South Carolina UCC lien search showing terminated filings as active - anyone else seeing this?

Agreed, I've had similar issues with their database updates. Sometimes the termination shows as filed but the search index doesn't update for 30+ days.

This is exactly why I always request copies of the actual UCC-3 termination statements from the debtor, not just rely on the search results.

Did they give you any timeline for when their system would be updated? I'm trying to figure out if this is a temporary glitch or a longer-term issue.

They told me 2-4 weeks for the search database to reflect terminations, but manual verification by phone was immediate.

That's ridiculous - 2-4 weeks? Other states update within days.

That's interesting - how does it work exactly? Do you just upload PDFs of the documents?

Yeah, exactly. Upload the original UCC-1 and the UCC-3 termination, and it automatically flags any inconsistencies in debtor names, filing numbers, or collateral schedules that could void the termination.

I've been manually comparing these documents for years - didn't know there was an automated way to do it. Name mismatches are definitely the biggest issue with ineffective terminations.

Good point about the filing receipts. The debtor sent me screenshots but I should probably ask for the actual confirmation emails from the SOS.

Screenshots can be edited - always ask for the original electronic receipts with the state timestamps.

Tell me about it! Last week I spent 3 hours on hold trying to get someone to manually run a search because their website kept timing out.

At least you can get through by phone. Some states make you submit written requests for manual searches.

True, but it shouldn't be this difficult in 2025. Every other business has figured out real-time database updates.

That's a really good point. The business name has 'LLC' at the end and I wonder if some filings used 'L.L.C.' with periods instead.

Exactly! That kind of variation would definitely cause search issues. Run searches with different name variations to see if you get different results.

How did you get that resolved? Did you have to file anything to get them removed from the search results?

No filing needed - they just manually updated their database once I pointed out the lapsed continuations. But it took about 3 weeks to show up in online searches.

Good to know. I'll check if any of these are continuation issues rather than termination problems.

Thanks for the tip! I'll try calling this afternoon.

Also try asking specifically for their 'UCC verification department' - gets you to someone who actually knows what they're talking about instead of general customer service.

Absolutely agree. For $850K I need to be 100% certain about lien status, not just reasonably confident.

Smart approach. Written confirmation from the state filing office is the only way to be completely sure in situations like this.

This is why some lenders require title insurance on high-value equipment deals - covers you if there are search database errors that cause lien priority issues later.

Wow, that's exactly the kind of mistake I'm worried about. How quickly does it spot issues like that?

Pretty much instantly once you upload the PDFs. It flags any mismatches in filing numbers, debtor names, or collateral descriptions that could void the termination.

Same experience here - it's way faster than manually comparing all the document fields, and it catches stuff you might miss when you're rushing through multiple filings.

Will do! Planning to call them this afternoon and also verify the documents through Certana to make sure there aren't any name or number discrepancies causing the problem.

Perfect - that's exactly what I was planning to do too. Hopefully between manual verification and document checking we can get to the bottom of these search issues.