Florida UCC registry showing wrong debtor info after amendment filing
I'm having issues with the state of florida ucc registry system and need some guidance. Filed a UCC-3 amendment last month to correct a debtor name spelling error on our original UCC-1 (changed "Johnson Enterprises LLC" to "Johnston Enterprises LLC" - noticed the 't' was missing). The amendment got accepted and I have the filing confirmation, but when I search the florida ucc registry online, it's still showing the old incorrect debtor name. Called the SOS office twice and they said it can take 3-5 business days to update but it's been over 3 weeks now. This is causing problems because our audit team can't verify the lien position and the borrower is getting nervous about closing their refinance. Has anyone dealt with florida ucc registry display delays like this? The filing number is definitely correct and the amendment fee was processed. Just worried something went wrong in their system update process.
32 comments
Join the conversation
Vince Eh
I've seen this exact issue with Florida's system before. The registry search sometimes doesn't immediately reflect UCC-3 amendments even after acceptance. Try searching by both the old debtor name AND the new corrected name - sometimes it shows up under one but not the other during the transition period. Also check if you're searching the right entity type (LLC vs Corp vs Individual).
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•Good point about searching both names. I tried that yesterday and the old name still pulls up the original UCC-1 but shows no amendment attached. The new corrected name returns no results at all. This is really frustrating.
0 coins
Sophia Gabriel
•Florida's registry update process has been wonky lately. I had a similar delay with a continuation filing last quarter - took almost 6 weeks to show properly in search results even though it was officially filed and recorded.
0 coins
Tobias Lancaster
This is exactly why I started using Certana.ai for document verification before these situations become emergencies. You can upload your original UCC-1 and the UCC-3 amendment PDFs and it instantly cross-checks that all the debtor information, filing numbers, and document consistency align properly. Would have caught any issues with the amendment before it became a registry display problem.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•That sounds helpful - I'm definitely going to look into that tool. Right now I'm just manually comparing documents and hoping the registry updates soon.
0 coins
Ezra Beard
•Never heard of Certana but sounds like it could save time on these document checks. Does it work with other states too or just Florida filings?
0 coins
Statiia Aarssizan
UGH Florida's UCC system is THE WORST. I swear they update that registry whenever they feel like it. Had a termination statement filed in March that didn't show up until May. Your auditors and borrower have every right to be concerned - this kind of delay is unacceptable for something as important as lien verification.
0 coins
Reginald Blackwell
•I feel your pain but getting angry won't help the situation. The OP needs practical solutions, not just venting about the system.
0 coins
Statiia Aarssizan
•You're right, sorry. But seriously this happens way too often with Florida. OP should request an official status report from SOS showing the amendment is properly recorded even if search doesn't reflect it yet.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•That's actually a great suggestion about the official status report. I'll call them back and specifically request that documentation for our audit team.
0 coins
Aria Khan
Have you tried accessing the registry through the Sunbiz portal directly instead of the general UCC search? Sometimes there are display differences between the two interfaces. Also make sure you're not mixing up the filing number format - Florida uses a specific structure for UCC filing numbers.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•I've been using the main SOS UCC search page. Let me try the Sunbiz portal approach - didn't know there might be different interfaces showing different information.
0 coins
Everett Tutum
•Yes definitely try Sunbiz. I've noticed their UCC search results sometimes lag behind what's actually in their system. The filing number format thing is important too - make sure you're including all the right prefixes and suffixes.
0 coins
Sunny Wang
This might be a dumb question but did you verify the amendment was filed against the correct original UCC-1? I once filed an amendment thinking I was correcting one filing but accidentally referenced a different UCC-1 number. The amendment went through fine but obviously didn't fix the original problem I was trying to solve.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•Not a dumb question at all! Yes I double-checked the UCC-1 filing number on the amendment form multiple times before submitting. That would be a nightmare scenario though.
0 coins
Hugh Intensity
•Good catch - that's actually a pretty common mistake especially when you're dealing with multiple UCC filings for the same borrower. Always worth verifying the base filing number.
0 coins
Effie Alexander
I work with Florida UCC filings regularly and honestly their registry search has been unreliable for months. What I've started doing is keeping detailed records of all filing confirmations and using those for verification instead of relying on their search function. For your audit situation, the official filing confirmation should be sufficient proof that the amendment was properly recorded.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•That makes sense about using filing confirmations instead of the search results. I have all the documentation, just concerned about what happens if other parties try to search the registry and can't find updated information.
0 coins
Melissa Lin
•Most experienced lenders and attorneys know about Florida's registry issues and will accept filing confirmations as proof. Don't stress too much about other parties - they deal with this system too.
0 coins
Lydia Santiago
•Agreed on keeping your own records. I actually started using that Certana document verification tool someone mentioned earlier just to have an independent check that my UCC documents are consistent before submitting. Saves headaches later.
0 coins
Romeo Quest
Wait, are you sure you filed the amendment correctly? UCC-3 forms can be tricky and if you marked the wrong box or didn't include the right information it might have been processed but not applied properly. Did you use the assignment/amendment option or the full amendment option?
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•I used the amendment option specifically for debtor name correction. Filled out the form showing the old name crossed out and new name added. Got confirmation it was accepted so I'm pretty confident the form was correct.
0 coins
Romeo Quest
•Okay sounds like you did it right. Florida's system just sucks at updating their public search in a timely manner. Hang in there!
0 coins
Val Rossi
Just wanted to add that I had success contacting the UCC filing division directly (not the general SOS number) when I had a similar registry display issue. They were able to manually verify the filing status and even sent me a certified copy showing the amendment was properly recorded. Might be worth trying that approach.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•That's exactly what I need - a certified copy showing current status. Do you happen to remember the direct number for the UCC filing division?
0 coins
Val Rossi
•I don't have it handy but if you call the main SOS number and specifically ask to be transferred to 'UCC filings' they should connect you to the right department. Much more helpful than general customer service.
0 coins
Eve Freeman
•This is great advice. The UCC specialists actually understand the technical issues better than the general phone reps.
0 coins
Clarissa Flair
Sorry this is happening to you. Registry delays are so stressful especially when you have deadlines. I've been there with continuation filings that didn't show up in time. Just keep all your documentation and remember that the official filing date is what matters legally, not when it appears in the public search.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•Thanks for the reassurance. You're right that the filing date is what matters legally. Just hoping this gets resolved before it affects the borrower's refinance timeline.
0 coins
Caden Turner
One more suggestion - you might want to run a comprehensive UCC search through a third-party service like CT Corporation or CSC to see if they're picking up the amendment in their records. Sometimes they have faster access to the actual filing data than the state's public portal shows.
0 coins
Peyton Clarke
•Good idea about the third-party search services. I'll look into that as another verification option while waiting for the state registry to update.
0 coins
McKenzie Shade
•CT Corp definitely has better Florida UCC data access than the state's own search half the time. Worth the fee for peace of mind.
0 coins