UCC continuation fee question - filing multiple states vs single state?

Those fees sound about right from what I remember. The timing is definitely the critical part - you don't want to file too early (some states won't accept more than 6 months early) but obviously can't be late either.

Wait, I thought Florida was $12 now? Did they raise it recently? I swear these states change their fee schedules constantly just to keep us on our toes.

This is so true! I had a continuation rejected because the original filing had 'Company' abbreviated as 'Co.' but I wrote it out fully on the UCC-3. Such a stupid mistake but cost me two weeks and extra fees.

Thanks for bringing this up - I hadn't even thought about name consistency between the original and continuation filings. I should probably pull all the original UCC-1s and double-check the exact debtor names before preparing the continuations.

Never heard of that service but sounds useful. How does it work exactly? Do you have to manually compare documents or does it automate the checking?

It's pretty automated - you upload the PDFs and it does the cross-checking for you. Catches things like debtor name variations, incorrect file numbers, even collateral description changes that might cause issues. Much faster than doing manual comparisons.

Might have to look into this. I spend way too much time manually checking documents before filing and still miss things sometimes.

Preach! And the worst part is when a state's online system goes down right when you need to file something urgent. Happened to me twice last year with different states.

The inconsistency is definitely frustrating, but at least most states have moved to electronic filing now. Remember when everything had to be mailed with checks? Those were dark times.

That's a great system. I should definitely set up something more organized than my current sticky note method. Do you track the specific debtor name format used in each state too?

Yes! I have a column for exact debtor name as it appears on file. Learned that lesson the hard way after multiple rejections for name inconsistencies.

I do something similar but also include the original secured party name and any assignment history. Helps avoid confusion when there have been loan transfers.

I usually go direct through state portals to save on service fees, but honestly might consider a service for the California ones if their system is problematic. Have you had specific issues?

Mostly just slow processing times and occasional system errors during submission. Nothing fatal but annoying when you're trying to get multiple filings done efficiently.

Good point. I've seen people select the wrong checkbox on the UCC-3 form and end up with an amendment instead of continuation. Always double-check before submitting.

Wait, is the continuation checkbox different in each state? I thought UCC-3 forms were standardized but maybe I'm wrong.

The basic form is standardized but each state's portal might present the options differently. Some are clearer than others about which action you're selecting.

That's helpful to know the total came out to under $100 for 6 states. Makes me feel better about the cost aspect. Did you run into any rejections or issues during the process?

Had one rejection in Nevada for a minor debtor name discrepancy - they wanted 'LLC' instead of 'L.L.C.' with periods. Fixed it and refiled within a few days. That's why filing early is so important.

That's smart. I usually do them one at a time but batching makes more sense for consistency.

I tried that approach but still managed to mess up a debtor name on one of them. Now I use a document checker to verify everything matches before filing. Much more reliable than trusting my tired eyes after looking at multiple forms.

Perfect summary, thanks. I think I was overcomplicating it in my head. Just need to get organized and methodical about the process.

Exactly. The UCC system has its quirks but if you follow the basics and don't rush, it's manageable. Just don't underestimate the time investment for multiple states.