Business ProfileforMaritime Documentation Center

On May 9, 2019, BBB recognized a pattern of complaints from consumers regarding advertising, billing and refund issues. Consumers allege that they are misled to believe they are on the U.S Coastguard’s website and are charged excessive fees to submit their vessel documentation. Consumers also allege that if they cancel their order, they do not receive a refund, nor do they receive the certificate.

On May 14, 2019, Maritime Documentation Center responded to BBB stating the following:

“Maritime Documentation Center (MDC) is an online, third -party document processing service that specializes in Coast Guard Documentation services. MDC makes no attempt to represent ourselves as a governmental entity. In fact, the following disclaimer appears on every navigable page of the website. 
© 2019 Maritime Documentation Center. All Rights Reserved. Maritime Documentation Center is NOT the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Vessel Documentation Center; we are a third-party private agency that handles USCG Documentation processing to NVDC.”

In regard to the cancellation and refunds, Maritime Documentation Center stated that the cancellation policy “stipulated by the website clearly states, all application and processing fees submitted remain non-refundable even in the event of a cancellation. Each customer’s application and/or service request may vary, so it would be impossible to ascertain the reason why a pattern is perceived concerning consumers who complain their Certificates weren’t issued. What is clear, however, is our firm’s terms of cancellation, and the nonrefundable nature of the funds submitted. Each customer’s application was/is subject to these Terms and Conditions, even in the event the customer requests operations to be cancelled before the Certificate could be issued.”

BBB confirmed via information on the United States Coast Guard’s website that the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC), located in Falling Waters, West Virginia, is the only entity authorized to issue Certificates of Documentation (CODs), Form CG-1270. For more information, please visit the official Coast Guard website at: http://www.uscg.mil/nvdc/. 

Better Business Bureau has received several consumer complaints regarding Maritime Documentation Center. Consumers allege they have been overcharged for vessel renewal fees and the company refuses to provide refunds. Consumers further allege that applications for vessel renewals are not forwarded to the U.S. Coast Guard in a timely manner.

BBB reached out to Maritime Documentation Center on January 16, 2020, and on January 30, 2020 requesting responses to consumer complaints; however, as of February 14, 2020, Maritime Documentation Center has failed to respond to Better Business Bureau’s attempts to communicate.

BBB recommends consumers visit the United States Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center at, http://www.uscg.mil/nvdc/ for all vessel related transactions.