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05-01-2018, 07:35 PM
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#101
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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I'm not sure what's going on but, I documented 2 'vessels' via the USCG and it was 'easy as pie'. It was so easy, I forgot what I did. I guess sometimes ignorance makes a task easier.
This year, I was contacted by a 'service' offering to assist me in the 'annual renewal'. It didn't look official so I waited and in a week or so, I got the official renewal notice, filled it out, sent my my $26 check and a week later, got my certificate back.
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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05-01-2018, 08:03 PM
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#102
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Guru
City: East Coast
Vessel Name: M/V Maerin (Sold)
Vessel Model: Solo 4303
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 886
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The site is the same outfit that started the initial post. The guy has been in the car detailing business, he made a run for public office, claims to be a paralegal (that explains the legal-eze), claims to be an accredited marine surveyor, and member of numerous professional organizations. There are links to those organizations on the website, but a bit of research doesn't confirm any of those claims. Just a lot of sketchiness going on there. The whole deal of being less than forthcoming in how they present themselves raises flags, and doesn't encourage the benefit of the doubt. Strongly worded, intimidating emails as the first response isn't the response of a service oriented organization. Just shady.
Hope you're successful with your chargeback. You may want to forward your credit card company a selection of the posts of others who've had dealings with this disreputable organization, there are posts on the cruisers forum, Hull Truth, T&T, MTOA, and probably others. There's also the issue of the USCG changing the public access website to redact addresses from the database as a response to the complaints about these folks harvesting addresses for the purpose of their deceptive solicitations. It may be legal, but it stinks.
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05-01-2018, 10:13 PM
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#103
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TF Site Team/Forum Founder
City: League City, Tx
Vessel Name: Floatsome & Jetsome
Vessel Model: Meridian 411
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,332
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom.B
Make sure you are doing this to scammers and not a legit documentation company. To do the paperwork to document our undocumented boat when we bought it was $525. The company was called Marine Documentation as well. I will look back an check out the email address.
— edit—This group: https://marinedocumentations.com
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That seems to be the issue here....as I was trying to explain above. He is not listening and now is out money without the service he contracted!!!
__________________
Prairie 29...Perkins 4236...Sold
Mainship Pilot 30...Yanmar 4LHA-STP...Sold
Carver 356...T-Cummins 330B...Sold
Meridian 411...T-Cummins 450C
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05-01-2018, 11:44 PM
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#104
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,329
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fajah
I did not send anything, I did fill out some online form.
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B & B says, no doubt correctly, registering a transfer requires a document of sale, signed by the seller. Fajah says he has not provided one,making it unlikely the transfer is being processed. A good question is, was he asked for it by the "service". Maybe his termination of the retainer/contract preceded a likely request for it.
If the "service" is acting as agent for Fajah, it has a high fiduciary duty of good faith. Refusing further activity and keeping the money,and the tone of communication, likely falls short.
Maerin`s post above suggests another scenario. $500+ just to register a transfer sounds a lot, even if others have paid similar amounts. It doesn`t sound a huge difficult task.
There are 2 issues. One is sorting out the issue with the "service" The other is registering the transfer,which starts with finding out where that stands and, if the answer is "nowhere", getting on with it,DIY. That or going back, tail between legs to the "service",asking them to proceed after all.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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05-02-2018, 05:12 AM
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#105
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Veteran Member
City: Navarre
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 34
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OK gang,
I asked them to stop shortly, within an hour or so, after I realized I was not working with the Coast Guard, my bad. They had nothing from me except a filled out, online form. In the meantime I have DIY directly to the CG with the permission to bill my credit card form for $92, after talking to the CG on what they needed.
The point is, these folks, while they might be legit, are hostile. While they did not process anything for me and I ask them nicely to stand down, they became bullies and you have seen some of the threats.
The point is, I screwed up, I figured it out right away and ask them to stop before they did any work. They said they would stop any work but no refund would be coming. And based on the no refund policy makes them a company no one should do business with.
Maerin - thanks for your post, shady is being very polite.
__________________
Fajah
you know the Daddy - Freaky Deaky Dutch
1981 Marine Trader Tri-Deck
Navarre Fl
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07-09-2018, 06:50 PM
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#106
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Member
City: Palm Springs
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 6
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Maritime Documentation
Maritime Documentation Center is a company that I've used in the past. They are a third-party as well. However, they are pretty transparent that they are a private firm. Their customer service was excellent and I would definitely use them again. I wouldn't consider them a scam since they immediately notify you of their services
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07-09-2018, 08:32 PM
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#107
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Senior Member
City: Richmond
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 310
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lance7171
Maritime Documentation Center is a company that I've used in the past. They are a third-party as well. However, they are pretty transparent that they are a private firm. Their customer service was excellent and I would definitely use them again. I wouldn't consider them a scam since they immediately notify you of their services
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Yes, they are more transparent than some of the others, however....
On their homepage, their logo looks a lot like the Coast Guard logo and they show a boat that at first glance, looks like some kind of CG vessel. Look at it closely and the slanted stripe on the bow we are so used to seeing is not a legitimate CG stripe. It just looks a lot like it.
My point, they still make there website enough like the CG that people will not read the fine print
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07-09-2018, 11:47 PM
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#108
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Veteran Member
City: Vancouver
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 35
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If in doubt that you are dealing with the real Coast Guard or not, a 2 minute phone call should get you a clear answer. I often call places to get answers, and right away they should answer U.S. Coast Guard. If their website is void of a number to call, that should also set off alarm bells in your head.
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07-10-2018, 06:41 AM
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#109
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Senior Member
City: Richmond
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 310
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No need to make a phone call....
Look at the website address. The real Coast Guard ends in .mil
If it ends in .com .us .org or anything other than .mil , you're dealing with a scammer.
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07-10-2018, 07:00 AM
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#110
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Veteran Member
City: Navarre
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lance7171
Maritime Documentation Center is a company that I've used in the past. They are a third-party as well. However, they are pretty transparent that they are a private firm. Their customer service was excellent and I would definitely use them again. I wouldn't consider them a scam since they immediately notify you of their services
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Also, Google helps them be the first thing you see when you search for the USCG documentation center. I made the mistake and engaged them for about 30 minutes before I realized what I had done. Tried to get them to cancel and was met with aggression and hostility. They wanted almost $600 for what cost $93 with the USCG. I am fighting with them through my CC company and have reported them to the FTC as the Coast Guard recommended.
To each his own. They may not be a full on scammer however they are predatory.
__________________
Fajah
you know the Daddy - Freaky Deaky Dutch
1981 Marine Trader Tri-Deck
Navarre Fl
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07-10-2018, 07:26 AM
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#111
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Guru
City: Edgewater, MD
Vessel Name: Catalina Jack
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,585
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fajah
Also, Google helps them be the first thing you see when you search for the USCG documentation center. I made the mistake and engaged them for about 30 minutes before I realized what I had done. Tried to get them to cancel and was met with aggression and hostility. They wanted almost $600 for what cost $93 with the USCG. I am fighting with them through my CC company and have reported them to the FTC as the Coast Guard recommended.
To each his own. They may not be a full on scammer however they are predatory.
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I just renewed ours on the USCG website which takes you to pay.gov for payment. Simple process, ten minutes at most. Option for e-mail delivery as well. Since we are cruising in Canada, the e-mail option is handy but one must be able to print it out or, I suppose, download it to your phone or tablet.
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07-10-2018, 07:13 PM
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#112
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Senior Member
City: Newburgh, Indiana
Vessel Name: Quiet Company
Vessel Model: Great Harbour GH-47
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 265
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fajah
Also, Google helps them be the first thing you see when you search for the USCG documentation center. I made the mistake and engaged them for about 30 minutes before I realized what I had done. Tried to get them to cancel and was met with aggression and hostility. They wanted almost $600 for what cost $93 with the USCG. I am fighting with them through my CC company and have reported them to the FTC as the Coast Guard recommended.
To each his own. They may not be a full on scammer however they are predatory.
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My same experience! Once you click Enter/Go .....you lost your money............
Use the Government site and save $$$ and the headaches!
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07-11-2018, 08:48 AM
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#113
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Veteran Member
City: Prescott
Vessel Name: JOURNEY
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 84
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Just received my notice for renewal from the USCG and went to THIER website and renewed for the $26 fee. It was very easy and quick
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06-06-2019, 09:37 AM
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#114
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Senior Member
City: Richmond
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 310
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Old thread, but I thought an update would be good.
I got my renewal reminder letter yesterday from the actual CG and guess what, I haven't seen anything in the mail from any of the scammer services. Just maybe the CG's new policy on not providing owner information anymore on their website is starting to pay off. The cash cow is finally starting to dry up.
Wish they had done this several years ago. I'm guessing they got so many complaints, they had to come up with some way to stop the scammers.
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06-06-2019, 09:57 AM
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#115
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
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Just got my first private organization ltr. Too used to official USCG correspondence to fall for it.
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06-06-2019, 11:03 AM
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#116
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Guru
City: Mississippi
Vessel Name: ADAGIO
Vessel Model: CHB Present 42 Sundeck
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 920
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On avg how long has it taken for the CG to turn around a new Documentation request? Sent ours off about 6 weeks ago, got confirmation they received it, but nothing since. Thanks
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06-06-2019, 11:06 AM
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#117
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Senior Member
City: Richmond
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 310
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld
Just got my first private organization ltr. Too used to official USCG correspondence to fall for it.
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I did fall for it 3-4 years ago. Glad you didn’t
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06-06-2019, 12:13 PM
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#118
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
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23 yrs in helped...
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06-06-2019, 12:44 PM
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#119
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Senior Member
City: Richmond
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 310
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxtrotCharlie
On avg how long has it taken for the CG to turn around a new Documentation request? Sent ours off about 6 weeks ago, got confirmation they received it, but nothing since. Thanks
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I’m hearing 2-3 months
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06-06-2019, 01:02 PM
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#120
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck34
I’m hearing 2-3 months
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Use to be 7-10 days. Mine has not arrived as of yet and I am "expired".
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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