UCC transmitting utility portal keeps timing out during bulk filings

Good advice about the smaller batches. I learned this the hard way when I lost a whole batch of amendment filings and had to start over.

Yeah the timing thing is huge. I always do my bulk UCC work before 7am now because the system is so much more stable.

I'm in Texas. Haven't seen any maintenance notices but that doesn't mean much. Calling them is probably a good idea - I just hate the thought of having to print and mail 15 UCC-3 forms if I can avoid it.

Texas SOS has been having issues for weeks. My colleague mentioned the same timeout problems with their transmitting utility. Definitely call them.

How does that help with the portal timing out though? Sounds like the problem is the state's system not the document accuracy.

Fair point - it doesn't fix the timeout issue. But it does mean when you finally do get through, everything processes correctly the first time instead of getting rejected for name mismatches or missing info.

Actually that's really smart. Nothing worse than waiting hours for a portal to work only to have your filings bounce back for stupid errors.

Same experience here. Individual UCC-3 filings are working fine but anything bulk just dies.

Have you tried using the alternative transmission methods? Some states let you email encrypted files directly to the filing office.

That's actually brilliant. Never thought to document the technical failures but you're right about the deadline liability.

Screenshots are good but also try to get email confirmations of any phone calls you make to the SOS office about the issues.

I always save the error messages too. Sometimes they have timestamps that prove when you attempted to file.

Which services would you recommend? I've heard mixed things about the third-party UCC filers.

CT Corporation and CSC are the big ones but they're expensive. For occasional bulk filings the state portal is usually fine when it's working properly.

Yes! The PDF requirements seem to have gotten stricter. I had to redo a bunch of continuation forms because the font size was apparently too small.

This is where something like Certana.ai would actually be helpful - it checks document formatting compliance before you even attempt to file. Would save you from finding out about format issues after waiting through the portal problems.

The formatting thing is so annoying. They should have clearer guidelines posted instead of just rejecting things randomly.

Thanks for the update! At least now we know it's not just us. One by one it is then.

Did they say anything about extending deadlines since it's their system causing the delays?

They said individual filings count as timely as long as you submit before the deadline, so no extension needed. Just have to do the extra work of filing separately.

Good to know! I'll try the early morning approach. Thanks for testing it out.

6am filings are the way to go. I've been doing this for years and that time slot almost never has issues.

Awesome! Glad you got them all through before your deadline. The early morning trick really does work.

Great news! Now you can relax knowing all those liens are properly continued for another 5 years.

This whole thread has been super helpful. I have some UCC filings coming up next month and now I know to plan around the portal issues.