USCG Documentation

[tomschauer]

Hello all.
Today a I received a letter from the "Vessel Documentation Portal" claiming my documentation is set to expire.

The Website www.vesselrenewal.us and the letter sure look like they are from the USCG, but it is some type of service that will renew your docs for $75.00 not the $26.00 I just paid the USCG last month for the same service.

That's a major mark up for a zero value service, beware!

[buster53]

This has been covered here and most other boating forums many times over the past 3-4 years. Never hurts to put up reminders.
Vessel Documentation Portal is the 3rd company I've seen with this business (scam) model. Not sure if it is 3 different companies or 1 that just keeps changing its name.
I fell for it about 4 years ago thinking I was dealing with the real CG and they had just upped their renewal fee. Never again.

[denpooch]

If I can add to this discussion, for those folks purchasing a boat from a dealer beware of their cost to have a vessel documented.
When I purchased in 2017, they wanted to charge me $750.00! I did a little homework and got it done for $26.00.
I guess they figure there are plenty of the people who spend big bucks for a boat just look at the additional expenditure as cost of ownership.
I believe that it was PT Barnum who said...."There is a sucker born every minute"

[buster53]

Source of the post If I can add to this discussion, for those folks purchasing a boat from a dealer beware of their cost to have a vessel documented.
When I purchased in 2017, they wanted to charge me $750.00! I did a little homework and got it done for $26.00.
I guess they figure there are plenty of the people who spend big bucks for a boat just look at the additional expenditure as cost of ownership.
I believe that it was PT Barnum who said...."There is a sucker born every minute"

Actually, cost for yearly renewal is $26. The initial cost to document a boat is approx $100,

[buster53]

Just bringing this thread back to the top to remind boat owners not to be taken in by by unscrupulous private documentation services that charge $75 to renew boat documentation. The real Coast Guard doc office only charges $26.
I got taken in by one of them 5 years ago...it won't happen again.

[uchu]

Source of the post Just bringing this thread back to the top to remind boat owners not to be taken in by by unscrupulous private documentation services that charge $75 to renew boat documentation. The real Coast Guard doc office only charges $26.
I got taken in by one of them 5 years ago...it won't happen again.

What's the company's name? Are they still in business?

[tomschauer]

Yes, they are still in business, I received another notice last week.

The company is "vessel documentation portal"

www.vesselrenewal.us

[buster53]

Source of the post

Source of the post Just bringing this thread back to the top to remind boat owners not to be taken in by by unscrupulous private documentation services that charge $75 to renew boat documentation. The real Coast Guard doc office only charges $26.
I got taken in by one of them 5 years ago...it won't happen again.

What's the company's name? Are they still in business?

Don’t know if there are several companies or one that changes its name as I have seen at least 3 different names in the past 4-5 years.
Only thing you need to remember is renewal from the real CG doc office is $26. If you are documenting a boat for the first time, the charge is approx $100, not $400-500.
Beware of letters and websites that at first glance, look like official Coast Guard letters and websites.

[AaHubb]

I get those too. I just consider them to be a reminder that the real one will be coming soon.
..Aaron

[buster53]

Old thread, but needs to come back to the top of the page from time to time as a reminder. Only pay $26 to the real Coast Guard Doc office for renewal. If the website isn't .mil most likely you are on a scammer website.