NY UCC filing search showing weird results - help needed

This is so frustrating! Why can't the system just find close matches automatically like other states?

The NY SOS system requires exact character matching. Even extra spaces can throw off results.

Good point - I was only searching the legal entity name from their articles of incorporation. Should I be checking DBA registrations too?

Definitely check DBAs and any name variations you can find in their corporate filings. Also try searching without the entity type designation.

I usually run 5-6 different name variations just to be safe. Takes longer but catches more filings.

How does that work exactly? Do you just upload PDFs and it searches automatically?

Yeah, you upload the charter docs and any existing UCC filings, then it cross-references debtor names and flags inconsistencies. Really helpful for complex entity structures.

Tell me about it. Sometimes I find filings by accident that should have shown up in my original search.

The worst is when you're doing due diligence under time pressure and can't trust the search results.

This is mobile equipment so probably not fixtures, but good reminder to check local property records too.

Mobile equipment can still have fixture issues if it gets permanently installed. Worth double-checking the collateral descriptions.

I've seen mobile cranes get classified as fixtures when they're used at construction sites long-term. NY courts can be unpredictable.

That makes sense. Should I be concerned about filings with debtor name errors or do those get thrown out?

Depends on how serious the error is. Minor typos might still be enforceable but major name discrepancies could void the filing.

Good advice. The search summaries can be misleading about the actual scope of the security interest.

Yes! I've seen search results that made filings look broader than they actually were when you read the full document.

Didn't think of that. Do they actually provide search assistance or just technical support?

They'll help with basic search questions but won't interpret legal implications. Still worth a try for technical issues.

What search companies do you recommend for NY? We might need professional help for some of our bigger transactions.

CT Corporation and CSC are both reliable, but they're expensive. For most deals I just use Certana.ai's automated checking since it's much faster and cheaper.

I've used both professional services and automated tools. The automated ones are getting really good at catching name discrepancies.

How do I tell if a continuation was filed on time? The dates in NY's system are confusing.

Look for UCC-3 continuation statements filed within 6 months before the 5-year expiration date. If there's a gap, the original filing might have lapsed.

That's probably what's happening here. How did you track down all the name variations?

Had to pull their complete corporate history from NY Department of State and search every name they'd ever used. Time-consuming but necessary.

This is exactly why automated document checking tools are so valuable. They catch these historical name issues that manual searches miss.