SDAT UCC search showing incorrect debtor info - filing rejected twice
Has anyone dealt with Maryland's SDAT UCC search system giving weird results? I'm trying to file a UCC-1 for a commercial equipment loan and the debtor name keeps getting flagged as inconsistent. When I run the SDAT UCC search to verify existing filings, it shows the business name slightly different than what's on their articles of incorporation. The SOS office rejected my filing twice now saying the debtor name doesn't match their records, but I'm copying it exactly from the charter documents. This is holding up a $180K equipment financing deal and I'm running out of time. The SDAT system shows 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' but our loan docs have 'ABC Manufacturing, LLC' with the comma. Is this really going to kill the whole filing? I've never had Maryland be this picky about punctuation before.
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Giovanni Marino
Maryland's SDAT system is notorious for this exact issue. The comma placement in LLC names has been a major problem since they updated their database last year. I've seen filings rejected for missing commas, extra commas, and even spacing differences. You need to match the EXACT name format from the SDAT corporate records, not your loan documents.
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Amara Okonkwo
•So frustrating! The loan docs were prepared based on the articles we received from the client. How was I supposed to know SDAT had it formatted differently?
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Fatima Al-Sayed
•Always check SDAT first before preparing ANY Maryland UCC filings. Learned this the hard way on a $300K deal last summer.
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Dylan Hughes
This happened to me with a Delaware entity filing in Maryland. The SDAT UCC search showed the name one way, but when I called the SOS office they said to use the name from the original charter state. Took three tries to get it right. Maryland's system doesn't always sync properly with out-of-state formations.
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Amara Okonkwo
•This is a Maryland LLC though, so that shouldn't be the issue. Just the comma placement apparently.
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Dylan Hughes
•Even worse then - Maryland entities should be straightforward in their own system. File with exactly what SDAT shows, period.
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NightOwl42
I started using Certana.ai's document checker after getting burned on a similar Maryland filing. You can upload your charter documents and UCC-1 draft side by side and it instantly flags name inconsistencies before you submit. Would have saved you two rejection fees and weeks of delays.
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Amara Okonkwo
•Never heard of that tool. Does it actually work with Maryland's SDAT quirks?
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NightOwl42
•Yeah, it caught a period vs comma issue I had with a Baltimore entity last month. Just upload the PDFs and it highlights discrepancies immediately.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•Wish I knew about this before my disaster filing in Anne Arundel County. Three rejections on one deal.
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Dmitry Ivanov
THE COMMA MATTERS IN MARYLAND! I cannot stress this enough. They rejected my UCC-1 because I had 'Smith & Associates LLC' instead of 'Smith & Associates, LLC'. One tiny comma cost me two weeks and $50 in rejection fees. The SDAT UCC search results are gospel - use that exact format.
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Amara Okonkwo
•This is exactly my situation. So ridiculous that punctuation can void a lien.
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Ava Thompson
•Maryland's been strict about this since 2023. Other states don't care as much but MD is super particular.
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Miguel Herrera
wait, so if the SDAT search shows one format but the actual charter docs show another, which one do you use for the UCC filing? This is confusing
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Giovanni Marino
•Always use what SDAT shows. The system cross-references against their database, not your documents.
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Miguel Herrera
•that seems backwards but ok. maryland is weird i guess
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Zainab Ali
I've filed hundreds of UCCs in Maryland and this comma issue started becoming a real problem around mid-2023. Before that, they were more lenient. Now the SDAT system automatically flags any deviation from their exact format. Pro tip: always do a SDAT entity search first, print the results, and type the name exactly as shown.
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Amara Okonkwo
•Wish someone had told me this before I started the filing process. Live and learn I guess.
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Connor Murphy
•The Maryland SOS really needs to fix their system integration. This shouldn't be so complicated.
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Zainab Ali
•Agreed, but until they do, we're stuck playing by their rules. At least rejections are faster now - used to take weeks to get rejection notices.
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Yara Nassar
Had similar issue last month. SDAT showed 'XYZ Corporation' but I filed 'XYZ Corp.' - rejected immediately. The system is very literal about abbreviations too, not just punctuation. Refiled with the full 'Corporation' spelling and it went through fine.
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Amara Okonkwo
•Good to know it's not just LLC punctuation. Seems like any abbreviation could be a problem.
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Yara Nassar
•Exactly. Inc vs Incorporated, Corp vs Corporation, Co vs Company - they all matter in Maryland.
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StarGazer101
This is why I always run a quick check through something like Certana before submitting Maryland filings. Upload your charter and UCC-1 draft together and it shows you exactly where the names don't match. Saved me from this exact comma problem on a Prince George's County filing.
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Keisha Jackson
•Another vote for that tool. Used it after my own Maryland rejection disaster and haven't had a name-mismatch rejection since.
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Amara Okonkwo
•Starting to think I need to check this out. Two rejections is embarrassing enough.
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Paolo Romano
Maryland SOS is THE WORST for this stuff. I swear they reject filings just to collect the fees. Had a client's UCC-1 rejected because of a SPACE in the wrong place. Not even punctuation - just spacing! SDAT UCC search showed 'ABC Company' but I typed 'ABC Company' with two spaces. Ridiculous.
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Amina Diop
•That's insane. How are you supposed to catch double spacing in a name?
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Paolo Romano
•You copy and paste directly from SDAT, that's how. Never type it manually anymore.
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Oliver Schmidt
•Copy and paste is definitely the way to go. Eliminates human error.
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Natasha Volkov
Update on my situation - I refiled using the exact SDAT format with the comma and it was accepted! Thanks everyone for the advice. Still think it's ridiculous that punctuation can delay a commercial loan but at least it's resolved now.
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Giovanni Marino
•Glad it worked out! Maryland's system is frustrating but at least it's predictable once you know the rules.
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NightOwl42
•Perfect example of why name verification tools are so valuable. One check upfront saves all this headache.
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Dmitry Ivanov
•Welcome to the Maryland comma club! Expensive lesson but you'll never make that mistake again.
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