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Update: New UCC-1 with Tesla Inc was accepted! Thanks everyone for the quick help. The Certana tool suggestion was really helpful too - going to use that for our next batch of filings to avoid these name issues.
Great news! Tesla Inc filings usually go through smoothly once you have the name right.
Finally some good news on UCC filings. These name issues are such a pain.
This is such a common issue with corporate name changes! I've been burned by this before with other entities. For future Tesla deals, I always double-check that the borrower entity matches exactly with what's on their current Delaware Secretary of State filing. Pro tip: Tesla's subsidiaries can be tricky too - make sure you're not accidentally using Tesla Energy Operations Inc or Tesla Motors Netherlands BV if you're dealing with their main US operations. The $2.8M facility size definitely justifies expedited filing fees to minimize the perfection gap. Glad you got it sorted!
Update us when you get it filed! Always interested to hear how equipment financings go. The $180K amount suggests this is a substantial piece of machinery - make sure your lien captures any accessories or attachments that might be added later.
Will do! Thanks everyone for the guidance. This has been incredibly helpful for getting my first UCC-1 right.
As someone new to UCC filings, this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm curious about the timing aspect - how far in advance of funding should the UCC-1 be filed? And is there a grace period if you discover an error after filing, or do you need to file an amendment immediately? The emphasis on name accuracy has me wondering if there are any other common pitfalls that cause rejections beyond the debtor name issues mentioned here.
One more tool that might help - try searching the Colorado Secretary of State's general entity search first to see all the different names and variations the company has used in their corporate filings. Sometimes companies amend their names or have multiple related entities with similar names. This can give you a comprehensive list of name variations to search in the UCC database.
Great suggestion! I hadn't thought to cross-reference the entity database with UCC searches. That should help me build a complete list of all possible name variations to search.
Also check if the company has any subsidiaries or related entities. Sometimes parent companies guarantee subsidiary debt and the UCC filings might be under different but related entity names.
This thread is incredibly helpful - I'm dealing with a similar issue in Texas and it sounds like most state UCC systems have these same name variation problems. One additional strategy I've found useful is to also search for any parent company or holding company names if the target is part of a larger corporate structure. Sometimes the UCC filings are under the parent entity name even when the subsidiary is the actual debtor. Also, if you're working with a tight deadline, consider hiring a professional UCC search company that specializes in Colorado filings - they usually have proprietary databases and search techniques that can catch variations you might miss. The cost is usually worth it for high-stakes M&A deals where missing a lien could be catastrophic.
This is exactly the kind of comprehensive approach I needed to hear about. The point about parent company names is particularly relevant - the target company is actually a subsidiary of a larger holding company, so I should definitely be searching under both entity names. The professional UCC search company suggestion makes a lot of sense too given the stakes involved. Do you have any recommendations for reputable Colorado UCC search firms, or should I just look for ones that specialize in multi-state searches?
Don't stress too much - UCC searches are routine and most come back clean or with easily resolved issues. The key is getting started immediately and staying in close communication with your lender about any findings. They deal with this stuff daily and usually have processes to handle common problems quickly.
Good luck! Remember to get multiple copies of the search report - you'll probably need them for your attorney, accountant, and future lenders.
Also keep in mind that once you close this loan, your new UCC-1 filing will show up on future searches. It's all part of building your business credit history.
I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago with a $150k equipment loan. The UCC search came back showing an old line of credit that we thought was closed but the bank never filed the termination. Here's what saved us time: I immediately called the original lender's UCC department (not just customer service) and explained we needed an urgent UCC-3 termination for a pending closing. They were able to file it electronically the same day. Also, consider asking your current lender if they can order the search themselves - they often have relationships with search companies that can turn things around faster than if you order it directly. Most importantly, don't wait until you get the written report to start addressing any issues that come up.
This is incredibly helpful advice! I didn't know there were specific UCC departments at banks - that could be a game changer if we run into any issues. Quick question: when you called the UCC department, did you need to provide any specific documentation to prove the debt was paid off, or were they able to verify it in their system? I want to be prepared in case we encounter something similar.
Malik Thomas
One more thing to consider - if this is a commercial vehicle make sure you're filing in the right state. Some companies are incorporated in Delaware but operate vehicles in other states and that can affect where you need to file the UCC.
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Isabella Oliveira
•Yeah definitely verify the debtor's state of organization. That determines where you file, not where the vehicle is located.
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Ravi Kapoor
•This is another thing that document verification tool would catch - it checks jurisdiction requirements along with everything else.
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Connor Byrne
I've been handling UCC filings for about 8 years now and you're definitely on the right track keeping it simple. For your collateral description, just go with "2024 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup truck, VIN 1ABCD23E4FG567890" - that's all you need. The existing lien doesn't need to be mentioned in your description at all. What matters most is getting the debtor name exactly as it appears on your security agreement. I've seen too many filings get rejected or challenged later because of small name variations. Also make sure you're filing in the correct state based on where the debtor entity was formed, not where the vehicle is located. The priority between liens will be determined by filing dates, so focus on getting yours filed correctly rather than worrying about the other lender's paperwork.
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