Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
Bottom line: file ASAP but file correctly. I'd rather see someone take an extra few days to verify everything is perfect than rush and make mistakes. A rejected UCC-1 is worse than a slightly delayed one.
Thanks everyone. Going to double-check everything tomorrow and file by end of week. Feel much better about the timeline now.
Smart approach. That verification tool I mentioned earlier really does help catch issues before filing if you want to check it out.
For equipment financing in Ohio, you generally want to file within 10-15 business days of closing to be safe. The key is balancing speed with accuracy - rushing and making errors can invalidate your security interest entirely. Since your loan docs say "promptly file," I'd interpret that as within 2 weeks maximum. Make sure to verify the debtor name exactly matches your Secretary of State records before submitting. With a $180K loan, it's worth taking an extra day or two to triple-check everything rather than risk a rejection that could cost you your priority position.
This is really helpful advice, especially about the 2-week timeframe for "promptly file." I'm new to UCC filings and wasn't sure how to interpret that language. One quick question - you mentioned verifying the debtor name against Secretary of State records. Is there a specific way to search for this, or do I just look up the company on the Ohio SOS website? Want to make sure I'm checking the right database before I file.
Join the conversation
I'm new to this community but this thread has been incredibly helpful as I'm facing a nearly identical situation! We had Sunrun panels removed 6 weeks ago after paying off the loan, and they keep telling me "someone will get back to you" about the UCC termination. Reading all the advice here about UCC §9-513 and §9-625, executive escalation, and getting the title company involved has given me a clear action plan. The name matching issue is particularly concerning - our original UCC-1 shows our business name with "Co." instead of "Company" which could definitely cause problems. I'm going to do a UCC search tomorrow to confirm the exact debtor name, then send Sunrun a certified letter with a 15-day deadline referencing their legal obligations. Has anyone here dealt specifically with Sunrun's executive escalation process? I'm wondering if they have a dedicated UCC compliance department or if I should go straight to their legal team. Also planning to loop in our title company since we're looking to sell next quarter - better to get ahead of this now rather than have it become a closing issue later.
Welcome to the community! Your situation sounds frustratingly familiar - Sunrun seems to be just as bad as the other solar companies when it comes to UCC cleanup. The "Co." vs "Company" name variation you mentioned is exactly the type of issue that will cause a rejection, so you're smart to get ahead of it with the UCC search. For Sunrun's executive escalation, try searching their website for "executive customer relations" or call their main corporate line and ask specifically for "executive escalations" or "C-suite customer service." You can also try reaching out on LinkedIn to their VP of Customer Experience or similar executives - sometimes a professional message outlining the UCC compliance issue and referencing the specific code sections gets faster attention than going through normal channels. The 15-day deadline sounds reasonable given your timeline. Definitely get that title company involved early - they have much more leverage with these solar companies than individual property owners, and since you're planning to sell next quarter, having this resolved now will save you major headaches at closing. Document everything in case you need to escalate to regulatory complaints later!
I'm new to this community but going through something very similar right now! We removed our SunPower system 4 weeks ago and they're giving me the exact same runaround about the UCC termination. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about UCC §9-513 and the potential for statutory damages under §9-625. The name matching issue everyone's discussing is really concerning me too since our original filing shows slight variations in how our LLC name is formatted. I'm definitely going to do a UCC search immediately and then try the executive escalation approach with specific legal code references. The advice about getting the title company involved proactively is brilliant - I was planning to wait until we actually needed to refinance but it makes total sense to get them engaged now while there's still time to resolve any issues. Has anyone had experience with SunPower specifically on UCC terminations? Their customer service structure seems particularly disorganized and I'm wondering if they have any known escalation paths that work better than others.
Welcome to the community! I haven't dealt with SunPower specifically, but from what I've seen with other solar companies, the executive escalation approach tends to work across the board. For SunPower, try searching for "SunPower executive customer service" or "SunPower president office" on their website. You can also call their main corporate line and ask to be transferred to "executive escalations" - be specific about UCC compliance issues and mention UCC §9-513. The LinkedIn approach often works well too - find their VP of Customer Relations or similar executive and send a professional message referencing your UCC termination issue and the legal requirements. The key is being specific about the code sections and your timeline. Since you mentioned the name formatting variations, definitely prioritize that UCC search to see exactly how your LLC appears on file. And yes, getting your title company involved early is smart - they have established relationships and can often cut through the customer service maze much faster than individual property owners.
Join the conversation
Update on my situation - we ended up consulting with a local real estate attorney who confirmed we needed fixture filings due to the permanent nature of the installation. Filed in the county recorder's office where the property is located. Used Certana.ai one more time to verify our final documents before submission - caught a typo in the legal description that could have caused problems. Everything went smoothly and the lender is satisfied with the perfection. Thanks everyone for the guidance!
Smart move getting local legal advice. Fixture filing rules can be very state-specific.
Thanks for the update. This thread will help others dealing with similar equipment financing situations.
This is a great discussion thread - really helpful for someone new to fixture filings! I'm working on a similar situation with medical equipment being installed in a leased clinic space. The equipment will be bolted down and hardwired, but it's specialized and could theoretically be moved to another location. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the "intention of the parties" factor is key - if we intend for the equipment to be removable at lease end, does that weigh against it being considered a fixture? Also, does anyone know if there are different rules for medical equipment versus manufacturing equipment when it comes to fixture determinations?
The medical equipment context is really important here! I've seen cases where MRI machines and CT scanners were considered personal property despite being permanently installed because they were clearly intended to serve the medical practice, not enhance the real estate. Your lease language will be crucial - if it specifically states that medical equipment remains tenant property and must be removed at lease end, that's strong evidence against fixture classification. Also consider whether the equipment increases the property value for general use or only for medical purposes. Equipment that only benefits specialized users tends to stay personal property. The dual filing approach is definitely smart for medical equipment financing.
This is such valuable insight about medical equipment! I'm curious - when you mention that MRI machines stayed personal property despite permanent installation, was that because of specific lease language or court decisions? For my situation with the packaging equipment mentioned in the original post, it sounds like medical equipment might actually have better arguments for avoiding fixture classification than manufacturing equipment. The specialized nature and limited utility to other users seems like a strong factor. Has anyone seen cases where the lender's intended use of the collateral (like requiring removal for resale) influenced the fixture determination? I'm wondering if documenting the equipment's resale market and portability could help support personal property classification.
Join the conversation
Update for anyone still following - tried the Certana.ai tool someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked great. Uploaded the UCC docs from my current deals and it flagged two name inconsistencies I would have missed. Definitely worth using for double-checking your due diligence work.
Thanks for the follow-up! Always helpful when people report back on whether the suggestions actually worked.
Just tried Certana.ai myself after seeing all the mentions in this thread - really impressed with how quickly it caught discrepancies I completely missed doing manual searches. The name matching alone saved me hours of back-and-forth with the CA portal. Definitely becoming part of my standard workflow now.
This is exactly the kind of real-world problem solving I love seeing in this community! The CA UCC portal has been a nightmare for so many of us, but between the search strategy tips and the verification tools people have shared, I feel like I finally have a solid game plan. Going to bookmark this thread as my go-to reference for UCC searches. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually works instead of just complaining about the system!
Luca Russo
Don't forget about fixture filings if any of your UCC-1s are filed in the real estate records. Those assignment procedures might be different from regular UCC-3 assignments filed with the Secretary of State. You'll need to check with the county recorder's office for their specific requirements.
0 coins
Paolo Marino
•We do have about 15 fixture filings in our portfolio. I didn't even think about those having different assignment procedures. Thanks for the heads up!
0 coins
Amina Bah
•Fixture filing assignments can be tricky because they're governed by both UCC rules and local recording requirements. Definitely worth double-checking the procedures with each county.
0 coins
Victoria Stark
As someone new to UCC administration, this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm currently working on a smaller assignment project (about 25 filings) and I'm wondering about the typical cost structure for UCC-3 assignments. Are there any standard filing fees I should budget for, and do most states charge per assignment or have bulk discount options? Also, for those who mentioned using electronic filing systems - are there any states that still require paper filings for assignments? I want to make sure I'm not caught off guard by any unexpected requirements or costs during our process.
0 coins
Kylo Ren
•Great questions! Filing fees vary by state but typically range from $10-25 per UCC-3 assignment. Most states don't offer bulk discounts unfortunately - you pay per filing. For 25 assignments, budget around $250-625 in filing fees. Almost all states now accept electronic filings for UCC-3 assignments, which is much faster than paper. I think only a few counties in rural areas still require paper for fixture filings. Check your Secretary of State website - they usually have a fee schedule and filing options listed. Electronic filing also gives you instant confirmation numbers which is helpful for tracking.
0 coins
Micah Trail
•Welcome to UCC administration! @edb4720500e7 covered the basics well. One additional tip for your 25 filings - create a simple tracking spreadsheet before you start with columns for original filing number, debtor name, assignment filing date, and confirmation number. This will save you headaches later when you need to provide documentation. Also, if you're working with fixture filings, call the county recorder's office ahead of time to confirm their assignment procedures. Some counties have specific forms or additional documentation requirements beyond the standard UCC-3. Good luck with your project!
0 coins