File UCC 1 California - Portal keeps rejecting for debtor name format
Been trying to file UCC 1 California for my client's equipment loan and the SOS portal keeps bouncing it back with "debtor name format error" - this is driving me crazy! The company is "ABC Manufacturing Solutions, LLC" and I've tried it exactly like that, then "ABC MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS LLC" in all caps, then with periods after each word. Still rejected every time. The collateral description is straightforward equipment financing for industrial machinery worth about $450K. Anyone dealt with California's specific formatting requirements lately? This continuation deadline is coming up fast and I'm stuck on something that should be simple.
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Natasha Petrov
California SOS is super picky about LLC formatting. Try removing the comma before LLC entirely - so "ABC Manufacturing Solutions LLC" without any punctuation. Also make sure there's no extra spaces anywhere in the name field.
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Javier Morales
•Just tried that - still rejected! This is my 8th attempt and I'm losing my mind over what should be a routine filing.
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Connor O'Brien
•Check if there's any weird characters or hidden formatting if you copy-pasted the name from somewhere else. California's system is notorious for this stuff.
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Amina Diallo
omg yes California UCC portal is the WORST for name formatting. Spent 3 hours last month on similar issue
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Javier Morales
•What finally worked for you? I'm desperate at this point.
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Amina Diallo
•Had to match exactly what was on the articles of incorporation filed with the state. Sometimes there's subtle differences you don't notice.
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GamerGirl99
I've been doing California UCC filings for 15 years and this exact issue comes up constantly. The debtor name has to match EXACTLY how it appears in the California Secretary of State business entity database. Go to bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov and search for the exact legal name there first. Whatever format shows up in their database is what you need to use on your UCC-1. Sometimes companies use slightly different versions of their name in different contexts but only one version is the official registered name.
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Javier Morales
•This is brilliant advice - checking the database now. Why don't they make this more obvious in their filing instructions?
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Because that would make too much sense! California loves their bureaucratic hurdles.
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GamerGirl99
•Also worth noting - if it's a newer LLC sometimes there's a lag between when they registered and when it shows up searchable in the UCC system. Give it 24-48 hours if it was just registered.
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Isabella Costa
Had this exact problem last year with a different client. After wasting hours trying different name variations, I found Certana.ai's document verification tool. You upload your UCC-1 PDF and it instantly cross-checks the debtor name against what you should be using. Saved me so much time and caught the tiny discrepancy I kept missing - there was an extra space I couldn't see. Game changer for avoiding these filing rejections.
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Javier Morales
•Never heard of Certana but at this point I'll try anything. How does it work exactly?
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Isabella Costa
•Super simple - you just upload your UCC filing PDF and it automatically checks for common issues like name mismatches, missing info, formatting problems. Takes like 30 seconds and catches stuff you'd never notice manually.
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Malik Jenkins
•Been using Certana for 6 months now - definitely worth it for complex filings or when you're dealing with picky state systems like California.
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Freya Andersen
California SOS system is absolutely BROKEN. Filed UCC-1s in 12 different states and California is by far the most frustrating. Their error messages are useless and the rejection reasons are vague. You'd think in 2025 they'd have figured out basic user experience but NOPE.
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Eduardo Silva
•Totally agree! Spent 4 hours last week on what should have been a 10 minute filing.
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GamerGirl99
•It's frustrating but once you know their quirks it gets easier. The business entity database search really is the key.
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Leila Haddad
Wait, is this for a NEW UCC-1 filing or a continuation? You mentioned continuation deadline which confused me. If it's a continuation you'd file a UCC-3 not UCC-1. Just want to make sure you're using the right form type.
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Javier Morales
•It's a new UCC-1 - sorry for the confusion. I mentioned continuation because we have another client with a continuation coming up and I don't want to run into the same name formatting issues on that one too.
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Leila Haddad
•Got it, that makes more sense. Yeah you'll want to get this name format figured out now so future filings go smoothly.
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Emma Johnson
Another thing to check - make sure you're not including any designation like 'a California LLC' or anything like that. Just the exact legal name as registered. Also California requires the full ZIP+4 code not just 5 digits for addresses.
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Javier Morales
•Good point on the ZIP code - I only used 5 digits. Let me fix that too.
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Ravi Patel
•Yes! The ZIP+4 requirement catches a lot of people. It's in their filing guide but easy to miss.
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Astrid Bergström
This reminds me of when I was trying to file a UCC-1 for my brother's auto shop. Took forever because I kept using 'John's Auto Repair' but the registered name was actually 'Johns Auto Repair LLC' without the apostrophe. Sometimes the littlest things trip you up.
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Javier Morales
•Exactly! These tiny details that seem insignificant can kill your filing.
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Astrid Bergström
•Right? And then you're scrambling to meet deadlines because of something so small.
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PixelPrincess
Just checked the business entity database like suggested above and found the issue! The registered name is 'ABC Manufacturing Solutions LLC' - no comma before LLC like I was using. Thank you so much for that tip about checking the SOS database first. Just resubmitted and it went through immediately. This forum saved my sanity.
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GamerGirl99
•Glad that worked! Always check the source database first - saves so much hassle.
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Isabella Costa
•Nice! For future filings definitely consider that document checker I mentioned - catches these things before you even submit.
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Amina Diallo
•Woohoo! Victory over the California UCC portal!
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Omar Farouk
This thread should be pinned - California name formatting issues come up constantly. The business entity database search tip is gold. Also want to add that if you're doing fixture filings in California you need even more specific formatting requirements.
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GamerGirl99
•Good point about fixture filings - whole different set of rules there.
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Javier Morales
•Thankfully this was just equipment financing, not real estate. But good to know for future reference.
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