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Omar Hassan
For what it's worth, I've never seen a continuation rejected due to minor punctuation differences in LLC names, especially when using the california sos ucc system. The bigger risk is completely wrong names or missing key words. A comma shouldn't be a deal-breaker.
Omar Hassan
•Probably, but it's better to be cautious with UCC filings. The consequences of getting it wrong can be severe.
Chloe Taylor
•Agreed. I'd rather spend extra time double-checking than deal with an unperfected security interest later.
ShadowHunter
Just went through this exact scenario last week! Ended up calling the California SOS UCC division directly and they confirmed that search display formatting can differ from the actual filed document. They recommended ordering a certified copy to see the exact filing details. Took about $15 and 3 hours to get the electronic copy.
Perfect, I'll do exactly that. Thanks for sharing your experience and the timeline/cost details.
ShadowHunter
•No problem! Once I had the certified copy, the continuation filing was straightforward. Used the exact name format from the original UCC-1 and it was accepted without any issues.
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Just went through something similar last week. Turned out the debtor had a period after "LLC" that I couldn't see clearly in the scanned documents. Johnson & Associates Construction LLC. vs Johnson & Associates Construction LLC - one tiny dot made all the difference.
Yeah it's ridiculous how picky these systems are about formatting. Every character has to be perfect.
Ava Thompson
•This is why I always zoom way in on any scanned documents when I'm transcribing entity names. Those little marks can be almost invisible.
Final thought - if all else fails, you might need to file a UCC-1 amendment after getting the original filing accepted with whatever name variation works, then immediately amend it to correct any discrepancies. Not ideal but it beats missing your deadline.
Just make sure the amendment is clearly marked as correcting the debtor name. You don't want any confusion about what you're changing.
Yara Khoury
•I've had to do this before. It works but you end up paying double filing fees which really stings.
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Sophia Long
I work for a large regional bank and we see this issue frequently. Our standard practice now is to file a UCC-3 amendment immediately when we're notified of any debtor name changes, even if it seems minor. The amendment creates a clear link in the system and protects our lien position. Don't wait - file that amendment this week if possible.
Sophia Long
•Not overreacting at all. With an $850K loan, you want to be absolutely certain about your perfection status.
At least the banks are being proactive about this stuff. Wish the state systems were as reliable as the banking procedures.
UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I ended up filing a UCC-3 amendment yesterday to add the new debtor name, and I also used that Certana.ai tool someone mentioned to verify all our documents were consistent before filing. It caught a couple of minor discrepancies I hadn't noticed. The amendment is already showing up in the PA system and both names are now linking properly in searches. Huge relief!
Glad the document verification tool helped! It's amazing how many small inconsistencies can slip through manual review.
This gives me confidence to tackle my own name change issues. Thanks for sharing your resolution!
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One thing to watch out for - make sure when you refile that you use the exact same collateral description and filing details. You don't want any other inconsistencies that could cause another rejection.
Chloe Taylor
•Good advice. I'll copy everything exactly except fix the debtor name formatting.
And keep copies of both the rejection notice and the corrected filing for your lender's records.
Mei Wong
For what it's worth, this is an extremely common issue with equipment financing UCCs. You're definitely not the first person to get tripped up by punctuation in business names. The important thing is catching it quickly and refiling.
Mei Wong
•Not at all - this is just part of the UCC filing learning curve. You'll know for next time!
Exactly why I started using document verification tools. Certana.ai caught a similar comma issue in my last equipment UCC before I submitted it. Much easier than dealing with rejections after the fact.
Jungleboo Soletrain
Just saw your update - congrats on figuring it out! The "& Associates" thing is so sneaky. Glad you got it sorted before your closing deadline.
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Noah huntAce420
•Thanks! What a relief. Never making this mistake again.
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Rajan Walker
•This thread should be required reading for anyone doing UCC filings honestly.
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Nadia Zaldivar
Filing update: SUCCESS! UCC-1 accepted with the corrected debtor name. Thanks everyone for the help, especially whoever mentioned that document checking tool. Saved my sanity and probably my job lol.
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Ev Luca
•Great outcome! This whole thread is a perfect example of why name accuracy is so critical.
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Avery Davis
•Bookmarking this thread for future reference. So many good tips here.
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