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Emily Sanjay
Last resort option: you might need to file a UCC-3 amendment first to correct the debtor name to match exactly what's in the charter, then file your continuation. It's an extra step and fee but sometimes it's the only way to get past these formatting roadblocks.
Emily Sanjay
•I believe you have to file the amendment first and wait for it to be accepted before filing the continuation, but definitely confirm that with WV SOS.
Just be super careful with the timing if you go that route - you don't want to run out of time while waiting for the amendment to process.
UPDATE: I finally got it figured out! Turns out there was indeed a formatting difference - the original UCC-1 had 'Mountain Ridge Construction, LLC' (with a comma) but I was filing the continuation as 'Mountain Ridge Construction LLC' (no comma). Such a tiny detail but enough to trigger the rejections. Thanks everyone for the suggestions, especially about checking the actual filed document vs the search results.
Maya Patel
•Perfect example of why document verification tools are so helpful - they catch exactly these kinds of subtle differences that are easy to miss.
Amara Torres
•Congrats on getting it resolved! Now you know for next time to triple-check every comma and period.
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Maryland UCC system is definitely more sensitive than other states I've filed in. But once you get the name format right it usually goes smoothly. The key is being absolutely precise with every character.
So true - I've noticed Maryland and Delaware are both really strict compared to other states.
Omar Hassan
•Each state has its quirks. Maryland wants exact precision while some other states are more forgiving with minor variations.
UPDATE: Finally got it filed! The issue was actually a hidden space character at the end of the company name that wasn't visible when I copied from SDAT. Used the document checker tool mentioned earlier and it caught the invisible character immediately. Third time was the charm - UCC-1 is now properly filed and perfected. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!
NeonNebula
•Congrats on getting it resolved! Your client must be relieved to have the lien properly perfected.
Definitely relieved! And now I know to always check for hidden characters before filing in Maryland. Expensive lesson learned.
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Can someone explain why a fixture filing would be necessary if trade fixtures are definitively personal property under the UCC? Seems like we're overcomplicating this.
But doesn't the UCC specifically address this in the fixture filing provisions?
The UCC provides the framework but state law and specific circumstances can affect the analysis. That's why many lenders err on the side of caution with fixture filings.
Bottom line - for a $350K restaurant equipment loan with permanently installed items, do the fixture filing. The extra cost and paperwork is minimal compared to the potential headaches if you get it wrong. I've seen too many lenders get burned by taking shortcuts on fixture filings.
Mei Chen
•That seems to be the consensus. I'll go with the fixture filing approach and make sure our collateral description is comprehensive.
NightOwl42
•Smart choice. And definitely run your documents through a verification check to make sure everything is consistent before filing.
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Just wanted to add that you should also think about whether any of this equipment might be characterized as inventory if it's being used to process goods for sale. The UCC collateral categories can overlap in manufacturing situations.
Right, but sometimes the line gets blurry. Just wanted to make sure you'd considered all possibilities.
Manufacturing equipment classifications can be tricky. I've seen situations where the same item could be characterized as equipment or inventory depending on the context.
Dylan Fisher
Final thought - make sure your collateral description is specific enough to put third parties on notice of what's covered, but not so specific that it excludes items that should be included. It's a balancing act with UCC collateral categories.
Dylan Fisher
•That sounds like a smart approach. Better safe than sorry with a $485k financing.
Edwards Hugo
•Good luck with the filing! Let us know how it goes.
Joshua Wood
This whole thread is making me nervous about our own UCC compliance. We probably need to do a full audit too but it sounds like a nightmare with all these search inconsistencies.
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Alexis Robinson
•It's not as bad as it sounds if you have the right tools. That Certana service I mentioned earlier made our audit way more manageable.
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Joshua Wood
•I might have to look into that. Manual UCC searches are such a time sink and the margin for error is huge.
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Justin Evans
Final thought - make sure you're also checking for any UCC-3 amendments or assignments that might have changed the debtor information after the original filing. Those could affect what shows up in your CT UCC filing search results and might explain some of the inconsistencies you're seeing.
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Justin Evans
•UCC-3 amendments can definitely change debtor names if there were business restructures or corrections to the original filing. Those would create new searchable records.
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Emily Parker
•This is why I always recommend keeping detailed internal records of all UCC activity rather than relying on state searches for compliance tracking.
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