I know this isn't a C34 issue, but I just wanted to alert as many people as possible.
I got a letter a week or so ago from, I thought was the Coast Guard alerting me that my documentation renewal was due. Gave me a website to go to, again I thought was the CG. The fee was $75. What happened to the $26 I paid last year? I just assumed it went up.
After paying the $75, I found out it was a documentation service, not the CG.
Anyway, beware of this renewal letter as the company who sent it out went as far as legally possible to fool people it came from the CG.
Save yourself $49 and only deal directly with the CG. Tell everyone you know who has documented boats.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f106/fake-uscg-registration-site-robbing-75-from-cruisers-181938.html (http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f106/fake-uscg-registration-site-robbing-75-from-cruisers-181938.html)
All : You can always go to the USCG in (the "Deep Water Port" :roll:) Falling Waters, WV and change the annual documentation renewal date to a date that is more convenient to you.
A thought
More
http://www.boatus.com/pressroom/release.asp?id=1280#.WOeFxWeVvVJ
*Grumble Grumble Grumble*
:? I'm usually good a spotting these and this one got me. Time for a new credit card....
Bah hum bug - thanks for the FYI.
I received the same letter. Did not pay it as I was out of town. My renewal comes by mail and it arrived while I was gone. Sometimes you just get lucky.
Paul
I hang my head in shame. They got me. I used their website to do my paperwork. It was stupid expensive (I know now) but not having done it before, I didn't know any better. I can't believe I didn't catch on but I didn't.
I'll call the credit card company and see if it's too late to reverse the charges and start over again with the real USCG.
FWIW, they did send the paperwork in. The *real* USCG just verified that it was processed and had been mailed back to them two days ago. Once I get that in the mail, it will be good for 1 year.
Now all that's left is to talk to them about cancelling the "renewal" service that they sold me. I went ahead and paid for 5 years and they apparently will do the paperwork for me, at quite a profit.
Chick,
First of all...... $26 last year..... for what?
Quote from: chuck53 on April 02, 2017, 07:47:41 AM
The fee was $75. What happened to the $26 I paid last year? I just assumed it went up.
ken
Quote from: KWKloeber on April 07, 2017, 01:08:40 PM
Chick,
First of all...... $26 last year..... for what?
Quote from: chuck53 on April 02, 2017, 07:47:41 AM
The fee was $75. What happened to the $26 I paid last year? I just assumed it went up.
ken
My boat is Coast Guard Documented, not state registered. Yearly renewal from the Coast Guard is $26, or $75 if you fall for this scam.
Quote from: rmbrown on April 07, 2017, 12:12:59 PM
FWIW, they did send the paperwork in. The *real* USCG just verified that it was processed and had been mailed back to them two days ago. Once I get that in the mail, it will be good for 1 year.
Now all that's left is to talk to them about cancelling the "renewal" service that they sold me. I went ahead and paid for 5 years and they apparently will do the paperwork for me, at quite a profit.
Let us know how that goes. Did you pay all 5 years upfront? If so, I hate to say, you can probably kiss that money goodbye.
They did send me my renewal so they did what they promised, just charged way too much for it.
I did pay all 5 years up front, and may not be able to get it back but, since it's for services not yet rendered, I'm hopeful that my credit card company will reverse the payment for me. We'll see.
Mike, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and hope you get the $$ back.
This is why I've posted here and other boating forums so this doesn't happen to others as it did to you and me.
FWIW, I got my renewal letter as well, so it is a legit, although unethical service.
Update:
I paid way too much to get my COD after purchasing my boat, but I did receive it. I write that overpayment off to my own mistake of not recognizing the site for what it is.
I got my COD in hand and then emailed the company asking that the portion of my money paid for the 5 years of automatic renewals be refunded as I no longer desired that service. This was the reply.
Dear Managing Owner,
This message is written in response to your cancellation request received today, 2/14/2017 via email. According to your message, you've submitted an application for Transfer/Exchange and Prepaid 5-Year Renewal of Coast Guard Documentation for your vessel "Just Limin'", but have now decided to cancel continuing operations on your file (ie Prepaid Renewal applications), and have requested a full refund for the fees submitted.
Please be advised that, at your request, documentation processors assigned to your file may cease all further operations on your file, enabling you to pursue your documentation directly with the NVDC. However, in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the website that you've already accepted through use, all application and processing fees submitted remain non-refundable.
You can find the pertinent section of the Terms and Conditions below, and them in full using the following link: https://uscgdocumentation.us/terms-and-conditions/
9. Disclaimer
I understand that all of my application and processing fees regarding the submission of my application are nonrefundable.
I understand that in the event I desire to cancel my application, my fees are nonrefundable.
I understand that my application will be processed in the order in which it was received and no exact time frame regarding my application can be given as every application is unique.
As you can see, according to the Terms and Conditions, all application and processing fees are non-refundable, even in the event of a cancellation. Should you choose to cancel, operations on your file will cease, and your documentation will not be documented into your name as originally intended. Or, if you so choose, you may transfer remaining funds towards other documentation services offered, such as Abstract(s) of Title, future Renewal application(s), or you may continue with your application as originally intended.
That being said, we will await the finalization of your request.
Please advise as to how, or if, you would like to continue.
--
Regards,
Sean Mallos
Billing Department
US Vessel Documentation
Office: (866) 981-8783
Fax: (877) 564-1398
Email: sean@uscgdocumentation.us
Mike, I'm not surprised. These people are slick and have good lawyers. I have already filed a complaint with the BBB and BOAT US and sent an email to the USCG regarding this. BOAT US suggested filing a complaint with the Postal Service and the CG suggests filing a complaint with the FEderal Trade Comm.
If enough people complain, these people will get shut down or at a minimum, have to change their method of business.
Quote from: rmbrown on April 19, 2017, 09:42:57 AM
They did send me my renewal so they did what they promised, just charged way too much for it.
Mike, check your next renewal date. Because this company sends in your request sooner than the CG asks for it, I lost a month of documentation going from 5/31/17 to 4/30/18.
Quote from: chuck53 on April 25, 2017, 08:01:05 AM
Quote from: rmbrown on April 19, 2017, 09:42:57 AM
They did send me my renewal so they did what they promised, just charged way too much for it.
Mike, check your next renewal date. Because this company sends in your request sooner than the CG asks for it, I lost a month of documentation going from 5/31/17 to 4/30/18.
Just to follow up, I'm seeing on other boating forums that a lot of people, like me, have lost a month on their renewal. A few have actually lost 2 months.
Personally, I'm more concerned about being charged 4-5 times as much than losing the month or two, but maybe that's the loophole needed to get the credit card company to reverse the charges since they aren't holding up their part of the (bad) bargain?
They get the renewals from the CG information, and then get to owners early to sign them up before they realize the CG notice. That's why you lose a month or two every year.
Yep there's scumbags everywhere, but caveat emptor. Yeah, it's a bad bargain, but so are a lot of other marine parasites out there that charge more than list price for what you can buy it from s dealer or (already overpriced) manufacture with no discount.
Mike did they already charge you for all years or is it a year-by-year,?
If you're by year, cancel the credit card number and get a new Number.
Mike
How do you get around this with the cc company? Is there something in the agreement that says they can't renew earlier than your date? Guarantee this is not their first rodeo. Not an attorney, but I know in some states you have like five days to cancel a contract, maybe there's a l federal provision for cc companies?
application will be processed in the order in which it was received and no exact time frame regarding my application can be given as every application is unique.
Guys : I found the following in our sailing group news:
One of our members reported this to me....
He was recently scammed by a documentation service that sent out a reminder that my document expiration was coming up and to apply by Internet for $75.00
He discovered the scam several days later when the real reminder was sent from the United States Coast Guard in Falling Waters, WV. The scammers have all of his information, name, address, boat name, document number and expiration date. He will get the renewed document but at three times the cost!
The scammer is
U.S. Vessel Documentation
Morgantown, WV
He goggled their address and found them in a shopping center in Morgantown. Their real address is somewhere in California, as that is where it was post marked. They have an elaborate web site with full documentation services but they are a third party transactor.
They very cleverly disguise themselves with a web site www.uscgdocumentation.us and the fake West Virginia address. The Coast Guard knows all about it but apparently can do nothing about it.
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>----------------<<
You have received this message as a member of: Chesapeake Bay Grand Banks Owner's Association, Inc Change preferences (including opt-out): https://CBGBOA.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=13&club_id=584675
It does seem the CG can't do much about these scammers, however....
I have read some posts where boaters complained to VISA and did get their money back. The more people who complain to VISA, the better. Also complaints to the postal service and the FTC won't hurt either.
The CG has put out an advisory on this warning people of this scam. They can't stop it, but they are alerting people to only use the CG website to renew.
https://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg545/alerts/Adv0117.pdf
Couldn't get the link to work but found it here:
http://www.usmsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Adv0117.pdf (http://www.usmsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Adv0117.pdf)
Painful update... I called my credit card company (Chase) to get a progress report. They hadn't received the paperwork... thanks US Mail... so I resent it. They said they'd be in touch in a few days. They were, true to their word, but they just called to tell me that too much time had passed since the transaction and so would not dispute the charge.
That said, I got what I paid (way too much) for for year one but, in spite of the fact that they haven't yet performed the renewal for the next five years yet, they won't refund my money and the credit card company won't, or can't, help.
I guess it remains to be seen whether they will do my renewal this year. If they fail to do that, I'll contact the credit card company again. Otherwise, I'll just have paid 5 times too much for 5 years of renewals.
If anyone can suggest a perfectly legal and above board next move, I'm all ears.
I got mine in the mail today. Thanks for the heads up. Will use the paper to start the fire pit tonight.
Alert. The same scoundrels are at it again. Just received it in the mail today.
Paulus
I'm thinking this one should be sticky at the top of the list.
Quote from: rmbrown on March 12, 2018, 04:43:52 PM
I'm thinking this one should be sticky at the top of the list.
Can't always be at the very top, but will make it one for a while.
Just a friendly bump to this sticky for those who may not have seen it.
Amen. It's not that they'll take your money and not deliver. They do the work... it's just that they charge 5 times as much as it would cost you to do it yourself!