usdf fees for score checks

[staceyk]

Hi,

I admit I don’t follow the USDF machinations that closely, and I do recall a vague reference to fees in an earlier COTH posting. But last night I decided to check my horse’s scores from 2007. The cost for this previously free information is now $35.

How did they come up with this pricing structure, and what actual costs does it/can it reflect given that I got the same info last year for free? I don’t see any value added in this scenario. In December I sent them a check for about $90 (membership) and this doesn’t seem like a fair or necessary fee.

I wondered why there was no buzz, much less the spewing of invective, on this list. Did I miss it? Am I the only one incensed? Am I missing some key piece of info?

I should add that I don’t really NEED the scores at this point and I probably have them somewhere. But heck, I’m a MEMBER and these are MY scores!

If you want to see a screen shot of the fees Web page, go to the http://behindthebit.blogspot.com/2008/03/usdf-fees-based-score-check-oh-my.html

[Funckyfilly]

Try googling yourself. If a page comes up USDF/blah blah his cached. Sometimes you can get them that way. Put in your horses name your name then dressage. I have recently seen past scores this way.

[SGray]

lots of value-added to coffers of USDF

they get you to give them $35 for something that costs them, hmmm, $0

more $s for benches and statues???

[SGray]

so want to guess what the fee will be to check on qualifications when the new rule is instituted? (or perhaps they’ll make it free the first year)

[staceyk]

write a letter

I guess I should write a letter…

I belong to a number of professional organizations, and charges like this for org pubs, etc., are generally levelled against NON members.

[Valentina_32926]

did you try this?

goto:
http://usdf.org/login/not-authorized.asp?MembType=PMBM

Login using your USDF #
then go to
http://www.usdf.org/scorecheck/scorecheck.asp

and Get report

[SGray]

the preliminary budget is interesting reading

http://www.usdf.org/docs/about/about-usdf/financials/08-09PrliminaryBudgeWeb.pdf

for instance on page 2 - Adult Clinics - rider fees stay the same from '07 to '08 at $8,000 while audit fees almost double from $13,500 to $24,000 – are they expecting twice as many auditors or are they upping the audit fees?

The Adult Education budget deficit is reduced by $2,573 due to the elimination of $3,000 Adult Team Competition Award

The Annual Convention budget is almost unchanged as is the Audit Committee budget and the Bylaws

Page 7 - Comptetition/Awards budget – the projected revenue for score checks doubles from $1,500 to $3,000

will be looking at more later but certainly the proposed budget gives a little insight into thought processes

[staceyk]

valentina

Hi,

That’s the current year, but I wanted last year’s. I do think the current year is free…

[Commander_Cody]

I am curious - what makes you think that collecting, sorting, archiving etc… data, maintaining the web site, maintaining an office to answer your questions about finding your data or whatever your needs might be costs $0? In what world is that? I am not arguing pro or con any fees, just curious that you don’t seem to think that all this stuff costs at least some money to have at your fingertips.

[SGray]

I don’t think that collecting, sorting,… is cost-free

I do think that those costs are already allocated to such programs as Competition/Awards

[staceyk]

my .02

Hi,

Yes, of course it costs money, but is the rationale for a pretty darn high fee/chargeback to a member who has paid a non-trivial annual membership fee? Why am I being charged this year for a service that was free last year? And the point that is most significant to me, what added value am I getting for this fee?

If I were asking for a computation or analysis (how does my mean dressage score for first level tests of 2006 compare to the USDF amateur membership). THAT I would expect to pay for. To spit out a list of six scores that are negligible from standpoint of data storage and retrieval, not so much.

Compare this to Equineline. I can become a subscriber for a pittance and order all kinds of analyses on racehorses, their breeding, etc, for between $10-20 per report. I got a list of my TB’s half siblings, their race records and breeding histories, for about $10.

There. I feel somewhat better now.

[ec412]

stacey,

are you saying from now on we are not going to be able to access our scores for the current year without paying a fee, or are you saying that wanting to access last years scores that have allready been moved from the current database?

I print off my scores each year at the end of the year, check for accuracy as we go. I know I have been on this year, as I have a fall score posted.

Even if they are charging for past scores, I agree $35 is ridiculous.

[iownapaint]

Yup, I think it’s outrageous too. I wanted to look at last year’s scores for a couple of people I was considering for trainers and I couldn’t unless I wanted to shell out $$$. They already got more money out of me this year since you don’t get a discount on a PM when you already have GMO membership. You would think that you could search the database with your already expensive membership, but they would like more $$$ for everything. Soon it’ll cost money to look at what’s for sale in their online store!

[staceyk]

this year’s scores no charge

Hi,

I am able to access my (blank) record for this year’s scores. It is previous year’s scores that cost ya. I’m not certain if you are able to instantaneously view previous year’s scores you pay for, does anyone know?

Yes, the end of year report may become the standard practice. The $35 is almost a prohibitive measure – as if they just don’t want to deal with the requests rather than an attempt to make money. If that’s true, I’d have to assume previous year’s scores are offline. Again, it just doesn’t seem like that much data by today’s standards, so I’m not sure why they’d do this.

Stacey

[MazzyStar]

This is why right before they get rid of the current year scores, I pull my horse’s records up and save them to a word file, and print a few copies and stick them in the safe.

I was told a few weeks ago by a USEF representative that past year scores for ALL years together, one time to pull them up was $20.00 for any horse and rider.

[yaya]

USDF has always charged for prior years’ score reports, but it used to be only $25.

I just got a press release from USDF saying which reports cost money, which don’t and that non-members pay more than members. The trick is that members MUST be logged in to get the discount, and if you forget, you can’t get the extra money refunded.

If you paid $35 for your report, you must not have been logged in, because the press release says it should be $20 for members.

Interestingly, the press release does happen to mention statistics (which is what Rebecca wanted to get for the Qualification Proposal), and is says that statistics will cost $80 for up to 30 minutes of staff time (member cost. Non-members pay $125)

What the heck, here’s the whole press release:

[B]

Numerous Reports Now Available Online[/B]
Lexington, KY (March 4, 2008) – The United States Dressage Federation is pleased to announce that multiple reports have been made available online on the redesigned USDF Web site. There are three categories of reports available. Category One reports require an individual to be logged in through the front page of our Web site, but are free. Category Two reports have a fee based on member or non-member status with membership being defined as anyone that is a participating, group, or intercollegiate/interscholastic member in the USDF database at the time the report is being generated. Category Two reports are available to anyone, whether logged in or not, but if a member accesses the report without being logged in to the site, they will pay the full non-member rate, with no refund being available of the difference. Category Three reports must be requested directly from the office.
All reports are either free or less expensive for members of USDF. Category One includes Horse Score Check, Rider Score Check, and Qualified Horse and Rider Score Check for the current competition year. In addition, there are Owner’s/Lessee Horse Portfolio Searches and Breeder’s Horse Portfolio Searches available to individuals at this level as well. For officials of a USDF Group Member Organization (GMO), two additions reports are available free at year-end: the GMO Award Pull and GMO Rides Pull.
There are fees associated with Category Two reports, which include the USDF Lifetime Horse Score Check, USDF Lifetime Rider Score Check and USDF Dam/Sire Report. The fees for these reports are assessed at $20 each for members who can be verified in the USDF database at the time the reports are generated, and $35 each for non-members.
Category Three reports must be directly requested from the USDF office. These reports are defined as custom reports, queries, or statistics, with fees assessed at $80 for members and $125 for non-members for up to thirty minutes of staff time. Individuals will be charged $35 for members and $55 for non-members for each additional fifteen minutes of staff time to compile the reports.
Director of IT Services Chad Compton added, “As we continually add to the amount of information available on the site and expand its functionality, we hope to make many more commonly requested reports available with the click of a button.”
For more information on reports available, visit the Online Services section of the USDF Web site, e-mail reports@usdf.org or contact the IT services department at (859) 971-2277

[Commander_Cody]

I just went on the web site, and unless I am missing something the reports for prior years are $20 for members and $35 for non-members (but you have to log in as a member to get the discount). I think the charge to members is the same, but the ability to “discern” non-members on the web site is what is new.
Current year reports continue to be free to members - I use them each year for awards etc…

[ec412]

[QUOTE=MazzyStar;3051872]
This is why right before they get rid of the current year scores, I pull my horse’s records up and save them to a word file, and print a few copies and stick them in the safe.

I was told a few weeks ago by a USEF representative that past year scores for ALL years together, one time to pull them up was $20.00 for any horse and rider.[/QUOTE]

I do this as well, that way I have the copy for medals etc. When I am done showing, I know all is accounted for and correct, print it off. Good idea to put in your documents though.

[staceyk]

login

Hi,

I definitely went through a login process, but perhaps it got “lost” – I’ll try again. Thanks for posting!