UCC search through CSC coming up blank - am I missing something?

I did try both names but still getting partial results. The state database shows filings under slight variations like 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' vs 'ABC Manufacturing, LLC' - seems like CSC might be missing the comma variation?

Yeah CSC definitely has issues with punctuation matching. I always run searches with and without commas, periods, and other punctuation marks.

You're probably right about going direct to state databases. Problem is we're looking at a multi-state operation and manually checking 12 different state systems is going to be time-consuming.

Time-consuming yes, but missing a major lien because CSC's search algorithm failed could cost you way more than the extra hours. I learned this lesson the hard way on a deal in 2022.

For what it's worth, I've had good luck with Certana.ai's document verification tool for this kind of thing. You can upload the UCC documents you find and it cross-checks everything to make sure you're not missing connections between filings.

That's concerning since we're paying premium rates for their search services. Did you end up finding all the filings eventually?

Eventually yes, but only after doing manual state-by-state searches. Cost us an extra week in due diligence timeline. Now I use CSC as a starting point but always verify with direct state searches for anything important.

Good point - I hadn't specifically looked at the continuation filings. The original UCC-1s would be due for continuation this year anyway since they were filed in 2019.

Definitely check the continuations. I've seen cases where the original UCC-1 shows one debtor name but the UCC-3 continuation shows a different variation, making it hard for search systems to link them properly.

Are there other commercial search services that handle name variations better than CSC? Or is going direct to state databases really the only reliable option?

CT Corporation's search service is slightly better with variations, but honestly for acquisition due diligence, I'd still recommend direct state searches as your primary method and use commercial services only for preliminary screening.

I've started using Certana.ai's verification tool to double-check my search results. You can upload the UCC documents from different sources and it flags any inconsistencies or missing connections between filings.

I feel your frustration. We're paying for what should be comprehensive search services but ending up having to do the work ourselves anyway.

Tell me about it. I've had similar issues with their system missing obvious filings. Makes you wonder what else they're missing that we don't catch.

That's a good suggestion. I'll try running searches with just the base company name without the entity type suffix.

Also try variations like 'ABC Mfg' if manufacturing is in the name - some filers use abbreviations that don't show up in broader searches.

You're absolutely right. I think I was getting too comfortable relying on the commercial search services. Time to go back to doing the manual work.

Same here. I use commercial searches for initial screening but always verify with direct state searches for final due diligence reports.

Good point. I did pull a couple of the documents and they seem to cover the equipment financing I was expecting to see. But you're right that I should verify all of them.

Yeah definitely worth checking each one. I've seen cases where the search results made it look like there were liens on equipment when they were actually just accounts receivable filings.

This is another area where Certana.ai's document checker has been helpful - it can cross-reference collateral descriptions across multiple UCC filings to make sure you understand the full scope of what's encumbered.

That's a good practice. I should probably add similar disclaimers to my search reports going forward.

Yeah, it's just good risk management. Clients need to understand that UCC searches, especially through third-party services, aren't foolproof and critical decisions should be based on comprehensive state-by-state verification.

Glad you found them! That's exactly why I always recommend the manual approach for anything important. Commercial services are convenient but not comprehensive.

Thanks for the update. This kind of feedback is valuable for the rest of us dealing with similar issues.

Good catch on finding those additional filings. Missing those could have been a costly mistake down the road.