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06-01-2017, 09:25 AM
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#1
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Guru
City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Old School
Vessel Model: 38' Trawler custom built by Hike Metal Products
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,045
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USCG Documentation
Yesterday I renewed the boats documentation. Three years ago it was free, two years ago it cost $26, yesterday it was $75. When it was free they mailed you a a renewal letter, you signed it and mailed it back. I assume human hands came in contact with it somewhere along the line when it was received. Yesterday I did it all online including payment. No human hands except mine involved. Never fails, give the Govt. an inch, they take a mile.
Rant complete,carry on.
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06-01-2017, 09:41 AM
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#2
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,682
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulf Comanche
Yesterday I renewed the boats documentation. Three years ago it was free, two years ago it cost $26, yesterday it was $75. When it was free they mailed you a a renewal letter, you signed it and mailed it back. I assume human hands came in contact with it somewhere along the line when it was received. Yesterday I did it all online including payment. No human hands except mine involved. Never fails, give the Govt. an inch, they take a mile.
Rant complete,carry on.
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Are sure you renewed through the "official" USCG site? I believe it's still $26.
https://www.uscg.mil/nvdc/forms/cg1280.pdf
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06-01-2017, 09:52 AM
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#3
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,682
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06-01-2017, 10:01 AM
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#4
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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I renewed mine in January and it was still $26 .
__________________
Marty
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06-01-2017, 10:07 AM
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#5
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Guru
City: Annapolis
Vessel Name: Ranger
Vessel Model: 58' Sedan Bridge
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,088
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulf Comanche
Never fails, give the Govt. an inch, they take a mile.
Rant complete,carry on.
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Rant misdirected.
-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA
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06-01-2017, 10:13 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Seattle, WA
Vessel Name: Pau Hana
Vessel Model: 1989 PT52 Overseas Yachtfisher
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulf Comanche
Yesterday I renewed the boats documentation. Three years ago it was free, two years ago it cost $26, yesterday it was $75. When it was free they mailed you a a renewal letter, you signed it and mailed it back. I assume human hands came in contact with it somewhere along the line when it was received. Yesterday I did it all online including payment. No human hands except mine involved. Never fails, give the Govt. an inch, they take a mile.
Rant complete,carry on.
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Unfortunately, you fell victim to a ruse:
http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s...ion-30171.html
__________________
Peter- Marine Insurance Guru at Novamar Insurance Group (206-350-5051) & tuna fishing addict!
1989 52' PT Overseas yachtfisher
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06-01-2017, 10:21 AM
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#7
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Guru
City: Montgomery, TX
Vessel Name: Encore
Vessel Model: Whitby 42
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 844
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You got took.
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06-01-2017, 10:23 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Tacoma, WA & Ashland, OR
Vessel Name: boatless, ex: Seeadler
Vessel Model: RAWSON 41
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,234
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulf Comanche
Yesterday I renewed the boats documentation. ... Never fails, give the Govt. an inch, they take a mile.
Rant complete,carry on.
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On the contrary, you've been screwed by the free enterprise system.
I renewed Monday for $26 with the real Coast Guard.
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06-01-2017, 10:39 AM
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#9
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Guru
City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Old School
Vessel Model: 38' Trawler custom built by Hike Metal Products
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,045
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OK ok my fault, all on me, solo. The letter they sent looked official, as did the website. Called my credit card company and the $75 had not posted yet, so I got it disputed and erased but had to get a new card number, which in this case, was a good thing. The letter was from U.S. Vessel Documentation.
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06-01-2017, 10:51 AM
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#10
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,682
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulf Comanche
OK ok my fault, all on me, solo. The letter they sent looked official, as did the website. Called my credit card company and the $75 had not posted yet, so I got it disputed and erased but had to get a new card number, which in this case, was a good thing. The letter was from U.S. Vessel Documentation.
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Please keep us posted. If your experience is like others that have used that site and canceled, you'll be hearing from them.
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06-01-2017, 10:57 AM
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#11
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Guru
City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Old School
Vessel Model: 38' Trawler custom built by Hike Metal Products
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,045
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They already heard from me by phone this morning. To them I say "bring it".
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06-01-2017, 11:51 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,092
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I was in Sitka a couple of weeks ago and at the head of the dock ramp there was a USCG notice posted warning people about this "service", and reminding them that they can renew directly with the USCG for $26
__________________
MVTanglewood.com
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06-01-2017, 12:36 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulf Comanche
They already heard from me by phone this morning. To them I say "bring it".
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Keep us informed. It also wouldn't hurt to file a complaint with your state's consumer protection division.
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06-01-2017, 12:40 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Old School
Vessel Model: 38' Trawler custom built by Hike Metal Products
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,045
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dhays
Keep us informed. It also wouldn't hurt to file a complaint with your state's consumer protection division.
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Good idea, will do. Thanks.
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06-01-2017, 12:47 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,449
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulf Comanche
They already heard from me by phone this morning. To them I say "bring it".
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Just be aware that the law is on their side completely, so if they choose to bring it, they can do so, up to and including getting a lien on your boat. I know they do threaten and they do have a lawyer associate for nasty letters. I do not know if they've ever taken it further. As to the credit card dispute, they get many of those too and have a record of winning them. Yes, they're devious. Yes, you made a mistake. But they also know what they're doing from a legal viewpoint, so be careful. It may not all be worth the $49 you're saving.
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06-01-2017, 12:52 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Seattle, WA
Vessel Name: Pau Hana
Vessel Model: 1989 PT52 Overseas Yachtfisher
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
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On their website and social media sites, in plain sight:
U.S. Vessel Documentation Inc. is a private company, not the U.S. Government.
US Vessel Documentation, Inc. is NOT the National Vessel Documentation Center; we are the nation's #1 rated agency that handles USCG Documentation processing to NVDC.
Devious- yes. Illegal- not in my opinion.
__________________
Peter- Marine Insurance Guru at Novamar Insurance Group (206-350-5051) & tuna fishing addict!
1989 52' PT Overseas yachtfisher
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06-01-2017, 01:08 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Old School
Vessel Model: 38' Trawler custom built by Hike Metal Products
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,045
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Band B & Pau: that's all true, but its devious as hell. website is uscgdocumentation.us looks pretty official. I called a a few minutes ago and cancelled the order, the guy says no problem, he send it over to the cancellation dept. We'll see how this goes.
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06-01-2017, 01:08 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,449
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pau Hana
On their website and social media sites, in plain sight:
U.S. Vessel Documentation Inc. is a private company, not the U.S. Government.
US Vessel Documentation, Inc. is NOT the National Vessel Documentation Center; we are the nation's #1 rated agency that handles USCG Documentation processing to NVDC.
Devious- yes. Illegal- not in my opinion.
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Perfectly legal as they provide a service. It happens to be one you don't need and not worth the $49 but it's a service. They take your information and they submit it to the CG.
Ont thing to understand is that companies like this that operate in that shady area of legal but deceptive know the laws and rules very well. They deal with complaints and stopped payments daily. It's much like the scam telemarketers who take advantage of the elderly but you get the tape of the conversation and you'll find the elderly man did place the order.
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06-01-2017, 01:10 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,449
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gulf Comanche
Band B & Pau: that's all true, but its devious as hell. website is uscgdocumentation.us looks pretty official. I called a a few minutes ago and cancelled the order, the guy says no problem, he send it over to the cancellation dept. We'll see how this goes.
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If they had not yet sent it in, you may stand a chance. However, if they'd actually submitted the order plus the $26 to the CG, then you can't cancel. In fact, by cancelling the payment you'd be committing a crime. Just keep that in mind. There business is built on deception, but they are pros at it.
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06-01-2017, 11:02 PM
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#20
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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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I received the letter this week, it is deceptive, the intent is deceit- why else would they create a WV return address? The mail is postmarked California, they use a lot of bureaucratic-sounding drivel and refer the recipient to their website, equally deceptive.
It may be legal, that doesn't make it righteous. They do have a disclaimer that they are a third party agent, but it's phrased in a way that doesn't really indicate that the recipient has the choice to use the USCG site: "...Use of our process requires payment of a service fee in addition to the government renewal application fee. " Further on... "You are under no obligation to utilize our firm's service.
So while they are probably exactly within the law, the business model is based on sleight- if they were honest and forthcoming that they're charging a premium to provide a service that is unnecessary, they'd fail.
I did file a complaint with USPS because the mailing is deceptive and has the intent of creating the illusion that the recipient is dealing with an official US government agency. It's not likely to have any impact, but something about a business that operates on the shady side compels me to act. Enough complaints may result in action that will compel them to be more honest and save a fellow boater the hassle of dealing with this underhanded schmuck.
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