Documentation renewal-don't fall for this scam

cwms

cwms

Moderator
Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2002
RO Number
7357
Messages
2,391
When you get a CG renewal letter, make sure it is from the CG. I got a letter in the mail directing me to their website where I ended up paying $75 for renewal. I now know it was a documentation service and not the CG.
They got me this time but never again.
Next year, I will renew only with the CG and $26...not $75.
 
Other than satisfying a bank requirement why would anyone document their boat now?
 
There's a tax savings in some states. $26/ year is cheaper than state registration in some states and not all states require state registration of documented vessels (Va is one of those states).
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gregory S

There's a tax savings in some states. $26/ year is cheaper than state registration in some states and not all states require state registration of documented vessels (Va is one of those states).

Click to expand...


And until a couple of years ago, renewal was free.
 
only deal with this web site
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc/

I googled Coast Guard Documentation and the first thing to pop up was a documentation service, one that charges an extra fee to handle it for you. The actual CG website was about 5th on the list.
 
It is a service. If you do not want it do not use it. Real simple. Compare it to the other services you may use in your life. People charge for service period. No scam at all. Hope this helps.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ironworks

It is a service. If you do not want it do not use it. Real simple. Compare it to the other services you may use in your life. People charge for service period. No scam at all. Hope this helps.

Click to expand...


Yes it is a service. I can either use them and take 3 minutes to give them my info and pay $75 or I can take 3 minutes and give the same info to the CG and pay $26.
Make no mistake about it, this "service" goes to great lengths to fool people into thinking they are dealing with the CG.
 
In a society of "Instant Gratification", "Due Diligence" seems to always take a back seat. A bit sad.
 
quote:
Originally posted by SailArmy

In a society of "Instant Gratification", "Due Diligence" seems to always take a back seat. A bit sad.

Click to expand...


I don't disagree and I'm not an "instant gratification" kind of person. Just the opposite
I really thought the renewal letter came from the CG and the website I went to looked pretty good too.
Fooled me once and will never happen again.
 
Bump. I want as many people as possible to read this thread and please pass it on to your boating buddies who have CG documented boats.
 
just got the letter there smart send apx 2weeks before you get the real one and there address ends .us makes you think its offical
 
quote:
Originally posted by ericsilv

just got the letter there smart send apx 2weeks before you get the real one and there address ends .us makes you think its offical

Click to expand...

I own 4 .us domains, nothing special about them except the .com was already taken
 
My brother got the reminder letter the other day and almost fell for the $75 fee, but I was able to warn him before he renewed.

Again, ONLY use this website and pay $26 to the CG, not $75.

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc/
 
They got me! Damm it!
I saw it and I knew my renewal was due and I missed it last year.
It sure looked real, even their website is just like Coast Guards.
Left them a nasty voicemail. Smart, they have no operators, no way to contact them.

Oh well.
 
I sent them an email letting them know just what I thought of them and saying I was going to alert as many people as possible on boating forums. I got a reply saying they were forwarding my email to their lawyer and if I did anything to defame them, I would be sued.

Sorry they got you as well CurrentSea. Tell everyone you know who has documented boats. I alerted my brother just in time.
 
Its funny because I read this post and didn't think about it.
Then I got the letter and it sat there for a day and my wife said, don't you have to renew.
I then went to do it and all looked so official that I felt I was dealing with USCG.
Plus I knew last year I paid alot because I missed my renewal so the $75 seemed about right.

You should check they file it - mine looks good.

http://cgmix.uscg.mil/vds/

They use pay.gov to pay the $26.
Yeah, the scammed be out of $49.
I threatened to sue them and I reported them to the us postal service.

Think about it, this is such a easy scam that can apply to anything. Passports, car registration, property taxes, driver's license, any license.

Just send if before the official letter and your guaranteed a few suckers.
 
At least you didn't sign up for the 5 year renewal. I posted this alert on another boating forum and one of the members admitted to doing just that. He's going to try to get it cancelled.
For what it's worth, I did get my renewal letter from the CG, so it is a legit (unethical) service.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top