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Old 05-01-2018, 07:35 PM   #101
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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.
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Old 05-01-2018, 08:03 PM   #102
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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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Old 05-01-2018, 10:13 PM   #103
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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
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!!!
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Old 05-01-2018, 11:44 PM   #104
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I did not send anything, I did fill out some online form.
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.
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Old 05-02-2018, 05:12 AM   #105
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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.
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Old 07-09-2018, 06:50 PM   #106
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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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Old 07-09-2018, 08:32 PM   #107
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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
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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Old 07-09-2018, 11:47 PM   #108
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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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Old 07-10-2018, 06:41 AM   #109
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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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Old 07-10-2018, 07:00 AM   #110
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Originally Posted by Lance7171 View Post
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
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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Old 07-10-2018, 07:26 AM   #111
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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.
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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Old 07-10-2018, 07:13 PM   #112
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Originally Posted by Fajah View Post
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.


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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Old 07-11-2018, 08:48 AM   #113
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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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Old 06-06-2019, 09:37 AM   #114
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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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Old 06-06-2019, 09:57 AM   #115
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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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Old 06-06-2019, 11:03 AM   #116
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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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Old 06-06-2019, 11:06 AM   #117
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Just got my first private organization ltr. Too used to official USCG correspondence to fall for it.
I did fall for it 3-4 years ago. Glad you didn’t
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Old 06-06-2019, 12:13 PM   #118
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23 yrs in helped...
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Old 06-06-2019, 12:44 PM   #119
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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
I’m hearing 2-3 months
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Old 06-06-2019, 01:02 PM   #120
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I’m hearing 2-3 months
Use to be 7-10 days. Mine has not arrived as of yet and I am "expired".
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