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ThunderBolt7

Need help with UCC termination search - can't find filed docs

I'm trying to locate UCC termination records for a client but having trouble with the search function. We filed a UCC-3 termination statement about 6 months ago for a commercial equipment loan that was paid off, but when I search the database I can't find any record of it being processed. The original UCC-1 was filed in 2019 and shows up fine, but there's no termination linked to it. I have the filing number from when we submitted the UCC-3 but the search isn't returning results. Has anyone else had issues with terminated filings not showing up in searches? I'm worried the termination didn't go through properly and the lien is still active. The debtor is asking for proof the lien was released and I can't provide documentation if I can't find the termination record. Any suggestions on alternative ways to verify UCC termination filings were actually processed?

Jamal Edwards

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I've seen this before - sometimes there's a delay between when the termination is filed and when it shows up in the search results. Six months seems long though. Did you get a confirmation receipt when you filed the UCC-3? That would have a filing number you can reference.

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ThunderBolt7

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Yes I have the filing receipt with the number, but when I search using that specific number nothing comes up. It's like the termination was never processed even though we got charged for it.

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Mei Chen

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That's frustrating. I'd call the filing office directly with that receipt number. Sometimes their search function has glitches but they can look it up manually in their system.

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Check if you're searching the right database. Some states have separate systems for active vs terminated filings. Also make sure you're using the exact debtor name as it appears on the original UCC-1 - even minor variations can cause search failures.

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ThunderBolt7

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I'm using the exact same debtor name and searching in the main UCC database. Didn't know some states had separate systems for terminated filings though.

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Yeah it varies by state. Some keep everything in one database, others archive terminated filings separately after a certain period. Worth checking if there's an 'archived' or 'historical' search option.

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Amara Okonkwo

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This is why I always verify terminations immediately after filing. The system can be unreliable and by the time you realize there's a problem months have passed.

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Had a similar issue last year where our termination seemed to disappear from the system. Turned out there was a data migration that caused some records to be temporarily unavailable. Contact the filing office - they should be able to pull up the record even if it's not showing in public searches.

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ThunderBolt7

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That's reassuring to hear it might just be a technical issue. I'll definitely call them tomorrow morning.

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Data migrations are the worst! I've had clients panic thinking their filings were lost when really it was just system maintenance affecting the search function.

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Dylan Hughes

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This type of document verification headache is exactly why I started using Certana.ai's UCC checker. You can upload your original UCC-1 and the UCC-3 termination documents and it will instantly verify if they match up properly and flag any inconsistencies. It's caught several issues for me where the termination didn't properly reference the original filing. Worth trying if you have both documents - at least you'll know if there was a filing error vs just a search problem.

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ThunderBolt7

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I haven't heard of that tool before but sounds useful. I do have both documents so I could check if there's a mismatch causing the search issues.

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Dylan Hughes

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Yeah it's really handy for catching these types of problems. Just upload the PDFs and it cross-checks all the critical fields like debtor names, filing numbers, and collateral descriptions to make sure everything aligns.

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NightOwl42

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That actually sounds like it could have prevented this whole situation. I might check that out for future filings.

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Are you sure the UCC-3 was filed as a termination and not an amendment? I've seen people accidentally file amendments thinking they were terminating the entire lien. If it was filed as an amendment it would still show the original UCC-1 as active.

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ThunderBolt7

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I'm pretty sure it was filed as a termination since we were completely releasing the lien, but now you have me second-guessing. I should double-check the form type on the receipt.

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Yeah definitely verify that. Termination vs amendment is a common mix-up and would explain why the original filing still shows as active in your searches.

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Dmitry Ivanov

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This is why I always triple-check the form type before submitting. One wrong checkbox and you end up with this kind of confusion.

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Ava Thompson

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Could be an issue with how the debtor name was entered on the termination vs the original filing. Even small differences like Inc vs Incorporated or missing commas can cause the system not to link them properly.

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ThunderBolt7

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That's a good point. I tried to be careful about the name but there might be some subtle difference I missed.

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Ava Thompson

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Yeah the name matching requirements are really strict. Even extra spaces or punctuation differences can cause problems.

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I've found that calling the filing office is usually the fastest way to resolve these search issues. They can look up records by filing number even if the public search isn't working properly. Sometimes their internal system has more detailed information than what's available online.

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ThunderBolt7

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That seems to be the consensus - I'll call them first thing tomorrow. Hopefully they can at least confirm the termination was processed correctly.

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Yeah they should be able to tell you the status immediately. If there was a problem with the filing they'll let you know what needs to be corrected.

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Zainab Ali

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Make sure you have all your documentation ready when you call. They'll want the original UCC-1 filing number and the UCC-3 receipt number.

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Connor Murphy

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This happened to me once and it turned out the termination was rejected due to a fee issue but I never received the rejection notice. The filing office had sent it to an old address. Might be worth checking if there were any rejection notices you missed.

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ThunderBolt7

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Oh wow, that's a scary thought. I haven't received any rejection notices but I should double-check that they have our current contact information.

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Connor Murphy

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Yeah definitely verify your contact info is current. Rejection notices can get lost in the mail or go to spam folders if sent electronically.

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Yara Nassar

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Just curious - when you search for the original UCC-1, does it show any indication that a termination was filed against it? Sometimes there's a status field or notation that shows related filings even if you can't find the termination document itself.

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ThunderBolt7

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Good question - let me check that. I was focused on searching for the termination itself but didn't look closely at the status of the original filing.

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Yara Nassar

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Yeah sometimes that's the easiest way to see if a termination was actually processed, even if you can't find the actual UCC-3 document.

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StarGazer101

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This is a good troubleshooting step. The original filing should show as 'terminated' or have some kind of status indicator if the UCC-3 was properly filed.

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I had a client with a similar issue where the search function was case-sensitive and they were entering the debtor name in all caps when the original filing had mixed case. Try variations of the name formatting if you haven't already.

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ThunderBolt7

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I'll try different case variations. It's frustrating that the search function can be so finicky about these details.

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Tell me about it. You'd think these systems would be more forgiving with name searches but they're surprisingly strict about exact matches.

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Paolo Romano

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Update us when you find out what happened! I'm curious if it was a system issue or a filing problem. This kind of thing makes me paranoid about all my terminations.

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ThunderBolt7

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Will do! Hoping it's just a search glitch and not something more serious. I'll post an update after I talk to the filing office.

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Amina Diop

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Yeah please update - this is exactly the kind of situation that keeps me up at night worrying about missed filings.

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Dylan Hughes

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Definitely interested in the resolution. If it turns out to be a document matching issue, that Certana tool I mentioned earlier could help verify everything was filed correctly.

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