Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
The online filing system is pretty user-friendly, but double-check that you have the right debtor information format. Business entities need exact legal names, and individual debtors need full legal names with proper suffixes. Getting this wrong is the fastest way to a rejection and extra fees.
I actually tried that Certana thing someone mentioned earlier when I was worried about our corporate name formatting. Really simple - just uploaded our articles of incorporation and the draft UCC-1, and it highlighted a spacing issue in our legal name that would have definitely caused problems.
Carmen Diaz
•Seems like that verification step could save the amendment fees. I'll look into it before submitting.
Bottom line: budget $30 for the filing, maybe another $50 if you want professional help preparing it, and plan for $20 continuation fees every five years. The actual state fees are quite reasonable compared to the loan amounts they're securing.
Carmen Diaz
•Perfect, that gives me a clear picture. Appreciate everyone's input on this.
Good luck with your filing! The system is pretty efficient once you get familiar with it.
Join the conversation
Yara Khoury
Make sure you keep copies of everything - the UCC-1 form template you used, the filing receipt, any supporting documents. You'll need these for continuation filings down the road, and having a complete file makes amendments much easier if needed.
Yes! And set a calendar reminder for the continuation deadline. UCC-1 filings lapse after 5 years if not continued.
Good organizational habits from the start save so much headache later. I learned this lesson the expensive way.
Paolo Marino
Thanks everyone for all the advice. Sounds like Delaware filing is the way to go for the main UCC-1, plus separate fixture filings in the counties where applicable. I'll make sure to get the debtor name exactly right from their incorporation documents and be specific about the collateral descriptions. Really appreciate the help!
You've got the right approach. Take your time with the details and you should be fine. Good luck with the closing!
Amina Bah
•Hope it all goes smoothly. Multi-state deals can be stressful but sounds like you're on the right track now.
Join the conversation
Noah Lee
I had the same sticker shock when I saw the new Michigan fees. But honestly the new system is worth it - much faster processing and better search results. Still wish they'd given more advance notice though.
Arjun Kurti
•The lack of notice was really poor communication on their part. A lot of people got caught off guard.
Agreed. Would have been nice to budget for the increase instead of getting surprised at filing time.
One more suggestion - if you're doing multiple Michigan filings, consider using that document verification tool someone mentioned earlier. With the higher fees, you really can't afford rejections due to name mismatches or formatting errors.
Evelyn Kim
•It's been a lifesaver for me. Upload your docs and it catches the inconsistencies before you file. Worth checking out.
Especially with Michigan's higher fees now. Every rejection costs you $20-30 plus the refiling fee.
Join the conversation
Just wanted to add - make sure when you refile that you're using the current UCC-1 form. Some states updated their forms recently and will reject filings on old versions. Also, if this is for a dealership floor plan or similar, there might be additional requirements for automobile security agreements beyond the standard UCC-1.
It's just a regular consumer auto loan, not dealer financing. But good point about form versions - I'll double-check I have the latest UCC-1.
Consumer auto loans are usually straightforward once you get the name right. Just make sure your security interest covers the specific vehicle.
Julia Hall
Update us when you refile! I'm curious if the corrected name version goes through without issues. I've got a similar automobile security agreement filing coming up next week and want to make sure I don't hit the same problem.
Julia Hall
•Fingers crossed! This thread has been really helpful for understanding the name matching requirements.
Yeah this is exactly the kind of stuff that trips up people new to UCC filings. Experience teaches you all these little gotchas.
Connor Murphy
The bottom line is that D&B is a useful screening tool but you absolutely cannot rely on it as your sole source for UCC due diligence. I always tell my team to treat it as a starting point - it might flag potential issues or give you a sense of what's out there, but you need to verify everything with the actual state databases before making any lending decisions. Too much money at stake to rely on potentially outdated or incomplete data.
0 coins
NebulaNova
•What's your standard practice for documenting the discrepancies you find? Do you keep copies of both the D&B report and the state search results for your loan files?
0 coins
Connor Murphy
•Yes, absolutely. We keep screenshots of both sources with timestamps. If there's ever a question later about our due diligence, we want to be able to show exactly what information was available when and from which sources.
0 coins
Keisha Williams
Just want to add that this isn't unique to D&B - I've seen similar issues with other commercial databases too. The fundamental problem is that they're trying to aggregate data from 50+ different state systems that all work differently. Some states have great APIs, others are still basically manual entry. Until there's better standardization across state filing systems, these discrepancies are going to keep happening.
0 coins
Paolo Conti
•That's a really good point about the systemic issues. It's not necessarily that D&B is doing anything wrong, it's just the nature of trying to aggregate inconsistent data sources.
0 coins
Amina Diallo
•Still doesn't excuse the fact that they're selling this data to lenders who are making million-dollar decisions based on it. There should be better quality control and clearer disclaimers about data limitations.
0 coins