Documented boaters beware!

[svfinlandia]

Not sure if this is the correct category for this post - if not, I hope a moderator will move it to the right place.

Yesterday I received a letter in the mail that looked like an official USCG correspondence. It announced that my USCG Documentation was set to expire and wanted me to send them a $75.00 renewal fee. That was the first red flag as I am aware that the USCG only charges $26.00 for renewal.
On close inspection I noted that there was no official USCG emblem on the letterhead and the return address on the envelope was an address in Morgantown, WV. I googled the address and found that it is a mailing service that gives you a Suite number that is actually a post office box number.
I checked my documentation and found that it is not due for renewal for another two months. These folks send this letter out early in hopes of trapping you into thinking that your documentation is about to expire and you will deal with them instead of waiting for your official notice from the USCG.
I suspect that this operation is not the only one out there doing this and is probably perfectly legal, but also could be a scam to take your money without doing anything to renew your documentation.
I just wanted to alert everyone that this is going on so that you do not accidentally pay nearly three times as much to renew your vessel documentation.

Al, S/V Finlandia

[whatknot]

I've heard that before, it might have been on here. My question is how does this company get our information?

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by whatknot

I've heard that before, it might have been on here. My question is how does this company get our information?

The documentation database is public.

[wingless]

The OP has outstanding reading skills. The OP is also proficient at writing too.

Good job!

The only possible deficiency might be math.

If the documentation is renewed two months early, then the extra cost is ($75 - $26) + (($75/12) *2), for the two months lost renewing early at the higher rate, or $61.67 extra, 3.4 times the cost of renewing directly on the USCG site.

[svfinlandia]

Originally Posted by wingless

The OP has outstanding reading skills. The OP is also proficient at writing too.

Good job!

The only possible deficiency might be math.

If the documentation is renewed two months early, then the extra cost is ($75 - $26) + (($75/12) *2), for the two months lost renewing early at the higher rate, or $61.67 extra, 3.4 times the cost of renewing directly on the USCG site.

Wingless
Thanks for the complements - I may be an engineer, but I never was any good at math!

Al, S/V Finlandia

[Cotemar]

All the details are here, so everyone please go to the REAL USCG site and only pay the $26 for renewal.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2353354
.
.

[Lake-Effect]

Some outfit is trying a similar con on me for renewal of a .com web domain. This outfit sent me a renewal form for about 3x what I usually pay per year.

[waterman480]

Originally Posted by wingless

The OP has outstanding reading skills. The OP is also proficient at writing too.

Good job!

The only possible deficiency might be math.

If the documentation is renewed two months early, then the extra cost is ($75 - $26) + (($75/12) *2), for the two months lost renewing early at the higher rate, or $61.67 extra, 3.4 times the cost of renewing directly on the USCG site.

Actually they are just sending you a renewal notice early so you get it before the official one from the CG. That way you will already have contracted at the outrageous rate - which is non refundable. Your renewal date will remain the same on the new issue when you get it.

[wingless]

Originally Posted by waterman480

Your renewal date will remain the same on the new issue when you get it.

Sorry, but that is incorrect.

The USCG starts a brand new one-year valid certificate clock on the processing date. They do NOT tack a year onto the the end of the existing certificate.

There have been many documented instances of that policy, here is one.

[Chuck34]

Originally Posted by wingless

Sorry, but that is incorrect.

The USCG starts a brand new one-year valid certificate clock on the processing date. They do NOT tack a year onto the the end of the existing certificate.

There have been many documented instances of that policy, here is one.

Wingless is right. I fell for it and lost a month as well as others. I know of at least a couple of people who lost 2 months.

There are several threads here as well as other boating forums talking about this.

[a64pilot]

Got my letter today, it does look official. I can see how if you don't pay close attention how you could be fooled.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

I've seen threads about those folks for a while now. I just got a letter the other day so already know to ignore it and go to the proper site.

Just be aware of it and know how/where to do it the right way.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Rhapsody-NS27

I've seen threads about those folks for a while now. I just got a letter the other day so already know to ignore it and go to the proper site.

Just be aware of it and know how/where to do it the right way.

The point that Rhapsody just made is why we keep getting threads about the subject. Good on svfinlandia for spotting it, too.

Ann

[gamayun]

Got my fake letter last week, too. I had forgotten about these posts. Even though I do a lot if internet research, it took me a while to ascertain it was bogus. They're good! I am guessing a lot of people fall for it, and even if it's only a small percentage of all documented vessel owners, they're probably still making a ton of money.

[Chuck34]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Got my fake letter last week, too. I had forgotten about these posts. Even though I do a lot if internet research, it took me a while to ascertain it was bogus. They're good! I am guessing a lot of people fall for it, and even if it's only a small percentage of all documented vessel owners, they're probably still making a ton of money.

This is why some of us are trying to keep these threads at the top of the page. Some forgot they saw them and others haven't seen them yet.
There's a lot of pissed off boaters out there that fell for this...we're just trying to get the word out to alert as many people as possible.