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Been there! Puerto Rico name searches can be a nightmare. Last year I missed an existing filing because of a single character difference in the corporate name. Cost us major headaches with the lender.
Exactly why I'm extra careful now with PR searches. I do comprehensive searches with every possible name variation I can think of.
This is where document verification tools like Certana.ai really shine. Upload your docs and it automatically catches those single character differences that are easy to miss manually.
I've run into this exact issue with Puerto Rico UCC searches! The problem is definitely the character encoding and name formatting. What I've learned is that their system sometimes stores names differently than how they appear on the corporate documents. Try searching with common abbreviations too - like if the name has "Compañía" try searching "Cia" as well. Also, make sure you're checking both active and lapsed filings since sometimes the search filters can hide results. The PR system has gotten better but it's still not as reliable as mainland searches. Document everything you tried so if issues come up later you can show due diligence in your search process.
This is incredibly helpful! I hadn't thought about searching abbreviations like "Cia" for "Compañía" - that's a great tip. You're absolutely right about documenting the search process for due diligence purposes. I'm definitely going to try the abbreviated versions and make sure I'm including lapsed filings in my search parameters. It's reassuring to know others have dealt with this same frustration. The character encoding issues seem to be a persistent problem with their system.
One more thing to consider - some states have specific requirements for MCA UCC filings, especially around the collateral description. Make sure you're compliant with your filing state's rules about describing future receivables.
This thread is really helpful - dealing with similar issues regularly. One thing I'd add is to always get a certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation directly from the Secretary of State before filing, especially for MCA deals. I've had situations where clients provided outdated formation documents that had the wrong entity name format, and it cost us a rejection and valuable time. The $10-20 for a certified copy is worth avoiding the headache, particularly when you're dealing with tight MCA funding deadlines.
One more thought - make sure you have good documentation of the filing timestamp and any communications with the state office about processing delays. Bankruptcy courts like to see a clear timeline of events. Your filing receipt should show the exact time and date of submission, which establishes your 9-308(e) perfection moment.
Just wanted to follow up on this thread since I've handled several 9-308(e) perfection timing disputes. The consensus here is absolutely correct - your Tuesday filing date controls for perfection purposes, not when the state office processed it. I've seen bankruptcy trustees make this exact argument dozens of times and they virtually never succeed unless there were actual substantive errors in the original filing. The two-day processing delay is irrelevant under 9-308(e). Your $850K equipment financing should be secure as long as your UCC-1 was complete and accurate when submitted. Courts consistently interpret "when all applicable requirements are satisfied" to mean the moment of proper filing, not administrative processing. Keep your filing receipt and timestamp - that's your proof of perfection date.
Update us on how this resolves! I'm dealing with a similar situation with deposit account control and curious whether you get the banks to cooperate or end up having to restructure the deal.
I've seen this exact scenario play out multiple times, and the key is persistence with the right people at each bank. Most commercial bankers don't understand the difference between their standard account control language and what's actually required for UCC 9-104 control. You need to get to someone who understands that the control agreement must give you the unilateral right to direct disposition of funds without any further consent from the debtor. I'd recommend preparing a side-by-side comparison showing their standard language versus the required 9-104 provisions - it makes the gaps crystal clear. Also, don't accept any agreement that has carve-outs or exceptions that would require debtor consent for fund transfers. With a $2.8M facility, you can't afford to have control that's only theoretical.
This is really helpful - the side-by-side comparison idea is brilliant. I've been struggling to explain to banks why their forms don't work, but showing them visually what's missing would probably be much more effective. Do you have a template for that kind of comparison, or do you just create it case by case? With multiple banks involved like Jasmine's situation, having a standard format could save a lot of time.
Giovanni Martello
Update us when you get answers from the states! This is exactly the kind of institutional knowledge that gets lost over time. Having a clear answer about what UCC-108 was will help anyone else dealing with similar portfolio documentation.
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Brady Clean
•Definitely will update. This seems like information that should be documented somewhere accessible for future reference.
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Giovanni Martello
•Agreed. Maybe we should start a historical UCC form reference thread for this kind of information.
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Malik Thomas
This is fascinating - I'm actually working on a similar historical UCC research project right now. Based on what I've seen in my files, UCC-108 appears most commonly in contexts where there were multiple secured party changes or complex assignment chains. I wonder if it was specifically used for assignment documents where the original filing had already been continued or amended multiple times? The timing you mentioned (early 2000s) aligns with when many states were transitioning their systems, so there might have been temporary form designations during that conversion period. Have you noticed if the UCC-108 references always appear alongside assignment language or secured party changes?
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