5-year continuation deadlines properly with multiple calendar reminders, and you'll be fine.

As someone new to Florida UCC procedures, this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm working on my first commercial transaction in Florida and was completely lost on the UCC-11 process. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like the key steps are: 1) Do a debtor name search first to identify filing numbers, 2) Verify exact entity names through Sunbiz, 3) Call (850) 245-6052 early morning for expedited processing, and 4) Be prepared for $15-20 per filing plus expedite fees. One question - has anyone tried submitting UCC-11 requests through third-party services like CT Corporation or CSC? I'm wondering if they might be faster than going directly through the state, even with the additional markup.

Coming from someone who handles Florida UCC work regularly, I'd recommend a hybrid approach for your time-sensitive situation. Call the Florida SOS at (850) 245-6052 first thing tomorrow morning (8:00 AM sharp) to get the expedited process started, but also submit backup requests through a third-party service like CT Corporation as insurance. The dual approach costs more upfront, but if the state system has technical issues or delays, you'll have the third-party results as backup. I've seen too many deals nearly fall apart because Florida's system went down during critical periods. Also, since you mentioned multiple existing liens, make sure you're searching under all possible debtor name variations - I typically run searches under the exact corporate name, any DBAs, and common abbreviations (like "LLC" vs "L.L.C."). Florida's exact match requirement means missing even one variation could leave you with incomplete lien information that affects your priority analysis.

I've run into this exact same confusion with Canadian lenders before! There's definitely no official UCC 1-308 form or section that applies to financing statement filings. What I've learned from experience is that many Canadian financial institutions use their own internal coding systems that don't translate to US UCC requirements at all. For your equipment financing, you'll just need to file a standard UCC-1 in the state where the equipment is located. The most critical thing is ensuring the debtor name on your UCC-1 exactly matches how it appears in their loan documents - I've seen Canadian lenders format corporate entity names differently than what we typically use in the US. I'd suggest asking them for a clear breakdown of what information they actually need on the US filing, and politely ignore any references to their "1-308" code since it's likely just their internal tracking system.

I've encountered this exact situation multiple times with Canadian lenders, and you're absolutely right to be confused - there is no UCC 1-308 form or section in the Uniform Commercial Code. This sounds like their internal reference system that has zero relevance to your actual US filing requirements. For equipment financing with Canadian lenders, you still file the standard UCC-1 in the state where the equipment is physically located, just like any domestic transaction. The main pitfall I've seen is debtor name mismatches - Canadian entities often have slightly different legal name formats or corporate suffixes that don't align with US naming conventions. I'd recommend getting a copy of their security agreement and comparing the exact debtor name formatting to what you plan to put on the UCC-1. Also, ask them point-blank what specific information they need on the US filing and ignore any references to their "1-308" code - it's likely just confusing their internal processes with actual UCC requirements.

Good luck on your exam! The basic rule is simple - Article 9 governs secured transactions in personal property. Everything else builds on that foundation.

As someone new to UCC law, this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm particularly interested in the practical applications everyone has mentioned. Could someone explain how priority works when multiple parties have security interests in the same personal property? I understand Article 9 governs secured transactions in personal property, but I'm curious about what happens when there are competing claims.

Bottom line - the UCC statement request form is your best friend for equipment purchases. It gives you the official documentation you need to know exactly what liens exist and whether they'll affect your purchase. Don't try to cut corners on this part of due diligence.

Great advice from everyone here! Just to add one more practical tip - when you submit your UCC statement request, also consider requesting certified copies rather than just informational copies. For a transaction this size, having certified documents will be helpful if you need to provide proof to your lender or if any disputes arise later. The cost difference is usually minimal but the legal weight of certified copies can be important. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of exactly what you searched for (debtor names, variations, etc.) so you can show your attorney and any future stakeholders that you did thorough due diligence.