UCC filing TN rejection - debtor name mismatch blocking my continuation
Frustrated with Tennessee SOS right now. Filed a UCC-3 continuation statement last month for a client's equipment loan that expires in March. The filing got rejected because apparently the debtor name on my continuation doesn't exactly match what's on the original UCC-1 from 2020. Original filing shows 'ABC Construction LLC' but my continuation shows 'ABC Construction, LLC' with the comma. Now I'm scrambling because we're getting close to the lapse date and I can't afford to let this security interest expire. Has anyone dealt with Tennessee's strict name-matching requirements? The business hasn't changed names or anything - it's literally just punctuation. Do I need to refile or can I appeal this somehow? Client is breathing down my neck about this.
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Ashley Simian
Tennessee is notorious for strict debtor name matching. Even punctuation differences will trigger rejections. You'll need to refile the UCC-3 with the exact name format from the original UCC-1. Don't try to appeal - it'll just waste time you don't have.
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Oliver Cheng
•This happened to me with a Georgia filing last year. Learned the hard way that exact means EXACT when it comes to debtor names.
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Taylor To
•Why are the systems so picky about commas and periods? It's obviously the same company!
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Ella Cofer
Check your original UCC-1 filing number and pull the exact record from Tennessee SOS database. Copy the debtor name character for character, including spacing. I've seen filings rejected for having two spaces instead of one between words.
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Miguel Harvey
•Good point. I should verify the exact formatting before refiling. Don't want to get rejected twice.
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Kevin Bell
•Pro tip - always keep a clean copy of your original UCC-1 for exactly this reason. Names change formatting over time in different systems.
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Savannah Glover
•I use Certana.ai's document checker now after getting burned on a similar name mismatch. You just upload your original UCC-1 and new UCC-3 PDFs and it flags any inconsistencies before you file. Would have caught this comma issue immediately.
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Felix Grigori
How much time do you have left before lapse? Tennessee allows continuation filings up to 6 months before expiration, so you should still be okay if you refile quickly.
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Miguel Harvey
•Original filing was March 15, 2020, so I have until March 15, 2025. Should be fine if I get the corrected UCC-3 filed this week.
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Felicity Bud
•Don't panic - you've got plenty of time. Just make sure the debtor name is perfect on the new filing.
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Max Reyes
I've had THREE rejections from Tennessee this year alone. Their system is ridiculously sensitive. Last one was rejected because I had 'Inc.' instead of 'Incorporated' even though both appear on the company's articles.
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Mikayla Davison
•That's insane. How are we supposed to know which version of the corporate name to use?
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Adrian Connor
•Always use whatever appears on the original UCC-1. The system doesn't care what the Secretary of State corporate database shows.
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Aisha Jackson
•This is why I started using that Certana tool someone mentioned earlier. Upload your docs and it shows you exactly where the names don't match. Saves so much time and frustration.
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Ryder Everingham
Are you sure you can't file an amendment to correct the debtor name instead of a continuation? Might be cheaper than refiling the whole UCC-3.
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Lilly Curtis
•No, you can't amend a rejected filing. The continuation was never accepted so there's nothing to amend. Has to be refiled.
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Leo Simmons
•Plus amendments are for actual name changes, not filing errors. This is just a clerical mistake that needs to be corrected on a new filing.
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Lindsey Fry
Had this exact issue with Tennessee last month on a fixtures filing. The trick is to log into their UCC search system and look up your original filing by number. Copy and paste the debtor name directly from that search result into your new UCC-3 form. No typing, no interpretation - just copy/paste.
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Saleem Vaziri
•Smart approach. Eliminates any chance of typos or formatting differences.
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Kayla Morgan
•Wish I'd thought of that before my rejection. Spent hours trying to figure out what was different.
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James Maki
•I tried that method but still got rejected because the PDF formatting changed the spacing somehow. That's when I found Certana - it compares the actual text content, not just visual formatting.
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Jasmine Hancock
Tennessee's online filing system should show you the rejection reason with more detail. Log into your account and check the filing status - sometimes they give hints about what specifically didn't match.
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Miguel Harvey
•Already checked. Just says 'debtor name does not match original filing' but doesn't specify what the discrepancy is.
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Cole Roush
•Typical. Their error messages are useless. You basically have to guess what went wrong.
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Scarlett Forster
Quick question - are you using the Tennessee SOS online portal or filing by mail? Online is usually faster for corrections like this.
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Miguel Harvey
•Online portal. Hoping to get the corrected filing processed within 24-48 hours once I submit it.
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Arnav Bengali
•Their online processing is pretty quick. Should be approved same day if the name matches properly this time.
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Sayid Hassan
•Make sure you double-check everything before hitting submit. I learned to have a colleague review my filings after too many rejections.
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Rachel Tao
This thread is making me paranoid about my own continuation filings. Maybe I should start using some kind of document verification tool before I submit anything.
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Derek Olson
•Definitely worth it. The stress of rejected filings and tight deadlines isn't worth saving a few bucks on verification.
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Danielle Mays
•I've been using Certana for about six months now. Upload your original UCC-1 and new filing, and it instantly shows any mismatches. Caught three potential rejections for me already.
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Roger Romero
Update us when you get the corrected filing approved! Always curious to hear how these Tennessee name-matching issues get resolved.
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Miguel Harvey
•Will do. Planning to refile tomorrow morning with the exact name from the original UCC-1 record.
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Anna Kerber
•Good luck! Tennessee's system is frustrating but at least it's consistent in its pickiness.
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Niko Ramsey
•Fingers crossed for a quick approval. These name mismatch rejections are the worst part of UCC practice.
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