Documentation Scam

sailerman123 · Mar 10, 2017

See here for a complete review of this "company"
http://www.augresmaritimemuseum.org/

Their primary fraud is from their website:

"Authorization*

I agree to pay the above total amount according to the card issuer agreement and hereby authorize the charge for the total amount above for the processing of selected USCG documents. I understand that my application will be processed in the order in which it is received by U.S. Vessel Documentation. I understand that application and processing fees are non-refundable as per U.S. Vessel Documentation and as per 46 CFR 67.500(e)"

This is a classic agreement made under false pretense and a fraud. The last sentence is a falsified version of the true 46 CFR 67.500(e)

sailerman123 · Mar 10, 2017

And equally false is the claim that 46 CFR 67.500(e) applies to private companies. It actually covers the consumer operation of the USCG. The no refund only applies to application fees actually submitted to the USCG. It does not apply to processing fess paid to third parties or non government companies.

windward54 · Apr 22, 2017

And add me to the list who fell for this deceptive business practice. I got the letter, and the company, US Vessel Documentation, did a great job mirroring the official USCG notice. I used my smartphone, so the warning that the firm was not affiliated with the USCG didn't pop up until after the send button was hit. I emailed immediately to cancel and followed up the next morning. I was told no problem canceling by the rep who answered. My card was charged the next day.

The only way to stop such practices is for everyone to get involved and file a complaint with the USPS and the FTC. Both agencies have websites that make it easy to file a complaint. Also, according to the State of California, the owner of US Vessel Documentation is John Soria. This person also does vessel surveys in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area. If like me, you don't appreciate the way he does business, don't use him.

C36Galahad · Apr 25, 2017

OK, I hadn't seen any of this, and as I always send the renewal in immediately, I just did it. Now I see I was scammed. I had expected a price increase, but the $75 got me looking into whether or not keeping my boat documented is worth it going forward - that's when I found out about the scam. No luck contacting these jerks yet.
My real concern is whether I should cancel my credit card number - has there been any reports of credit card abuse stemming from this rip-off?
Rob

Blindnavigator · May 4, 2017

Count me among the gullible. After "renewing" for $75, and then receiving the USCG renewal document for $26, I have filed a dispute with my credit card company to refund the charge, and will be contacting my US congressperson, state attorney general, the US attorney's office, and whoever else I need to contact to put these people out of business.

Sefuller · May 8, 2017

Unlike those who got multiple renewal letters, I did not receive a reminder this year, and only discovered it after I was over 30 days past the expiration. I must not have read the CG website carefully enough because after sending in my $26 plus $5 late fee, I got an email explaining that I have to re-instate for an additional fee of $84. Ouch. I will put a reminder in my calendar for future years so I am not relying on the reminder which may or may not come.

Justin_NSA · May 8, 2017

There's no break on paying ahead $130 for 5 years. Less worry I suppose. What if you sell her will they reimburse the unused years?

WayneH · May 8, 2017

I just received this from the USCG.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/1992e12?reqfrom=share

When I received my renewal notice from the Coast Guard, there was no mention of a 5 year renewal so I only renewed for one year.

Roland5048 · May 8, 2017

I, also, received that scam letter. A month later the renewal form from USCG came in the mail as usual. $26.00.

Solstice · May 9, 2017

I'm not going to try to justify my stupidity, but I smelled a rat after I hit submit (vaguely recalling this thread and the one on CF), so moving forward (in addition to complaining) are folks who fell for this chaulking this up as an expensive lesson learned?
--Does the $75 ripoff actually cover the $26 truly owed?
--Did we inadvertently sign up for an 'automatic renewal' as was implied somewhere?
My main concern is if I try to cancel and fight, I don't want to go through the hassle of having to re-register with the USCG...
Feeling quite angry and kicking myself!!

Gunni · May 9, 2017

Count your blessings Lads, in the old days a pirate would take your ship, all your possessions and barbacoa your dog if you suffered a moment of inattention! The only thing that has changed is they study the online ships registry lists instead of the trade routes...and they have legal counsel! But they are still pirates taking what they do not earn or deserve and this is why pirates are irredeemable and so are those stupid skull and cross bone flags.

quadrille38 · May 11, 2017

They have.
It was published in newsletter and email communications.

justsomeguy · May 23, 2017

Along the same lines while making my latest boat purchase, the brokers wanted to charge me a $100.00 fee for a $25.00 abstract of title search.
Not gonna happen. Handled all the .gov and .mil crap myself. Didn't help my outlook, however.
Friggin' checkbuilders.

Ken Cross · May 23, 2017

justsomeguy said:
Along the same lines while making my latest boat purchase, the brokers wanted to charge me a $100.00 fee for a $25.00 abstract of title search.
Not gonna happen. Handled all the .gov and .mil crap myself. Didn't help my outlook, however.
Friggin' checkbuilders.

When we bought our boat we went through a marine escrow company, but our title didn't come. It turns out they messed up the paperwork, took our money and went out of business. It took us 6 months to get the title.

Ken

Ken Cross · May 23, 2017

justsomeguy said:
Along the same lines while making my latest boat purchase, the brokers wanted to charge me a $100.00 fee for a $25.00 abstract of title search.
Not gonna happen. Handled all the .gov and .mil crap myself. Didn't help my outlook, however.
Friggin' checkbuilders.

When we bought our boat we went through a marine escrow company, but our title didn't come. It turns out they messed up the paperwork, took our money and went out of business. It took us 6 months to get the title.

Ken

justsomeguy · May 23, 2017

Friggin' middlemen checkbuilders. Don't get me started. Oh, wait...

SG · May 23, 2017

I got the same letter. My documentation is renewed each year. I thought it odd that the email address and link to the site wasn't a .gov or .mil site.

I just bypassed it and renewed myself.

I don't n
Know haw the five year renewal can work? I wonder what happens after a year and who is going to pony up the $26 for the next four times?

jssailem · May 23, 2017

Went through the Coast Guard. Easy Peasy. Got the scam letter as well. Tossed it... Made the basket.
Coast Guard responded with my certificate in 5 days. Pleasantly surprised.

Documentation Scam

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