IL UCC online filing system keeps rejecting my continuation - name format issues?
Has anyone else had problems with IL UCC online filing rejections lately? I'm trying to file a UCC-3 continuation for a client and the system keeps kicking it back saying there's a debtor name mismatch. The original UCC-1 was filed 4 years ago and now I'm getting close to the 5-year deadline. I've triple-checked the debtor name against the original filing but the IL system is being really picky about punctuation and spacing. The debtor is 'Advanced Manufacturing Solutions, LLC' but I'm wondering if there's some formatting issue I'm missing. This is stressing me out because if I don't get this continuation filed soon, the lien will lapse and my client will lose their security interest in about $180K worth of equipment. Anyone know the exact formatting requirements for IL UCC online filing or had similar issues with their system?
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
I've seen this exact problem with Illinois! Their system is super sensitive to even minor differences. Check if there are any extra spaces, periods, or commas that might be different from the original filing. Sometimes what looks identical to us isn't identical to their matching algorithm.
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Dylan Mitchell
•This is so frustrating. Why can't they just make the system more forgiving for obvious name matches?
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Giovanni Rossi
•That's what I'm thinking - there must be some tiny difference I'm not seeing. I've been staring at this for hours.
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Sofia Gutierrez
Had the same issue last month. Try logging into the IL SOS system and pulling up the exact original UCC-1 filing. Copy and paste the debtor name EXACTLY as it appears there, including any weird spacing or abbreviations. Don't try to 'correct' anything even if it looks wrong.
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Dmitry Petrov
•Good advice. I learned this the hard way after multiple rejections.
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Giovanni Rossi
•I did pull up the original but maybe I missed something subtle. Going to try the copy/paste approach.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•Yeah, sometimes the original filer made a typo that's now 'correct' according to the system.
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StarSurfer
This happened to me with a different state but similar issue. I ended up using Certana.ai's document verification tool - you can upload both your UCC-1 and UCC-3 PDFs and it instantly highlights any inconsistencies between the debtor names, filing numbers, and other critical fields. Saved me from filing another incorrect continuation. Really simple to use, just upload the documents and it shows you exactly what doesn't match.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Never heard of that service. Does it work specifically with UCC filings?
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StarSurfer
•Yes, it's designed specifically for UCC document verification. Catches things like name mismatches, incorrect filing numbers, collateral description inconsistencies. Really helpful when you're dealing with picky state systems.
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Sofia Gutierrez
•Interesting, might check that out for future filings. Manual comparison is so error-prone.
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Ava Martinez
UGH the Illinois system is THE WORST. I swear they reject filings just to collect more fees when you have to resubmit. Their error messages are completely unhelpful too - 'debtor name mismatch' could mean literally anything.
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Dylan Mitchell
•RIGHT?! And they don't even tell you which part of the name is causing the problem.
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Miguel Castro
•I feel like every state has their own quirks. Makes multi-state filings a nightmare.
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Zainab Abdulrahman
Check if there's an issue with the LLC designation. Some systems are picky about 'LLC' vs 'L.L.C.' vs 'Limited Liability Company'. Also make sure you're using the exact same address format as the original filing.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Good point about the LLC format. Let me double-check that.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•Address formatting is another common issue. Some states require exact match on everything.
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Zainab Abdulrahman
•Exactly. And watch out for things like 'Street' vs 'St.' or 'Suite' vs 'Ste.
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Connor Byrne
I had a continuation rejected 3 times before I realized the original filer had included an extra space before the comma in the business name. These systems have zero tolerance for variation. Print out both documents and go character by character if you have to.
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Dmitry Petrov
•Character by character review - that's dedication! But probably necessary with these systems.
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Dylan Mitchell
•This is why I always keep detailed notes about formatting quirks for each state.
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Yara Elias
Just wondering - are you sure you have the right UCC-1 filing number? Sometimes there are multiple filings for the same debtor and you need to continue the specific one that covers your collateral.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Yes, I'm confident about the filing number. It's the only UCC-1 on file for this debtor in Illinois.
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Yara Elias
•Good, just wanted to make sure since that's another common source of rejections.
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QuantumQuasar
When I run into issues like this, I call the IL Secretary of State UCC division directly. They can sometimes tell you exactly what's causing the mismatch. The wait times are terrible but it beats guessing.
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Ava Martinez
•IF you can get through to them. Last time I tried calling it took 3 hours on hold.
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QuantumQuasar
•True, but when you're up against a deadline like this, it might be worth it.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Might have to try that if I can't figure this out today.
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Keisha Jackson
Update us when you figure it out! I've got several IL continuations coming up and want to avoid this same problem.
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Miguel Castro
•Same here. These state-specific quirks are so frustrating to deal with.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Will definitely post an update once I get this resolved.
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Paolo Moretti
I've started using that Certana tool someone mentioned earlier for all my UCC work. Really does catch these tiny inconsistencies that are impossible to spot manually. Worth checking out if you do a lot of UCC filings.
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StarSurfer
•Glad someone else finds it useful! The document comparison feature is really thorough.
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Sofia Gutierrez
•Might be worth the investment to avoid these headaches.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Starting to think any tool that prevents these rejections would pay for itself pretty quickly.
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