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Update us when you figure out the right format! This thread will help other people dealing with the same special character issues.
Yes please! I bookmark these threads for future reference when I run into similar problems.
Will definitely post the solution once we get it accepted. This has been way more complicated than it should be.
Lilly Curtis
The UCC system inconsistencies between states drive me crazy. What works in one jurisdiction fails in another, even for identical business names.
Lindsey Fry
•At least most states use the same basic forms now. Remember when every state had completely different UCC-1 layouts?
Lilly Curtis
•True, the standardization helped a lot. But the electronic systems still have their own personality disorders.
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This might be a stupid question but are you sure you're using the current UCC-3 form? Some states updated their forms in 2024 and the old versions get automatically rejected. Check the state SOS website for the most recent form version.
Form versions are a nightmare. I've had filings rejected because I used a form that was only 6 months old but technically superseded. Always check the revision date.
States really need to do better with their error messages. '501 - form deficient' tells you nothing useful when there could be 20 different reasons for rejection.
Emma Davis
UPDATE: Got it figured out! It was a combination of issues - I was using the wrong debtor name format in the amendment field (needed to match the original exactly), plus I had inadvertently modified the collateral description. Used Certana.ai to verify the documents before resubmitting and it caught both problems immediately. Amendment was accepted within 2 hours. Thanks everyone for the help, especially the suggestion about the document verification tool.
Awesome that Certana worked for you too! It's honestly become essential for my UCC filings. Catches all those little details that are easy to miss when you're rushing.
Great outcome. Now you know for next time - always match the original filing exactly and only change what you're specifically amending. UCC-3 forms are very literal.
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this thread is making me paranoid about my own vehicle UCCs now... gonna go double check all my filings match the titles exactly
Miguel Diaz
•Better safe than sorry! A lot of people don't realize how picky the system is about exact name matches.
Zainab Ahmed
Update us when you get the filings approved! Always curious to see how these situations resolve. Vehicle UCC issues seem to be getting more common with electronic filing systems being so strict about formatting.
Good luck! The Certana verification should give you confidence that you've got all the name variations covered correctly this time.
Electronic systems are definitely more picky than the old paper filings. But they also catch errors that used to slip through.
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Delaware SOS is actually pretty responsive if you call directly. I've had to contact them about UCC filing removal issues before and they can tell you immediately if there are any pending terminations or if rejections occurred. Don't waste more time going through the lender - call Delaware UCC office directly at 302-739-3073 and give them your file number.
They're usually helpful and can explain exactly what happened with any filing attempts. Much more straightforward than dealing with bank runaround.
Agreed, sometimes going direct to the source is the fastest way to get answers about UCC filing removal problems.
Update us when you figure this out! I'm dealing with a similar UCC filing removal situation in Pennsylvania and wondering if it's the same type of issue. These lenders really need to get their act together on post-payoff procedures.
Will definitely post an update once I get this resolved. Hopefully it's just a simple filing error that can be fixed quickly.
StarSurfer
•Following this thread too. Having UCC liens showing up when they should be terminated is such a common problem - there should be better oversight.
Omar Hassan
Also remember that continuation statements might affect what shows up in searches. If you're looking at older filings, make sure they haven't lapsed due to missed continuation deadlines. NJ will still show lapsed filings in search results sometimes, but they're not effective.
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Omar Hassan
•Yeah, it's easy to see a UCC-1 from 2019 and assume it's still active, but if they didn't file a continuation by 2024, it's lapsed.
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Chloe Robinson
•This is why I always note the filing dates and do the math on continuation deadlines. Can't trust the system to flag lapsed filings clearly.
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Diego Chavez
One more tip - if you're doing this search as part of due diligence for a loan, document everything. Print or save screenshots of your search results, including negative results. If there's ever a question later about whether you did a proper search, you'll want that documentation.
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Diego Chavez
•No problem. UCC searches can be tricky but if you're thorough and check multiple name variations, you should catch everything important.
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Emma Thompson
•And if you do end up trying Certana.ai, it automatically generates documentation of the verification process, which is helpful for your due diligence files.
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