Documentation Scam

dlochner · Mar 7, 2017

Thanks for the warning about the scam, sorry they got you. You might contact the credit card company to see what they can do. There's also a online fraud site run by the FBI that you can report the scam.

The last authorization bill for the USCG authorized multi-documentation, but I don't believe the regulations are out and the USCG is not doing multi-year documentations.

It is possible to renew online with a credit card at the USCG Doc Center and it will only cost $26 and you get to collect frequent flyer miles or whatever benefit your CC company is offering. Here's the link: Pay.gov - Search Results If you go to this link from here USCG National Vessel Documentation Center, Home Page you get some interesting warnings about the link.

Also, on the USCG Doc Center home page there is an apology of sorts for sending out multiple renewal notices.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Please be advised a processing error occurred and you may have received an additional Application for Renewal, CG-1280 for vessels expiring at the end of March 2017. If you have already received your new Certificate of Documentation which expires March 31, 2018, please disregard the second notice. We are sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

cb32863 · Mar 7, 2017

I asked about the $75 charge, and she said that was for the company that processed my paperwork.

It sounds more like there is a company that is contracted by the USCG to do this processing for them. You can go direct or use the contracted company. Not a scam as scams are illegal. This appears to be sanctioned.

kloudie1 · Mar 7, 2017

Probably more like the "subscription services" that charge 2.5 times as much to "renew" your subscription as the publishing house does.. Not sanctioned by the publisher and legal by the book; still a scam..
Thanks for the heads up, Ron

Captain Larry-DH · Mar 7, 2017

cb32863 said:
I asked about the $75 charge, and she said that was for the company that processed my paperwork.

It sounds more like there is a company that is contracted by the USCG to do this processing for them. You can go direct or use the contracted company. Not a scam as scams are illegal. This appears to be sanctioned.

Doing business as registration service is probably legal. I doubt it is "sanctioned". But IMO it is masquerading as the USCG, but only down at the bottom footer of their web pages they say they're not USCG. I think it looks close enough to be viewed as a scam and fraud. BEWARE.

BigEasy · Mar 8, 2017

Question that I have is why does the Coast Guard make your personal information available to the public? Seems like they are facilitating these "service providers" with the necessary information to rip off unsuspecting boat owners, especially when they send out "official looking" mail.

dlochner · Mar 8, 2017

BigEasy said:
Question that I have is why does the Coast Guard make your personal information available to the public? Seems like they are facilitating these "service providers" with the necessary information to rip off unsuspecting boat owners, especially when they send out "official looking" mail.

It is the Fisheries Division of NOAA that provides the information. Office of Science and Technology

The search engine allows searching by vessel name or by Documentation number. The disclosure is authorized by 46 USC 12119. Read more here: Office of Science and Technology

The primary purpose of documentation is for merchant vessels and the history goes back to the days of sailing ships. In times of war, merchant ships can be pressed into military service and there needed to be a way of identifying them. For recreational boats it is a way to maintain a clean title and not be caught up in title issues when selling the boat across state lines.

Scott T-Bird · Mar 8, 2017

Sorry you got burned by this. I'm a bit confused about your reference to paying for 5 years in advance. Were you expecting to get 5 years for $75 or was this outside service asking for $375 to pay for the 5-year option (which you decided not to do?). It sounds like this scam was at least semi-legit since you did get the renewal, albeit for $75. If they wanted more for the 5 year option, at least you didn't do that! (Looking at it from the glass half full side

). I wonder if they would have honored a 5-year commitment to renewing your documentation.

jibes138 · Mar 8, 2017

IMHO the whole documentation renewal is a scam. You get a title on your car once and pay once for it. The title transfers when you sell the car. Why do you have to pay every year for a boat when nothing has changed? Just another tax. It used to be free so no one cared, now that there is a fee (tax) it seems like no value added for the activity.

Stu Jackson · Mar 8, 2017

From cruisersforum:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f57/beware-misleading-cg-renewal-site-178473.html

cb32863 · Mar 8, 2017

Larry -- DH said:
Doing business as registration service is probably legal. I doubt it is "sanctioned". But IMO it is masquerading as the USCG, but only down at the bottom footer of their web pages they say they're not USCG. I think it looks close enough to be viewed as a scam and fraud. BEWARE.

Then make a call to your Attorney General's office and report it as fraud. Your opinion could then be validated and thereby saving people a gajillion dollars. Better than opining on a forum. Be the hero!!

jssailem · Mar 8, 2017

Nice help Stu.
Last time I dealt with the USCG was 2016. All was very easy. Online payment through WWW.Pay.Gov .
When in doubt call the USCG office. Sometimes a busy office/phone wait, other times a very nice USCG petty officer will answer and offer to help resolve your issues.
Regarding the scammers... Report them to the police as identity theft or fraud. Report their actions to the State Attorney's office. Talk to a lawyer and suggest their "Class Action lawsuit $$$$ windfall has just docked". Or... post the info on social media for boaters and untie the lines - go sailing...
P. T. Barnum is thought to have said "There is a sucker born every minute"...... And if true there will be folks out there who seek to take advantage.

dlochner · Mar 8, 2017

If this is the site Ron went to, it is a deceptive and misleading site. USCG Documentation | US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Services | however, I'm not sure that it rises to the level of a scam. They are pretty clear that the company is a service provider but they do give the illusion that they some special connection with the USCG.

A close reading of their renewal services suggests that they will automatically process your renewal for $75 a year paid up front.

There are legitimate documentation services and when getting a preferred ship's mortgage banks will often require that you use one, much the same as the bank will want a title search and insurance when you buy a house. Given the misleading website, this company is not one that I would recommend. They are looking to take advantage of a false perception that dealing the real USCG Documentation Service is difficult and frustrating. An experience that is completely contrary to my experience with the USCG.

shemandr · Mar 8, 2017

When I bought my 356 we did engage a company to process the documentation and it was encouraged by the finance company and the broker. So I guess I was scammed. It only took one renewal for me to realize there wasn't much to renewals and I started doing it myself. I didn't think the company mis-represented itself. It was Rx'd as a hassle free way to go through the process that you pay for.

Hafa · Mar 8, 2017

Their tactics remind me of those employed by SEO companies that use robots to scan domain registrars, then send "warning" letters of imminent expiration to the domain holder. Marketing by deception and fear, utilizing alarming language, employing key terms from harvested data and aping language used by registrars.

Brokers and finance companies should vet processors and blacklist those that employ deceptive marketing tactics.

Captain Larry-DH · Mar 8, 2017

Stu Jackson said:
From cruisersforum:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f57/beware-misleading-cg-renewal-site-178473.html

Yes that's my post over at CF. I also put one here that same day, but it was before the CSBB cruisers forum was moved over to this format.

Fortyeighter · Mar 9, 2017

Got me too a couple of weeks ago and I am not a happy camper. They are clearly misrepresenting who they are. The sad part is that I KNEW there were scammers out there, but I checked the email address and it was showing USCG, so I figured I was safe. Take a look at the pic attached showing the "imposter" form from the legit homeland security form.
I am continuing to go after them on principle!

Benny17441 · Mar 9, 2017

These are not sanctioned by the USCG or the States DMV Deparments, they are private companies providing an actual service through deceptive advertising. They pay for their web pages to come up first on most searches and then they present their web page with logos and wording which will lead a reasonable person to believe they are at and official web page. They stay legal 1) by providing the service and 2) by claiming their use of logos is to illustrate the service and 3) that it is the customers responsibility to check out the official fees and what they charge for the service. The only protection I have found is to check the name at the bottom of a search to make sure it says "official" and to stay abreast of the official fees to weed out mystery fees. In all likelihood they get away with it because they have likely not been challenged. We all tend to swallow a small loss as a learning experience. The best way to combat them is by word of mouth in posting the deception like you have done.

WayneH · Mar 9, 2017

Just received my renewal notice from the NVDC. They only asked for one year @ $26. No problem, I've done this before. When the www.uscg.mil website asks for $130 for 5 years, I think I'll take them up on it. But not from some fly by night company.

Documentation Scam

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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