UCC-1 filing rejected for debtor name mismatch - need advice
So frustrated right now. Just had my UCC-1 filing rejected by the Secretary of State office because apparently the debtor name on my filing doesn't exactly match what's in their business entity records. The debtor is 'Advanced Manufacturing Solutions LLC' but I filed it as 'Advanced Manufacturing Solutions, LLC' with that comma. Seriously? One comma and they reject the whole thing? This is for a $850K equipment financing deal and we're supposed to close next week. Has anyone dealt with this kind of pickiness before? I thought as long as the name was substantially similar it would be fine. Now I have to refile and hope it gets processed in time. Any tips on getting the exact debtor name format right the first time?
33 comments
Join the conversation
Alana Willis
Oh man, I feel your pain. The exact name matching requirement is brutal but it's real. You have to get it character-for-character perfect including punctuation. I always pull the entity records directly from the state's business entity database now before filing any UCC-1. Even spaces matter - I've seen filings rejected for extra spaces.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Wait, they really reject for spaces too? That's insane. How are we supposed to know every tiny formatting detail?
0 coins
Alana Willis
•Yep, it's that strict. I learned the hard way on a time-sensitive deal like yours. The UCC system is unforgiving.
0 coins
Sara Unger
Been there! For LLC names specifically, some states are super picky about the comma placement. What I do now is search the Secretary of State's business entity database and copy the EXACT name formatting from their official records. Then paste it directly into the UCC-1 form. No typing, no assumptions. Has saved me multiple rejections.
0 coins
Butch Sledgehammer
•Smart approach. I started doing this too after getting burned on a continuation filing where I had the original debtor name slightly wrong.
0 coins
Sara Unger
•Exactly! And it's not just new filings - amendments and continuations need the same precision or they get rejected too.
0 coins
Freya Ross
•This is why I switched to using Certana.ai's document checker. I upload my charter docs and UCC-1 together and it flags any name mismatches before I file. Catches stuff like this comma issue automatically.
0 coins
Leslie Parker
UGH this exact thing happened to me last month! Mine was rejected because I had 'Inc.' but the state records showed 'Incorporated' spelled out. Lost 3 days waiting for the rejection notice, then another 2 days for the corrected filing to process. Nearly missed our closing deadline. The system is ridiculous.
0 coins
Justin Trejo
•Did you manage to close on time? I'm really worried about missing our deadline here.
0 coins
Leslie Parker
•Barely! I had to pay for expedited processing and explain the delay to the lender. They weren't happy but understood it was a filing technicality.
0 coins
Sergio Neal
This is exactly why debtor name accuracy is so critical in secured transactions. The UCC system requires what's called 'seriously misleading' analysis - if the name doesn't match exactly, a search under the correct name might not find your filing, making it ineffective. Your lender's security interest could be at risk if this isn't perfect.
0 coins
Savanna Franklin
•So if they filed with the wrong name and someone else files correctly later, they could lose priority?
0 coins
Sergio Neal
•Potentially yes. That's why the Secretary of State offices are so strict about exact name matching. It's not just bureaucracy - it's protecting the integrity of the public record.
0 coins
Juan Moreno
•This is terrifying. I never realized how much was riding on punctuation marks.
0 coins
Amy Fleming
I had this same issue and found a tool that really helped. Certana.ai has this PDF upload feature where you can upload your articles of incorporation or charter along with your UCC-1 draft, and it automatically cross-checks the debtor names for consistency. Would have saved you the rejection if you'd caught that comma difference upfront.
0 coins
Justin Trejo
•That sounds really useful. Does it work with other entity documents too? Like operating agreements?
0 coins
Amy Fleming
•Yeah, it works with any PDF that has the legal entity name. I've used it with charter docs, operating agreements, even loan agreements to make sure everything matches.
0 coins
Alice Pierce
i think the comma thing varies by state??? some states are more flexible about punctuation than others. which state are you filing in?
0 coins
Justin Trejo
•This is in Delaware. Their system seems particularly strict about exact formatting.
0 coins
Esteban Tate
•Delaware is definitely one of the stricter states. Their UCC system has very little tolerance for name variations.
0 coins
Ivanna St. Pierre
Pro tip: when you refile, check if your state offers expedited processing. Usually costs extra but might save your closing date. Also, call the UCC office directly - sometimes they can give you a heads up on processing times.
0 coins
Justin Trejo
•Good idea! I'll call them first thing tomorrow. Hopefully expedited processing is available.
0 coins
Ivanna St. Pierre
•Most states have it for an extra fee. Delaware usually processes expedited filings within 24 hours.
0 coins
Elin Robinson
•Just make sure you have the corrected debtor name perfect this time. Double rejections are even more painful!
0 coins
Atticus Domingo
This whole thread is making me paranoid about my filings. I have three UCC-1s pending right now and I'm not 100% sure I got all the debtor names exactly right. Is there a way to check the status of pending filings?
0 coins
Sergio Neal
•Most states have online UCC search systems where you can check filing status by number. Check your state's Secretary of State website.
0 coins
Beth Ford
•Also, if you're really worried, that Certana tool someone mentioned earlier can check your filed documents against entity records retroactively too.
0 coins
Morita Montoya
Had similar experience but with a continuation filing. The original UCC-1 had the debtor name slightly wrong, so when I filed the continuation with the 'correct' name, it didn't match and got rejected. Had to file the continuation with the same wrong name to maintain the chain, then file an amendment to fix it. What a mess.
0 coins
Kingston Bellamy
•Wait, so you have to keep using the wrong name in continuations? That seems backwards.
0 coins
Morita Montoya
•That's right. You have to maintain consistency with the original filing, even if it's wrong. Then fix it with a separate amendment.
0 coins
Sergio Neal
•This is correct. The continuation has to reference the original filing exactly, warts and all.
0 coins
Joy Olmedo
Update us when you get it resolved! I'm dealing with a similar name issue on a different filing and want to see how yours turns out.
0 coins
Justin Trejo
•Will do! Planning to refile tomorrow morning with expedited processing. Fingers crossed.
0 coins