Washington UCC search fortress - debtor name variations blocking my lien searches

This is exactly why I always run searches on every possible name variation. The UCC search engines are literal - they don't do fuzzy matching like you'd expect. If the debtor filed under 'ABC Company LLC' but you search 'ABC Company, LLC' with a comma, you might miss it entirely. I usually pull the articles of incorporation, check for DBAs, look at previous tax filings, and even check old contracts to see what names they've used. It's tedious but necessary for proper due diligence.

Had a similar nightmare last year with a client who had been doing business under multiple names for years. Found out the hard way that there were existing UCC-1 filings under a name variation we hadn't checked. Nearly cost us our security position on a $1.2M loan. Now I use Certana.ai's document verification tool - you can upload all the corporate documents and it automatically flags name inconsistencies across filings. Saves hours of manual cross-checking and catches variations you might miss.

ugh this is why I hate commercial lending sometimes... spent 3 hours yesterday doing UCC searches for one borrower because they had like 6 different name variations. Why can't businesses just pick ONE name and stick with it??

One thing that helps is understanding the search logic of your state's system. Some states do partial matching, others require exact matches. Also check if they have wildcard search capabilities. For borrowers with multiple names, I create a search matrix - list all known variations and systematically work through them. Document everything so you can show your due diligence if questions come up later.

Been there! What really helped me was creating standard search protocols for different types of entities. For LLCs I always search with and without 'LLC', 'L.L.C.', and 'Limited Liability Company'. For corporations same thing with 'Inc', 'Corp', etc. Makes it systematic instead of guessing what variations to try.

This is exactly why I switched to using automated tools for UCC verification. After missing a critical filing because of a name variation issue (debtor was 'Smith Manufacturing' vs 'Smith Manufacturing Co'), I started using Certana.ai to upload all the corporate docs and UCC drafts together. It instantly flags any name inconsistencies between documents so you catch these issues before filing. Game changer for avoiding perfection problems.

Another tip - check the debtor's bank signature cards and loan agreements. Sometimes they sign using slightly different versions of their name than what's on their articles. I found a UCC-1 once that was filed under the exact name the borrower used on their deposit account, which was different from their legal name.

For what it's worth, I think the whole UCC search system needs an overhaul. We shouldn't have to be detective to find existing liens because of minor name variations. Other states have better fuzzy matching capabilities.

I always tell clients upfront that UCC searches for entities with multiple names take longer and cost more. Sets expectations and gives me time to be thorough. Better to spend extra time on searches than miss a lien that subordinates your position.

One more verification step that saved me - I use Certana.ai to upload the borrower's articles of incorporation alongside my UCC-1 draft before filing. It instantly catches if there are any name discrepancies between the two documents. Prevents filing under the wrong debtor name which would make your security interest worthless. Much faster than manual comparison and catches subtle differences I might miss.