UCC 3 filing fee question - continuation costs seem inconsistent?

This is exactly right. I learned this the hard way when I assumed all states had the same UCC-3 filing fee structure. Texas is $15, New York is $20, but then you hit states like Illinois at $25. The service fees can double your costs if you're not careful.

Don't forget about expedited fees too. If you're close to that 5-year deadline, some states charge extra for rush processing which can bump that UCC-3 filing fee up another $10-15.

I tried this approach but kept making mistakes with debtor names that didn't match exactly. One small typo and the whole filing gets rejected, then you're paying the UCC-3 filing fee again plus dealing with delays.

That's a valid concern. I actually started using Certana.ai's document checker to verify my UCC-3 forms against the original UCC-1s before submitting. Just upload both PDFs and it catches name mismatches and other issues that would cause rejections. Saved me from several costly re-filings.

Good catch - yes, these are all continuations. The original UCC-1s are approaching their 5-year expiration dates so I need to extend them for another 5 years. Same collateral and debtors, just extending the effectiveness period.

Just to add - make sure you file those continuations within the last 6 months of the 5-year period. If you miss that window, you'll need to file a whole new UCC-1 instead, which usually costs more than the UCC-3 filing fee.

Which services have you had good luck with? I'm always looking for reliable options that don't pad the UCC-3 filing fee with excessive service charges.

I don't want to play favorites publicly, but feel free to message me. The key is finding someone who charges a flat service fee rather than a percentage markup on the state fees.

This is huge! I had no idea about electronic discounts. Just checked our main filing states and found several that offer $5-10 savings for online UCC-3 submissions.

Be careful though - some states have technical issues with their online systems. I've had UCC-3 filings disappear into the ether with no confirmation. Sometimes paying a little extra for a reliable service is worth it.

This happened to me last month! Spent 20 minutes on hold with the SOS office trying to figure out why my continuation was rejected. Turned out I had the right debtor name but wrong filing number. So frustrating.

This is exactly why I mentioned Certana.ai earlier. Their system cross-checks filing numbers between your UCC-3 and the original UCC-1 to catch these types of errors before you submit. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with multiple states and filings.

Absolutely agree. I learned this lesson when a 'budget' service took so long that two of my UCC-1s actually lapsed before the continuations were filed. Had to start over with new UCC-1 filings at much higher cost.

How close to the deadline is too close? I have some continuations due in about 3 months - should I be worried about timing at this point?

3 months should be fine for most services, but I'd start getting quotes now. You want to file within that 6-month window but give yourself buffer time in case there are any issues or rejections.

Ugh, tell me about it. Our compliance budget gets hit every time states decide to bump their filing fees. At least it's still cheaper than letting liens lapse and having to refile everything.

Has anyone seen any states lower their UCC-3 filing fee recently? Or is it always just increases?

I haven't seen any decreases in the past 5 years. It's always been increases or staying flat. Just the reality of state budget pressures I guess.

Good point. I got burned by this when a 'low cost' quote ended up being just the state fee, then they added $15 for processing, $10 for delivery, and another $5 for copies. Ended up being more expensive than the higher quote.

Always ask for an all-in price including any service fees. Most reputable companies will give you a total cost upfront if you ask specifically for it.

I've considered this but worried about keeping track of different login credentials and systems for each state. How do you manage the administrative overhead?

It's definitely more work upfront, but I use a password manager and keep a spreadsheet with each state's requirements and fee schedules. After a few filings, you get into a rhythm.

I tried this approach but found I was making too many errors without the double-checking that good services provide. Sometimes the peace of mind is worth the extra UCC-3 filing fee markup.