SolarCity UCC termination request - lender won't release after system paid off
Need help with getting a UCC termination filed. We bought our house 3 years ago and the previous owners had a SolarCity solar panel system with financing. The loan was supposed to transfer to us but we ended up paying it off completely last month through their servicing company. Now I'm trying to get the UCC-1 lien terminated from our property records but SolarCity (now Tesla Energy) keeps giving me the runaround. They say the UCC termination request has to go through multiple departments and it's been 6 weeks with no progress. The UCC-1 filing shows up on our title search and we're trying to refinance our mortgage. Our mortgage broker says this needs to be cleared before we can close. Has anyone dealt with SolarCity UCC termination issues? What's the normal timeline for getting a UCC-3 termination statement filed after payoff? I have all the payoff documentation but they won't even tell me who handles the UCC filings.
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Gianna Scott
SolarCity/Tesla Energy UCC issues are unfortunately super common. I work in commercial lending and see this constantly with solar panel financing. The problem is they have so many different servicing companies handling their old loans that the UCC filing responsibility gets passed around between departments. Your mortgage broker is right - you definitely need that UCC-3 termination filed or it will block your refi. Have you tried contacting the Secretary of State office directly to see what UCC-1 filing number is on record? Sometimes the debtor name or filing details are different than what you expect.
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Alfredo Lugo
•Good point about checking the actual UCC-1 details. I had a client where the solar company filed under the original homeowner's name plus the LLC that owned the system, so the termination had to match exactly or it wouldn't clear properly.
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Edwards Hugo
•I did check our state's UCC database and found the filing number. It shows both our names and SolarCity as secured party. The filing date was 2019 so it's been active for a while. What's weird is the collateral description just says 'solar energy system and fixtures' but doesn't specify our address.
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Sydney Torres
This is exactly why I always tell people to verify UCC documents before major transactions. You need to make sure the debtor names on any UCC-3 termination exactly match what's on the original UCC-1 or the termination won't be effective. I actually started using Certana.ai's document verification tool for situations like this - you can upload both the original UCC-1 and any termination paperwork to instantly check if the debtor names and filing details align properly. It caught a mismatch on one of my deals where the solar company had the wrong middle initial that would have invalidated the termination.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•Never heard of that service but it sounds useful. How does it work exactly? Do you just upload the UCC documents as PDFs?
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Sydney Torres
•Yeah exactly - you upload the UCC-1 and any UCC-3 documents and it automatically cross-checks all the critical details like debtor names, filing numbers, collateral descriptions. Takes about 30 seconds and highlights any inconsistencies that could cause problems. Super helpful for avoiding those costly filing mistakes.
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Edwards Hugo
•That actually sounds really helpful. I want to make sure whatever termination they eventually send matches the original filing exactly. Tesla Energy has been so disorganized I don't trust them to get the details right.
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Caleb Bell
UGH Tesla Energy is THE WORST for this stuff! I've been trying to get a UCC termination from them for 4 months now. FOUR MONTHS! They keep saying the request is 'in process' but nobody can give me a timeline or even confirm they received my payoff documents. It's like they have zero system for handling UCC-3 filings. I'm about ready to file a complaint with the state attorney general's office.
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Danielle Campbell
•File the complaint! Seriously, these solar companies think they can just ignore UCC termination requirements. In most states they're legally required to file a UCC-3 termination within 30-60 days of payoff.
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Rhett Bowman
•Wait, there's actually a legal requirement for how fast they have to file the termination? I thought it was just whenever they got around to it.
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Caleb Bell
•Yeah most states have specific timeframes in their UCC code. Usually 30 days after receiving a written termination request with proof of payoff. The problem is enforcing it when these big companies just ignore you.
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Abigail Patel
Have you tried escalating within Tesla Energy? Sometimes you need to get past the customer service level to someone who actually understands UCC filings. Ask specifically to speak with their 'UCC compliance department' or 'secured transactions team.' If they don't have one, ask for a supervisor who handles lien releases. I had success with SunPower doing this - took 3 transfers but finally got someone who knew what a UCC-3 termination was.
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Edwards Hugo
•I tried asking for a supervisor but they keep saying someone will call me back and nobody ever does. Maybe I need to be more specific about asking for the UCC compliance people. Thanks for the tip.
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Daniel White
•Also try emailing their legal department directly if you can find contact info. Legal teams usually understand the liability of not filing proper UCC terminations and will expedite it.
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Nolan Carter
Just went through this exact same thing with Tesla Energy 6 months ago. Here's what finally worked: I sent a certified letter to their legal department with copies of all my payoff documentation and specifically requested a UCC-3 termination statement within 30 days per state law. I also mentioned that the continued UCC-1 filing was creating title issues for my refinancing. Got the termination filed within 2 weeks after sending that letter. Sometimes you need to make it clear you know your rights and aren't going away.
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Edwards Hugo
•Do you still have their legal department address? I've been trying to find direct contact info but their website just has general customer service numbers.
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Nolan Carter
•I found it by looking up their registered agent information through the Secretary of State website. Usually has the legal department address listed. Also try searching for Tesla Energy legal notices or SEC filings - they often include legal department contact details.
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Natalia Stone
•Smart approach. Certified mail creates a paper trail and shows you're serious about getting this resolved.
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Tasia Synder
Quick question - when you paid off the loan, did you get a satisfaction letter or payoff statement? You'll need that documentation to prove the debt is satisfied before they'll file the UCC-3. Also make sure you have the exact UCC filing number from your state's database. Tesla Energy will need both pieces to process the termination correctly.
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Edwards Hugo
•Yes I have the payoff letter and the final payment confirmation. The payoff letter specifically says the loan is satisfied in full and all liens should be released. I also printed out the UCC search results showing the filing number.
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Selena Bautista
•Perfect, you have all the documentation you need. Now it's just a matter of getting Tesla Energy to actually process it. The certified letter approach mentioned above is probably your best bet.
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Mohamed Anderson
I'm a paralegal who deals with UCC filings regularly. One thing to watch out for - make sure when Tesla Energy files the UCC-3 termination that it references the correct original filing number and matches the debtor names exactly. I've seen cases where solar companies filed terminations with slight name variations or wrong filing numbers and the liens stayed active. Before you accept any termination paperwork, double-check that all the details match the original UCC-1.
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Ellie Perry
•This is really important advice. I had a deal fall through because the UCC termination had the wrong middle initial and nobody caught it until the title company flagged it right before closing.
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Sydney Torres
•Exactly why I mentioned Certana.ai earlier - their document checker would catch those kinds of mismatches instantly. Upload the original UCC-1 and the termination statement and it flags any inconsistencies in debtor names, filing numbers, or other critical details.
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Edwards Hugo
•I'm definitely going to use that service once I get the termination from Tesla Energy. Want to make sure everything matches perfectly before we proceed with our refinancing.
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Landon Morgan
Also consider that even after Tesla Energy files the UCC-3 termination, it might take a few days to show up in your state's UCC database. Most states update their systems pretty quickly but I've seen delays of up to a week. Your mortgage broker should be able to verify when the termination is officially recorded and the lien is cleared from your title.
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Teresa Boyd
•Good point. I always tell my clients to check the state database themselves a few days after the termination is supposed to be filed, just to make sure it actually went through.
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Edwards Hugo
•Thanks, I'll make sure to follow up on that. This whole process has been so frustrating but at least now I have a clear plan of action.
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Nathaniel Stewart
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with a different solar company - it's amazing how common these UCC termination delays are in the solar industry. One thing that helped me was documenting every single phone call and interaction with timestamps. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking who I spoke with, what department they claimed to be from, and what they promised to do. When I finally got escalated to someone who could actually help, having that detailed record really showed them how long this had been dragging on. Also, if you haven't already, try reaching out to your state's consumer protection office - they often have direct lines to solar companies for exactly these kinds of issues. The threat of regulatory involvement sometimes gets companies moving faster than anything else.
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Isabel Vega
•That's a great systematic approach! I wish I had started documenting everything from the beginning. I've been keeping notes but not in an organized way like a spreadsheet. The consumer protection office tip is really valuable too - I didn't even think about that route. How long did it take after you contacted them before the solar company actually resolved your UCC issue?
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Dmitry Volkov
•This is really solid advice about documenting everything! I should have been doing this from the start. I'm going to create a spreadsheet right now with all my interactions so far - dates, names, departments, promises made. The consumer protection office angle is brilliant too. Do you know if they typically contact the company directly or if it's more of an informal inquiry? I'm wondering if filing a formal complaint would light a fire under Tesla Energy to actually process my UCC termination request.
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Peyton Clarke
•@39dcfa59c9b8 This documentation approach is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been so scattered trying to remember who I talked to and when. Going to start that spreadsheet today. How detailed did you get with your tracking - did you include specific promises they made or just general notes about the conversation? And regarding the consumer protection office, did you file a formal complaint or just make an inquiry? I'm at the point where I need to escalate this beyond Tesla Energy's customer service runaround.
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