BEWARE!

[Cooter]

This may have been posted in another thread, but I have a friend that just got hosed by these guys for $25 Large...
Beware gentlemen/ladies....MLC of Chisholm Minn. have completely ruined the hobby for this guys dream..
My friend did not deserve this...He's a god fearing, hard workin', tax payin' Gentleman that got took by these guys for a Christine Build...

This is a quote from him about what happened...
If anybody is looking to get a car built. be it a Charger or whatever, I'd steer clear of these guys...

"I entered into a legal contract with Memory Lane Classics of Chisholm, Minnesota to build a 1958 Plymouth Belvedere, Christine clone on December 8, 2008. Prior to the contract, I talked with several clients of Memory Lane Classics. They all spoke highly of their work.The car was to be provided by Memory Lane Classics. As per request from MLC, I sent Memory Lane Classics a deposit of $15,000 to begin this build. I was promised updated photos of the build every 3 weeks. The build was to take 10-12 months to complete. Within a month, I was informed by MLC that I could upgrade to a 1958 Plymouth Fury to which I agreed after much thought. I sent Memory Lane Classics another $10,000 as per request by MLC, to secure this upgrade. I reworked a new contract and it was signed. As part of this contract, MLC agreed to prove that I would be getting an authentic 1958 Plymouth Fury by having Chrysler Historical Archives decode the VINs of his Furys in his inventory. For the next 3 months I received every excuse possible from MLC that Chysler Historical was not receiving the Vehicle Identification Numbers from him. He claimed that he sent them out on 3 seperate occasions and even talked to the woman at Chrysler Historical. I talked to the only woman who took in the mail and received phone calls there and she told me that she had never talked to  anybody from Memory Lane Classics. She also told me that Chrysler Historical never received any VIN information from Memory Lane Classics. At about this time I reduced myself to actually beg MLC to send me updated photos of my build. We got into many disagreements and heated discussions over the lack of update photos. I received two sets of photos in the first 6 months of the build. The first set was obviously of two different cars and the second set was of another customers 1958 Plymouth. I realized this because MLC had inadvertantly sent me the exact same photos of this particular car in early December, 2008 before I signed on with them. MLC had sent me these initial photos to show me the work Memory Lane Classics was capable of doing and I had saved them. I had to rework the contract again. This third contract was necessary because I gave up on the Fury build due to the fact that Chrysler Historical never did get the VIN numbers of Memory Lane Classic's 58 Plymouth inventory. According to MLC, all three sets of VINs "must have gotten lost in the mail". It took me nearly 3 more months to get MLC to sign this third contract. We got in several heated discussions over this one too. In late August, 2009 MLC called me and accused me of bad mouthing Memory Lane Classics. I couldn't understand this as it did not make any sense to me whatsoever. I mean, I was having a tough go of it all, but why would I bad mouth the company that I'd given $25,000 to build the car of my dreams? They got angry and told me that he'd like to give all his "Christine customers" their money back and be done with them all. I quickly accepted his offer to return my money and cancel my build. Edwin told me that I'd have to sign a "Null and Void" agreement and then never disclose this information to anyone. I agreed to do this as I was so sick of all the broken promises and problems. I just wanted this nightmare to end and to get my money back. Well, this was nearly 3 months ago and to make a long story short, MLC and their attorney, Todd Deal of Virginia, Minnesota together have promised me dozens of times that a "Null and Void" agreement would be in the mail to me...I'd then have to sign it to get my full refund of $25,000. Three deadline dates have passed...The third being Nov. 20, 2009. Through this, MLC stated to me "I have never screwed anyone and I'm not going to start with you". MLC told me "I swear on my mother's grave that you will get your $25,000 back. I will not run with your money". I truly believed these guys that they were telling me the truth and that I'd get my money back. On top of all this it's been nearly 12 months since I signed the initial contract and now there is no car either. Recently I have told MLC that if they're not going to give me my money back then continue on with the build of my car. As of a few weeks ago, MLC and their attorney, Todd Deal stopped talking to me right after I had my attorney write them a letter. I have only one conclusion at this point. Memory Lane Classics of Chisholm, Minnesota have taken my money and will not give it back to me. They will not build me the car I contracted for either. Until now, I have not told anyone of this ordeal because Memory Lane Classics has a confidentiality clause in all their contracts. MLC told me that if I told anyone about the problems we were having I would not get my money back. Well, It certainly looks like it doesn't matter if I do so now. This is the true story of how I've been treated by  Memory Lane Classics. My recommendation is that nobody should EVER do business with these people. It took me many years to save all that money only to have it taken from me and have my dream crushed. I certainly don't want anyone else to have to go through a terrible ordeal like this. I also would welcome any help or advice to assist me in getting my hard earned money back."

[maxwellwedge]

There are dealers that sell classic cars and there are shops that restore classic cars. I have never seen anything good come out of a company that does both. Just from what I have observed personally over many years in this hobby.
I feel bad for your friend.

[skip68]

First of all, don't sign anything and have no more contact with them.  The only contact should be with your Attorney.  And yes, there is a ton of things you can do to really make this shop wish they paid you and made you go away.  DO NOT LET THEM FOOL YOU WITH THREATS OF SLANDER.  If this is all fact and you have the proof (contracts) then you tell them go right ahead and sue you.   Start digging into the companies income.     Have they been paying taxes ?      Do they have the right permits and license ?    Another thing that I find very strange is this.... Why would this company have an Attorney telling you they are giving you money ? ? ?  This is the same company that was mad at you for talking bad about them.       I would sign nothing...   I really wish Troy would make a place for us here, a section for warning the people of bad shops.   A place that you could only post if you have the proof (pictures, contracts) of being ripped off.   Maybe a moderator would have to be used to screen each complaint before it gets posted to keep it fair.      Good luck and go shut him down.   Chuck...... 

[RECHRGD]

This kind of stuff is getting way too common.  Guys-----You've got to REALLY check these places out before you start sending out thousands of your hard earned dollars.  The company is listed with Dun and Bradstreet and a full financial report is at your finger tips.  Sometimes a company can be in business for years and have plenty of happy past customers, but when hard financial times hit, everything can go to hell in a hurry.  Once they start using money earmarked for a new project to try and finish old projects, it's all over and the new customer gets screwed.  I don't know if that's the case here, but it sure sounds like it could be.   Bob