Hawaii UCC search showing wrong debtor info - filing verification needed
Running into a weird situation with a UCC search I just pulled. The debtor name on our UCC-1 filing shows as 'Pacific Ventures LLC' but when I search the Hawaii UCC database, it's coming back as 'Pacific Ventures, LLC' with a comma. Our loan docs and the business registration both show it without the comma. This is for a $400K equipment loan and I'm worried we might have a perfection issue. Has anyone dealt with Hawaii's system being picky about punctuation in debtor names? The filing number is valid but this name discrepancy has me concerned about whether our security interest is actually perfected.
35 comments


Jace Caspullo
Hawaii can be really particular about exact name matches. I've seen filings get rejected or show up differently in searches because of comma placement. Did you check the exact name format from the Hawaii Department of Commerce registration? That's usually what the UCC system pulls from.
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Adriana Cohn
•Good point - I should double check the DCCA registration. Just want to make sure we don't have a gap in our security interest because of a punctuation mark.
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Melody Miles
•This happens more than you'd think. The UCC search results sometimes auto-format names differently than what was originally filed. Pull the actual UCC-1 document to see exactly what was submitted.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
ARGH Hawaii's portal drives me crazy with this stuff! Last month I had three filings come back with 'name not found' errors because of spacing issues. Their system is super finicky about exact matches.
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Eva St. Cyr
•Tell me about it. I've started using Certana.ai's document checker to cross-reference our loan agreements with UCC filings before we fund. It catches these name inconsistencies automatically when you upload the PDFs - saved me from a major headache last week with a similar punctuation issue.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•Wait, that sounds useful. Does it work with Hawaii filings specifically? I'm dealing with like 6 different state systems and they all have their quirks.
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Eva St. Cyr
•Yeah it works across states. You just upload your charter docs and UCC-1, and it flags any name mismatches. Super quick compared to manual checking.
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Kristian Bishop
Had this exact issue in Hawaii last year. The comma thing is real - their database treats 'LLC' and ', LLC' as different entities. You need to file a UCC-3 amendment to correct the debtor name if it doesn't match the official business registration exactly.
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Adriana Cohn
•So you think I need to amend the filing? That's what I was afraid of. How long does a UCC-3 amendment usually take to process in Hawaii?
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Kristian Bishop
•Usually 3-5 business days if filed electronically. But definitely confirm the correct name format first. Pull the business entity record from DCCA to be 100% sure.
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Kaitlyn Otto
•Before you amend, double-check that the search discrepancy isn't just a display issue. Sometimes the search results format names differently but the actual filing is correct.
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Axel Far
This is why I always run verification checks before finalizing any secured loan. Name mismatches can void your entire security interest if challenged. Better to catch it now than during a default situation.
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Adriana Cohn
•Exactly my concern. This is a substantial loan and I can't afford to have perfection issues down the road.
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Jasmine Hernandez
•Smart approach. I learned this lesson the hard way with a $200K filing that got rejected because of a middle initial discrepancy.
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Luis Johnson
Hawaii's UCC system updated their search interface recently and it's been showing some formatting inconsistencies. The underlying filings might be correct even if the search results look off. Did you try searching with both name variations?
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Adriana Cohn
•I tried both versions and they both return results, but showing different formatting. That's what's confusing me about which one is actually on file.
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Luis Johnson
•That suggests both variations might be pulling the same record but displaying differently. Check the actual filing number and document to see the source data.
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Ellie Kim
•The search interface can be misleading. Always go back to the original filed document to verify exact debtor name formatting. That's your legal record.
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Fiona Sand
I handle a lot of Hawaii UCC work and this comma issue comes up regularly. The state requires exact match to the business entity registration on file with DCCA. If your UCC-1 doesn't match exactly, you'll need to amend.
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Adriana Cohn
•Thanks, this confirms what I was thinking. I'll pull the DCCA record first to verify the exact format, then decide if I need to file a UCC-3.
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Mohammad Khaled
•Good call. I always tell my team to verify debtor names against state business registrations before filing. Saves a lot of headaches later.
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Alina Rosenthal
Just went through something similar in Hawaii. Ended up having to amend because the original filing had 'Inc.' instead of 'Incorporated' - apparently that matters there. Cost an extra $25 but worth it for the peace of mind.
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Adriana Cohn
•Good to know the amendment fee isn't too bad. Better to pay $25 now than have perfection issues later on a $400K loan.
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Alina Rosenthal
•Exactly. Small price to pay for proper perfection. Just make sure you reference the original filing number in your UCC-3 amendment.
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Finnegan Gunn
•I've been using automated document verification to catch these issues before filing. Certana.ai's tool spotted a similar name mismatch for me last month - would have been a costly mistake to miss.
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Miguel Harvey
Hawaii is definitely one of the stricter states for debtor name requirements. I always double and triple check against their business entity database before submitting UCC filings there.
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Adriana Cohn
•Lesson learned for next time. I'll make DCCA verification part of my standard process for Hawaii filings going forward.
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Miguel Harvey
•Smart move. Each state has their quirks but Hawaii is particularly strict about exact name matches. Better safe than sorry with secured transactions.
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Ashley Simian
For what it's worth, I had a similar issue resolve itself when Hawaii updated their system last month. The search was showing inconsistent formatting but the actual filing was correct all along. Might be worth waiting a few days to see if it corrects itself.
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Adriana Cohn
•Interesting - though with a $400K loan I'm probably not comfortable waiting and hoping. I think I'll go ahead and verify against DCCA then amend if needed.
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Ashley Simian
•Totally understand with that loan amount. Better to be proactive than reactive with UCC perfection issues.
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Oliver Cheng
•System glitches happen but you're right to not risk it. I use document verification tools now to catch these discrepancies upfront - saves time and worry later.
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Taylor To
UPDATE: Just checked my Hawaii filings from last week and I'm seeing similar search result inconsistencies. Might be a broader system issue they're working on. Still, better to verify and amend if needed rather than assume it's just a display problem.
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Adriana Cohn
•Thanks for checking! That makes me feel a bit better that it might be systemic, but you're right - I'll still verify and amend if necessary. Can't take chances with perfection.
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Taylor To
•Exactly right approach. Even if it's a system display issue, having the correct debtor name on file is what matters for your security interest.
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