All I know is the one time I was stopped by a LEO, the USCG in my case, the Coasties wanted to see my certificate.
Please stop with the 'scam' angle. The fact that people don't do their due diligence doesn't make it a scam. As stated... it's a service. They are entitled to charge what they want for the service. You are entitled to do your own research.
Lack of due diligence doesn't make the service a scam. Please stop the insanity.
To some, yes, to others, no.Agree perhaps not a scam bout RIP OFF, $900?????
I don’t disagree with what you said. However, a lot of people use services just because they don’t know they can go direct to the Coast Guard Doc office to get everything done for a lot less money.
This is especially true about all the people who got scammed into using a service for a simple renewal paying $75 when the CG office charges $26.
Misleading... absolutely but scam absolutely not or it would be illegal.No, it is a scam when they send out letters that look like they came from the real CG office. And they give you a website address that looks like it is the CG office website. I can't tell you how many boating forum posts I have read in the past 6-7 years from people pissed they fell for the scam thinking they were dealing with the REAL CG....me included.
As far as the "Service" aspect...just what service are you getting when you pay $75 to a service company and it takes you 3-4 minutes to fill out the online form vs paying $26 to the CG office and taking 3-4 minutes to fill out the online form.