Feels like a scam!

[kayc]

Morgan 382, LaPaz, MX
Pearson 36, Anacortes, WA
In August I received a USCG certificate of documentation expiration notice. Even though my current certificate was dated through 12/31/2021. Thinking perhaps they were dealing with staffing issues and just getting a jump on things, I sent my payment in in late August. They returned a new certicate that expires 9/30/22. I cantacted them about the error of their ways but was promptly rebuked for sending my payment in early. This was all done through something titled National Documentation Portal. Am I missing something. Seems very odd in the era of computers keeping track of things....

[PippaB]

If you used National Documentation Portal it is a scam, or at least shady. Their website says:



Note that they use a photo/image for the words so it doesn’t show up as text that can be searched. And that they charge $75/year for a renewal while the cost direct from the USCG is $26/year. The NVDC has a notice on their website about these third-party vendors.

And yes, if you pay the USCG for a renewal early (either directly or through a private operator) they shift your renewal date.

[sailingabe41ds]

yep...i almost got suckered into this. when i asked them why their fees were so high they did not answer. i dont know if it i call it a scam or a service company the charges three times as much. ... caveat emptor.
As PT Barnum used to say...."sucker born every minute."
abe

[PippaB]

The scammy part is the official looking letters they send in the mail to try to deliberately deceive the recipient into thinking they come from the USCG. And some of the scam lays at the feet of Google who returns ads for these guys ahead of the actual government agency when you search for “documentation renewal”. Is deliberate deception a scam or just clever business?

[Reefmagnet]

In Oz, I get exactly the same scam for business registration renewal.



This is the same kind of thing that was also tied to Internet domain names a while back. It's actually not technically a scam because the companies do what they say they will do, they just a) do it for a lot higher price and; b) Hold you over a barrel because you usually inadvertently agree to allow them to manage this function for you in perpetuum which then requires running through hoops to extract yourself from.

[ParL]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

In Oz, I get exactly the same scam for business registration renewal.

And if you own a internet domain or three you will get email with notices that one needs to renew them. Yes, you do, but 6 months ahead of expiry by way of a registrar I have never dealt with before, at a higher price?



There are scumbags who run this kind of (semi-?) scams for pretty much everything that they can think of. Semi because they presumably do renew my domains, even if they do so at a higher price (and may hold me to all kinds of strange fees if I want to get out).

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, kayc, and ParL.

[gonesail]

i got that official looking letter from them yesterday. was confused since i had renewed last month but not gotten the CG document yet. i don't understand why the National Documentation Portal is not illegal

[NewMoon]

Originally Posted by kayc

Even though my current certificate was dated through 12/31/2021. Thinking perhaps they were dealing with staffing issues and just getting a jump on things, I sent my payment in in late August. They returned a new certicate that expires 9/30/22. I cantacted them about the error of their ways but was promptly rebuked for sending my payment in early.

BTW, even if you go through the real USCG documentation process, and send it in months early, your new certificate's due date will now be earlier. Can be useful if you want to change the time of year it comes due.

[Shrew]

Goodness this discussion again.

1) USCG documentation is 1 year from the date application, not the date of expiration. If you don't want to loose 3 months of fees, don't renew 3 months early. This has been the way it's been for decades and there are 100 threads on the subject.

2) A firm that offers a service to document your vessel for you is not a scam. It's a service. There are many such services, such as name changing services for new brides. Yes, you could document directly with the USCG. Choosing to go with a service doesn't make that service a scam.

Lack of situational awareness also does not make the business a scam. It simply means you are not paying attention to details. Though I'm sure that is their fault, right??

[fstbttms]

Your first clue should be that the boat on the website banner isn't even a US Coast Guard vessel

[kayc]

Yes. I was curious as to how they get their information. Older and wiser now. Really need to pay more attention as things like this get presented. Definitely a sucker punch.

[Shrew]

National Documentation Portal:

https://nvdcrenewal.us/

-------------------
USCG NATIONAL VESSEL DOCUMENTATION CENTER:

https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Deputy-for-Operations-Policy-and-Capabilities-DCO-D/National-Vessel-Documentation-Center/

------------------

.us is not a government TLD (Top Level Domain). It is simply a TLD specific to the United States. Though technically not limited to the US. I own several domains. One of which is in the TLD .ME (Top Level Country Code Domain for Montenegro).

However, .gov and .mil are TLD's limited to the United States Government.

It's a brave new world.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Shrew

.us is not a government TLD (Top Level Domain). It is simply a TLD specific to the United States. Though technically not limited to the US. I own several domains. One of which is in the TLD .ME (Top Level Country Code Domain for Montenegro).

However, .gov and .mil are TLD's limited to the United States Government.

I wonder. Do they teach this stuff at grade/high school?

It's a simple way to check for sites trying to trick you.

PS: .gov isn't necessarily limited to US but generally, they will add the 2 letter country code at the end: ie: ministryofsillywalks.gov.kw ....unless you are in that country and then websites often drop the country code but you still go to the countries version of the site.

[kayc]

Guilty as charged about not paying attention to detail. My situational awareness was perhaps focused on more critical things.