Documentation

[kipwrite]

I got scammed too.

Seemed like $75 was a lot, but the envelope looked completely official and the letter looked authentic. And the timing for renewal was right and I was expecting a notice.

I got my new Coast Guard documentation a few weeks later and also lost two months in the process / my new documentation expires in March 2018, my last year's documentation expires in May 2017.

I'm usually very suspect. Fell right into this trap however.

Stupid. But these crooks are good.

Shame on them.

Beware. Got to the USCG directly and save yourself the $49. Next year I'll submit four weeks prior to expiration.

[wingless]

Originally Posted by kipwrite

Go to the USCG directly and save yourself the $49. Next year I'll submit four weeks prior to expiration.

Sorry, but that is incorrect. The additional cost in this case is $49 + (($75/12) *2) = $61.50, to account for the two months lost. When only one month is lost the additional cost is $55.25.

[kipwrite]

Originally Posted by wingless

Sorry, but that is incorrect. The additional cost in this case is $49 + (($75/12) *2) = $61.50, to account for the two months lost. When only one month is lost the additional cost is $55.25.

Arrghh. Thanks for pointing this out. Adds insult to the injury, but you are indeed correct.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by wingless

Sorry, but that is incorrect. The additional cost in this case is $49 + (($75/12) *2) = $61.50, to account for the two months lost. When only one month is lost the additional cost is $55.25.

What?!?!??

[DeborahLee]

Originally Posted by wingless

Why different results when alerting USCG?

It depends who you talk to. If you are talking to some seaman that answers the phone for the USCG I'm sure he'll be very sympatric. If you talk to someone whose job it is to investigate problems at homeland they have a different attitude.

[markpierce]

All my verbal contacts with the USCG documentation center have been helpful females.

[DeborahLee]

Right not IT techs or security people.

[DeborahLee]

Up date. Received my documentation from USCG minus the 2 months that were short changed by the so called service. They did not dispute the stop payment with VISA so no $75 charge they paid for the $26. If they got into a dispute with VISA they could lose their access to VISA which is a large part of their business. They definitely don't want to go to court. So losing one doesn't matter considering all the money they made just from people on this board. Also have case numbers with Homeland and US Postal Inspectors.

[wingless]

Originally Posted by DeborahLee

They did not dispute the stop payment with VISA so no $75 charge they paid for the $26.

Thanks for the update.

So the documentation certificate is in-your-hands, sent directly from USCG, with the $26 renewal fee paid by U.S. Vessel Documentation and no money currently paid by you?

Does that seem fair?

[Chuck34]

Originally Posted by wingless

So the documentation certificate is in-your-hands, sent directly from USCG, with the $26 renewal fee paid by U.S. Vessel Documentation and no money currently paid by you?

Does that seem fair?

Fair? no, not really. More like karma...what goes around, comes around.
If the company in question is pissed at DeborahLee, now they know how the rest of us feels. Cheated.

[DeborahLee]

How do you think they feel? They would rush your documentation through causing you to lose 1 or 2 months of your money to try to avoid you from doing anything. Sorry no. I grew up under the EL tracks and if someone put their hand in your pocket they had better expect to have it broken.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by wingless

Thanks for the update.

So the documentation certificate is in-your-hands, sent directly from USCG, with the $26 renewal fee paid by U.S. Vessel Documentation and no money currently paid by you?

Does that seem fair?

If they wouldn't market themselves to look like the official agency, then no problem. But they way they portray themselves is slimy......so not fair, but just.

[Chuck34]

Time to bring this back to the top of the page. I'm sure there are still many boaters who are not aware of this scam.
Pass the word.

[Moke]

Just got scammed by these guys and pursuing actions across the board. Definitely a sketching ripoff. Now I know to check here before using any online services.

I will let you all know what Visa says in my case too.

[Chuck34]

Originally Posted by Moke

Just got scammed by these guys and pursuing actions across the board. Definitely a sketching ripoff. Now I know to check here before using any online services.

I will let you all know what Visa says in my case too.

Sorry they got you too. Do whatever you can to spread the word. As more and more people find out about this, eventually it will come to an end. The scumbags in question will find that the little bit of revenue generated won't even pay the postage bill.