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Pedro Sawyer
Update: I found the issue! There was indeed a spacing problem in how the debtor name was entered. The filing shows "ACME Manufacturing LLC" but should have been "ACME Manufacturing, LLC" per our corporate documents. Now I need to figure out if this requires a UCC-3 amendment.
Good catch. That comma could definitely matter for search purposes and legal name accuracy.
This is why I always triple-check names against formation documents before filing. But mistakes happen.
Thanks everyone for the help! Going to file the UCC-3 amendment to correct the name and will definitely be more careful with exact name formatting on future filings. The PA search system quirks are noted for next time.
Smart move on the amendment. Always better to fix these things proactively.
Hope this thread helps others dealing with PA UCC search issues. Seems like a common problem.
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OP, I'd seriously consider postponing the closing until you can get definitive documentation. $180K is too much money to risk on unclear lien status. Better to delay than deal with a surprise lien claim later.
Smart move. I've seen too many deals go sideways because someone rushed through lien verification.
Liam Mendez
•Definitely get the termination paperwork first. And maybe run it through one of those document verification services to make sure everything matches up correctly before closing.
Update us on what you find out! I'm dealing with a similar situation in Kansas and curious how Missouri handles these discrepancies.
Will do. Going to demand the termination documents tomorrow and if they can't produce them, I'm walking away from this deal.
Smart call. Trust your instincts when something doesn't add up with UCC searches.
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NebulaKnight
The key with blanket liens is being descriptive enough without being too specific. Try 'all equipment, machinery, tools, and fixtures used in debtor's [type of business] operations, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.' That usually covers the bases.
Ethan Moore
•That's helpful. Our client is in manufacturing so I could specify that business type.
NebulaKnight
•Perfect. Manufacturing is specific enough to satisfy most filing offices while still giving you comprehensive coverage.
Make sure you're not mixing up blanket liens with floating liens. Blanket liens cover specific types of collateral broadly, while floating liens cover changing inventory. For equipment financing, you definitely want a blanket lien approach.
Ethan Moore
•We're definitely talking about a blanket lien. The equipment isn't changing, we just want to cover all of it without listing every individual piece.
Good, just wanted to make sure. The terminology gets confusing and using the wrong approach can cause problems.
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Paloma Clark
Have you considered using one of those UCC monitoring services? They usually catch filings that don't show up in regular searches because they use different search methods. Might be worth signing up for a trial to see if they have the filing you're looking for.
Which services do you recommend? I've been thinking about getting a monitoring service but there are so many options.
Raul Neal
•I've had good luck with Certana.ai for document verification. You can upload your filing documents and it will flag any discrepancies or missing connections. Saved me from missing a critical amendment that wasn't showing up in standard searches.
Jenna Sloan
Massachusetts is notorious for this. I always do searches in multiple states when doing due diligence because sometimes companies file in their state of incorporation instead of where they're physically located. Have you checked if this company is incorporated in a different state?
They're incorporated in Massachusetts but do have operations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. I should probably search those states too just to be thorough.
Definitely check Connecticut. I've seen cases where banks filed there by mistake thinking it would cover Massachusetts operations too.
Chloe Delgado
Update: Pulled the corporate records and found Johnson Construction Services LLC was the legal name in 2021 when we filed. Our UCC-1 shows 'Johnson Construction Services, LLC' with a comma. Secretary of State confirmed this is considered a match under their interpretation guidelines. The other variations are from filings by creditors who didn't verify the exact legal name.
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Emma Bianchi
•This is exactly why automated document verification is so valuable. Would have saved you days of research and anxiety.
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Ava Harris
•So the other creditors might have invalid filings? That could actually improve your priority position.
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Jibriel Kohn
Final update: Filed a precautionary UCC-3 amendment anyway to add the variation without the comma, just to cover all bases. Also discovered two of the other liens were filed under incorrect debtor names and are likely unperfected. Our counsel confirmed our original filing is valid and maintains priority. Thanks everyone for the guidance - this could have been a disaster if not caught early.
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Emily Thompson
•Glad it worked out! This thread is going in my bookmarks for future reference. Name matching issues are so common.
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Emma Bianchi
•Perfect example of why document consistency checking should be standard practice. Certana.ai would have flagged this type of discrepancy immediately.
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