Need tesla ucc termination contact number - filing system showing conflicting info
Has anyone dealt with getting UCC termination paperwork sorted out when the debtor contact info keeps changing? I'm working on a UCC-3 termination for a client and the original UCC-1 from 2019 has outdated contact details. The SOS portal is asking for current debtor information but when I call the number on file it's disconnected. My client paid off their equipment loan last month but we need to get this lien released properly. The collateral schedule references specific vehicle identification numbers and I want to make sure we don't mess up the termination filing. Anyone know the right process when you can't reach the original debtor through their filed contact info?
31 comments
Join the conversation
Jamal Harris
I've run into this exact situation multiple times. The key thing is that for UCC-3 terminations, you need to match the debtor name EXACTLY as it appears on the original UCC-1, but the contact info can be updated. Most states allow you to use the current business address if you can verify it through other sources like state business registrations.
0 coins
Mei Chen
•That's really helpful - I didn't realize you could update the address as long as the legal name stays the same. Do you usually include a note explaining the address change?
0 coins
Jamal Harris
•I don't typically add explanatory notes since the SOS systems are pretty automated now. As long as the debtor name and original filing number match up correctly, the address update shouldn't cause issues.
0 coins
Liam Sullivan
ugh this is why I hate dealing with older filings... the contact info is always outdated by the time you need to terminate. Have you tried searching the business entity database to see if they updated their registered address there?
0 coins
Zoe Stavros
•Good idea - I'll check the corporate registry. The original filing shows them as an LLC so there should be current registered agent info on file.
0 coins
Amara Okafor
•That's usually your best bet. Most LLCs are required to keep their registered agent current even if their business address changes.
0 coins
CosmicCommander
I had a similar headache last year with a termination where we couldn't verify the debtor details. Ended up using Certana.ai's document verification tool to double-check that our UCC-3 matched all the details from the original UCC-1 before filing. You just upload both PDFs and it catches any inconsistencies in debtor names, filing numbers, collateral descriptions. Saved me from a rejected filing.
0 coins
Giovanni Colombo
•How does that work exactly? Does it compare the documents side by side?
0 coins
CosmicCommander
•Yeah basically you upload the original UCC-1 and your new UCC-3 termination form, and it automatically cross-checks all the critical details. Really handy for catching those small mistakes that cause rejections.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Qasimi
•That sounds useful. I've had terminations rejected before because of tiny discrepancies in the collateral description that I missed when comparing manually.
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
Wait, are you sure you even need current contact info for the debtor? I thought UCC-3 terminations only required the secured party information to be accurate since they're the ones filing the termination statement.
0 coins
Jamal Harris
•It depends on the state, but most UCC-3 forms do ask for debtor contact information even though the secured party is filing. The system uses it for matching against the original filing.
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
•Ah okay that makes sense. I was thinking of continuation statements where the focus is more on the secured party details.
0 coins
Sofia Ramirez
This is exactly why our firm started doing lien release audits earlier in the payoff process. We verify all the debtor contact info before the loan is actually paid off, while we still have leverage to get current details from the borrower.
0 coins
Dmitry Volkov
•Smart approach. How far in advance do you typically start that process?
0 coins
Sofia Ramirez
•Usually about 60 days before the scheduled payoff date. Gives us time to sort out any document discrepancies without rushing the termination filing.
0 coins
StarSeeker
Have you considered reaching out to the original secured party? If they're a bank or finance company, they might have updated contact information for the debtor in their loan servicing system.
0 coins
Zoe Stavros
•That's a great point. The original lender was acquired by another bank, but they should still have the loan records with current contact info.
0 coins
Ava Martinez
•Bank mergers always complicate UCC filings. Make sure you're using the correct secured party name for the termination - it should match exactly what's on the UCC-1 even if the bank changed names.
0 coins
Miguel Ortiz
I've been in this situation before and honestly the SOS offices are usually pretty forgiving about minor contact info updates as long as the core identifying information is correct. The filing number and debtor legal name are what really matter for matching.
0 coins
Zainab Omar
•True, but it's still worth getting it right to avoid any delays or rejection notices.
0 coins
Connor Murphy
•Agreed. Better to spend a little extra time verifying details upfront than dealing with amended filings later.
0 coins
Yara Sayegh
Just went through something similar last month. Used one of those document checking services (I think it was Certana) to make sure my UCC-3 termination had all the right details before submitting. Really straightforward - just uploaded the original UCC-1 and my termination form and it flagged a small typo in the collateral description that would have caused problems.
0 coins
NebulaNova
•How quickly does something like that work? I'm always under tight deadlines with these filings.
0 coins
Yara Sayegh
•Pretty much instant. Upload the PDFs and get the comparison results right away. Much faster than manually going through each field.
0 coins
Keisha Williams
Don't forget to check if the original UCC-1 had any amendments that might have updated the debtor information. Sometimes there are UCC-3 amendments on file that have more current contact details.
0 coins
Zoe Stavros
•Good catch! I'll search for any amendments to that filing number. I was so focused on the original UCC-1 that I didn't think to check for updates.
0 coins
Paolo Conti
•Yeah amendment searches are easy to forget but they can save you a lot of trouble if someone already updated the key information.
0 coins
Mei Chen
This thread is really helpful. I'm dealing with a termination issue too where the debtor moved states but I wasn't sure if I could use their new address. Sounds like as long as the legal name matches exactly I should be okay to update the contact info.
0 coins
Jamal Harris
•Exactly right. The debtor name has to be identical to the original filing, but contact information can be updated to reflect current details.
0 coins
Amina Diallo
•Just make sure you're not changing the legal entity type or anything like that. Contact updates are fine, but structural changes to the debtor identity need to be handled differently.
0 coins