BEWARE of U.S. Vessel Documentation Renewal Courtesy Notice

[Pitou]

I want to share for those of you with USCG Documented Vessels to beware of an official looking "Courtesy Renewal Courtesy Notice" that is arriving in mailboxes everywhere which not from the USCG. It is postmarked from CA. and is actually from a documentation service company. I just received the renewal letter as well and at first glance it looks pretty official and states an accurate time frame that my documentation is due to expire in 45 days. The letter encourages you to not let your documentation expire and directs you to a website which is http://www.uscgdocumentation.us to make payment by credit card or to call 866-981-8783. What they actually are is a third party vessel documentation service who charge $75 for something that you can do yourself for $26 when your actual renewal arrives from the US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center in VA.

There is no mention on the letter that they are a third party service, but on their website in tiny, tiny print on the footer of their home page they identify themselves as such. At first I followed the link thinking that finally, the USCG has an online option .. how nice. The site looked more consumer oriented than anything that a government entity would have and the fee schedule seemed excessive, but hey Uncle Sam is always trying to get to my wallet! I scrolled down and read the fine print. The mailing is pretty deceiving. BEWARE!

I'll post a copy of the letter later in the day.

[Pitou]

Also note the last sentence:
APPLICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED THROUGH OUR PRIVATE DOCUMENTATION PROCESSORS.

What can't be seen in the scan is the phantom ghosting of a circular seal behind the body of the letter with a logo and term: U.S. VESSEL DOCUMENTATION

It always pays to read the fine print.

3rd party Vessel Documentation letter.pdf

[whwells]

Kevin: Thanks for this really fine advise. Someone is making money off what we find for just the basic annual renewal fees.
Well, if it is faster that might make some sense.
Howard

[rebuckley]

Great Advice, I just renewed - USCG has it set for an online renewal - real easy and you know it is going directly to them.

[Paddy]

Just renewed mine too at http://www.USCG.mil/nvdc/. Saved a stamp!

[denchen]

This doesn't affect me as I`m on the other side of the pond to you guys and we have our own system....BUT I would wonder how this `company` got hold of all you boat owners names and addresses.

[RobS]

This doesn't affect me as I`m on the other side of the pond to you guys and we have our own system....BUT I would wonder how this `company` got hold of all you boat owners names and addresses.

It's all public records...

http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGu ... yName.html

[DougSea]

I received my "official sounding letter" last week. Thanks for the heads up!

EDIT - As an FYI, you can renew early at the pay.gov site. Just did mine to get it out of the way.

[Pitou]

You're welcome Doug!

Did mine online too and had the renewal in my mailbox in only four days!

[DougSea]

Got my new document in the mail today (renewed online) AND my renewal notice in a second envelope. Love government efficiency!

[kowal_53]

I have been considering changing my boats name, when it is in for painting. So I went on-line and found what I believed was the coast guard site, and they did indeed cover that topic. I could not see a price so I start cruising around and I clicked on renewal. They offer 2 years for $75.00, and 3 for $150.00. Something was wrong. I went to abater option and each year was $75.00. I called them and there was no one home. This was the same internet site Pitou mentioned above.

I went searching on the Albin site, and found this subject. Smelling a fish, I went back to the web pages. The one I had selected was an advertisement. Many of the other choices was theirs.

I did finally found the Government site, and confirmed that renewal was $26.00.

Now for the name change. There was no choice on the Government site that was obvious to change a name or hailing port. (Some that was clearly marked on the 3rd party site) I found a Question/Answer section, which said I needed a form CG-1258, (Exchange or Return to Documentation) and it would cost $84.00.

I was able to find the form under forms, so I guess it is not automated yet, but perhaps soon.

Incidentally I did call the coast guard and no one was answering phones, so I left a message. No call yet.

If they do call, I am going to attempt to see what might happen if I do not receive documentation changes, and I am running around with the new name on the boat. I guess I will keep records of all of the paper work so I can at least show I tried to comply.

I wonder if I will still need to renew if I change the name a few months before the last year doc expires. I was going to ask this question, but I guess this one will have to wait for a human to call me back.