Prodigy Customs 100 thousand dollar project

[Hard2core]

This is the last thing i wanted to do. I have refused to do it up to now. I run two businesses and the very last thing i would ever want to do is publicly take someone to task and have any effect on their business via others. In this case its warranted because this guy is not a man of his word. 1000 times over.
I went with Prodigy Customs for my car build because 4 years ago his reputation was stellar and the various boards lauded him with praise as the shop to go to.
Wow has that changed.
Just do a little search on whats happened in the last year with this company.

I gave him this car in march of 2009. Ive paid him 100 thousand dollars (yes...$100,000) so far to complete this car.
Ive heard every single excuse in the book....its gotten tedious
a) I lost a very good employee
b) Son in car accident
c) Personal health problems
d) Camaro frame was bent (he rode this one for a year...) first it was "had been in an accident so we had to straighten out the frame"...that got embellished into "got hit by a train"...
e) Then he had to do a drug intervention on an employee
f) Camaro convertible frame was bent due to shipping (rode that one for a year)
g) I opened up a new shop and that put a halt on things.
g) and on and on and on and on, Ive heard it all.....every single deadline has been broken, every single "i promise you this is the drop dead date it will be done" has been broken.

This is how it has gone
I give him the car in march of 2009..he says it will be done end of july
*date passes.
says it will be done end of september
*date passes.
i travel down there in october of 2009 from california because im wondering why the deadlines are being passed he promised and the car is only primered at that point with nothing else done (i was shocked as i had paid him 40k at that point)
he tells me he had gotten behind with projects but it will be done for xmas
*date passes
on the phone again...tells me it will be done for spring 2010
*date passes
says it will be done for a big car show september 30th 2010 in vegas where it will be on display and my wife and i can come see it and make any changes if we want or take it from there
i believe this and pay him another 38k for parts and labor
i call him and call him the week before the car show and he doesnt call me back for that car show....
I was pissed.....I again travel to florida early december 2010--show up unannounced...state of my car? Its painted and i see all my parts all over the place but its just a shell body waiting to be put together and its outside covered by a tarp. He apoligizes profusely, he tells me he just got real behind with projects and lost his main guy.....i accuse him of maybe not doing so well in this recession and my fears are i'm being taken here and i am not going to be taken.....he swears thats not the case and he is on it and my car will be ready jan 31 2011...alot of apoligizing and saying he totally understands my position.

****again I do my best to believe him because he has always had a golden rep in the industry....everyone you ask about him says positive things, even out here, the car builders are like "oh prodigy customs? yea that guy does great work....one of the best in the business"

Again he promises me the car will be done jan 31 2011
Jan 31 comes---i call
*not done
im very short on the phone because im fuming.....I say "when will it be done?"
he says "march 31 but i might need some more funds before that"...

At that point i got off the phone and had a Florida friend drive up and take pics at the shop of my car.
It was in the exact same condition it was 4 months prior....on the rusty frame and all.
Alot of emails are exchanged and phone calls around this time period and I got to admit the guy is tremendously convincing. He gets you excited about your kick-*** car that is almost done and ready.
I get emails like this around March 2011
---------------------------------------
From: <[email protected] ([email protected])>
To: Dante
It is a long story, but your friend saw the beautifully restored original top frame and the brand new top frame I had flown in from California. We had to fly a brand new top frame in for the car as the original one after screwing with it for ever would not go up and down with the power assist at all, it was bent (hidden) from the accident and was not power.

There is stuff done you did not see we had gutted for the top frame install. We have already roughed in the rear side panels (making to match the fronts) and also have been making the back seat. Michael was fitting the new frame when your friend came by (not that second but that is what he was working on). The car is back at Jeff's (upholstery) yesterday and he will be back on it Monday. Once we get over the interior hurdle we will install the frame and engine which are sitting here ready to go soon as I get over the interior.

Just a week ago it looked like a car, Give me a couple weeks and you will see a completely different car when it comes out of Jeff's shop.
Thank You

Frank Serafine
Prodigy Customs
Pro Touring Specialist
www.ProdigyCustoms.com[/URL ([URL]http://www.ProdigyCustoms.com)]
407 832 1752 Direct line
--------------------------------------

We go back and forth and he convinces me with pics and parts and his candor that this car is coming to a close, that there were some hiccups but my car is the main project and this line in his following invoice email sells me....

--------------------------------------

Frank :

So going forward you deserve a date and a estimate of total cost.

So Not only will I give a drop dead date but I will also institute a self imposed penalty clause to be deducted from the final payment. Because of the unknowns of this 6 speed auto and and because of the intricacy of the interior fabrication, I will add a month of safety factor and make Christmas a drop dead date. But I really hope to have it hope for Thanksgiving. IF it is not ready to ship by Christmas we will deduct $50 per day until it is ready to ship.

Going forward I ONLY need money for parts and sublet. I will hold off on all additional labor until the car is finished.

--------------------------------------

I pay the parts and sublet.
Thanksgiving 2011 comes and goes
The drop dead date of Christmas 2011 comes and goes....and the 50 dollar per day tally back to me begins ( So I'M probably at roughly $11600 right now....great....anyone here think Ill see that? LOL )

I HAVE HAD IT....February 25th 2012 i send the following email (almost 3 years later from when i gave him my car)

I want my car.
Its now been over 3 years since I dropped off my car to you.
Every single deadline has been broken. Every single one. I was promised thanksgiving and the drop dead last date (YOUR WORDS!) was December 25th.
I want my car...yesterday
I am looking around and IM seeing a slew of people saying Frank Serafine is either ripping them off or screwing them over somehow on these message boards. The 50 dollar a day thing for every day past xmas means absolutely nothing to me anymore because now I am feeling like Im being taken since i see all these complaints.
I am not going to get screwed on this car....thats for damn sure.
Being as courteous, understanding and cordial through this process as I have, I should be applauded.
I am not going another summer without this car one way or the other. I was supposed to get this car in late 2009. then 2010 then 2011 and now we are here in 2012 with the runaround again.
The last thing i want to do for your sake or for my inconvenience is go on cam.net, lat-g and pro touring etc etc etc and tell everyone my story of what has transpired here in my dealings with ProdigyCustoms. As an internet business myself...I know that is the kiss of death. I dont want to do that and I dont want my hand forced to do that..... as i know the unrepairable damage that does to customers contemplating if they should buy from you....seen some competitors of mine screw up their public reputation and go out of business.....(I am highly successful though because I follow through on what I tell people)
If you cannot understand how a customer is pissed off not getting his car in this particular situation, I dont know what to tell you. You told me car builds should take 9 months (this car was sent to you in Feb 2009) and you were sorry its taken this long back when I visited you back in december of 2010!. Along with the "your car is the main car and this project isnt going to stop till its completed". I was told completion January 30th then March 2011.......this is absolutely ridiculous now. Its been 3 years. I am absolutely not going half a decade to get my damn car done.
We are now entering March 2012.... I am coming to get my car before June of this year one way or the other if i have to ship a bunch of parts back to myself in California to have a car shop out here put it together. (Ill pay some top flight builder to come with me to Orlando to account for all the parts).....so I expect an email in the next 2-3 days from you telling me one of two things
1) Drop dead date this car is done previous to June 2012....and make it the drop dead date this time Frank...no bull****...nothing...I dont trust your word anymore and you should expect that. You have broken every single date completion before this...just state the truth now as it doesnt matter anymore as that car is coming back to me completed or in parts previous to June. (IM going to have my friends check on the car progress over the next 3 months if you decide to go this #1 route as my trustfactor is out the window)
or
2) Just tell me you cannot get this car done by June and Ill come out and get my car and all its parts NOW.
What is sad is I have a car with a 3 year old paint job on it allready.
I have had enough of this experience...so please get back to me in 2-3 days on one of the two options above
Dante

-------------------------------------
and Franks email reply to me

We will be done way before June. The $50 thing may not mean anything to you but it is a nouse around my neck getting tighter. I have been waiting to get the interior stuff back to update pics, i talked to Jeff today and he is promising most of the stuff by Tuesday next week.
June, no way, Late March, much more like it.
Thank You
Frank Serafine

----------------------------------

Late March passes

---------------------------------
April 3rd email from frank to me

I was hoping Jeff would have been done with the seats also so we could get it back. But he say he will work on it straight through Friday ti he is done. Then I need a month to 6 weeks to finish the car.

Thank You…
--------------------------------

6 weeks passes again

I again email Frank on March 22

I need to know this with 100% truth....no bull****
When i come out and get my car in June here in a few weeks, I am going to have someone of car building note with me to
1) account for all parts
2) I need to know something very important..... are all my parts going to be scattered here and there and i am going to have to track down everything to ship back to california or am I going to ship back close to a total car and have a few parts here and there on the side to ship back.
I need to know this to get everything together on my end in preparing to ship this back (almost whole or in peices)....i dont want to get there and my interior is over at some other shop, my chassis is at your shop, and the engine and tranny are on the ground 5 buildings over etc etc.....i want everything either together in a pile so my guy can account for everything.....or a almost complete car so my guy can account for everything.
So i need to know from you what Im probably shipping back. We are really past the point of "Dante i will have this car done in such and such a time"...way way past that....Im coming to get my car and all my parts ive paid for here....and i just need to know how im getting this back to california so i would appreciate some blunt truthfulness from you on this front so I can get this done quickly.
please get back to me as soon as possible
Dante

---------------------------------

On 5/22/2012 5:02 AM, [email protected] ([email protected]) wrote:
> We will be ready. I rejected the seats (pics attached) for being to wrinkled so Jeff is re doing those as we speak. i should have it back by the end of the week and do final assembly.
>
> I asked before if i was going in the right direction with the interior but got no reply. I do really like the it is turing out, just hated the wrinkles in the front seats.
>
> We need to install the dash when tit returns and finish the wiring and are chomping at the bit to get it finished.
>
> Just bare with me, I am pushing hard here and almost have the subcontrator out of the way.
>
--------------------------------

And here we are

June has passed, Does anyone here think Ive heard from Frank at all? Not a word. I got busy and could not go to Florida in June and over the last few months (Home purchase and commercial building buildout).
Its now August 16th 2012 .....three and a half years since I gave Prodigy Customs my car to build.
If Frank comes on this thread and refutes any of this, its going to get real embarrasing real quick for him as this is all 100% truth and I can factually prove every single aspect.
I am a businessman who owns two manufacturing plants. My reputation is stellar because I am a man of my word and I dont blow smoke up peoples asses. I'll tell them, thats going to take 12 weeks and I COMPLETE IT IN 12 WEEKS. Thats how you gain a reputation as a man of your word.

I asked you Frank if you were running a ponzi scheme in one of my last phone calls to you and you emphatically said no. On the outside it sure looks like you are taking in money to live on and pay off old bills while carrying the new ones until new business comes in.
As someone also in the manufacturing business Frank I know how things work.
a) When business is good you hire more workers to help you complete the projects. You keep saying you lost your main guy....well hire more skilled guys then! That should be no problem if business is booming like I saw you say on another thread.
b) How do you open up a state of the art new shop when you cant even complete the projects that are in front of you or get peoples parts for them? Again that looks like someone who is using money that is coming in for things that they arent supposed to be paying for.
c) Nothing sucks more than knowing that i would have had one of the first few 69 camaros with a brand new camaro LS engine and transmission and interior in it, but now thats old hat...and it also sucks that my paint job is already over 3 years old.

So here you go Frank... I waited 2 whole years before putting up this thread...as again its the last thing i wanted to do but you forced my hand. IM coming to get my car...soon. I have paid for every single thing but the labor as you said, so every single part better be there (as its going to be accounted for as I have to pay a builder to come with me to Florida to account for everything and help me ship all this back to california) and its an extensive list. Just great i have to pay skilled people just to get my car and account for the parts and project I hired you for.
You havent been a man of your word at all up to this point...but I will come back on this thread and tell everyone that every single part (blower, Morrison suspenion, interior, hartz top, 2010 SS Camaro engine/tran, vintage air, power windows/everything etc etc etc etc ) was there and I was able to peice it together and ship it home to California.
Lets hope you can at least be a man of your reputation and word on that part.
Beyond frustrated

[Richio1]

So Dante, what ever happened with your car?

[Hard2core]

Sure thing do you want to know what happened?

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA

MYSELF

Plaintiff,

vs. Case No.

FRANK SERAFINE and

PRODIGY CUSTOMS, LLC,

a Florida limited liability company.

Defendants.

__________________________________/

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff, (me) (“Plaintiff”), sues Defendants, FRANK SERAFINE

(“Sarafine”) and PRODIGY CUSTOMS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (“Prodigy”)

(collectively, “Defendants”), and alleges as follows:

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

1. The damages in this action exceed $15,000, exclusive of interest, attorneys’ fees and

costs.

2. Venue is proper in this circuit because the Defendants do business in this county and the

actions alleged herein occurred in this county.

PARTIES

3. (MYSELF) is an individual residing in San Diego County, California.

4. Frank Serafine is an individual residing in Seminole County, Florida.

5. Prodigy Customs, LLC, is a Florida limited liability company with its principal place of

business located in Seminole County, Florida.

2

GENERAL ALLEGATIONS

6. Plaintiff came into contact with Defendants on the Camaros.net internet message board

regarding Plaintiff’s 1969 Camaro Convertible, Vehicle Identification Number: XXXXXXX

(“Camaro”).

7. On January 29, 2009, via the internet message board, Defendant Serafine offered Plaintiff

a phone consultation to discuss project planning and a proposed budget to completely restore the

Camaro and return it to Plaintiff as a Pro Touring 1969 Camaro Convertible SS/RS (the

“Work”). A true and correct copy of the pertinent portions of this exchange is attached hereto as

Exhibit “A”.

8. Plaintiff and Defendants agreed that Defendants would complete the Work for a fee of

$79,722.21 (the “Quoted Work Amount”) by July 1, 2009 (the “Project Completion Date”).

See Defendants’ quote for $79,722.71, a true and correct copy of which is attached hereto as

Exhibit “B”.

9. In early March, 2009, upon Defendants’ request, Plaintiff shipped the Camaro from

Plaintiff’s residence of San Diego, California to Defendants’ place of business in Sanford,

Florida via DBR Transport Service, Inc., at a cost of $980.00, A true and correct copy of the

shipping bill is attached hereto as Exhibit “C”. Plaintiff further complied with Defendants’

request on March 14, 2009 by sending an initial payment of $15,600.00 by paying Defendants

via three business credit card payments in the respective amounts of $4,800.00, $8,200.00 and

$2,600.00. A true and correct copy of the credit card transactions is attached hereto as

Composite Exhibit “D”.

10. With the Project Completion Date nearing, Defendants requested an additional

$30,000.00 from Plaintiff, which Plaintiff immediately sent over a period of ten days beginning

3

on June 29, 2009 by way of six (6) credit card payments. A true and correct copy of these

transactions totaling $30,000.00 is attached hereto as Exhibit “E”. Upon receiving this amount

from Plaintiff, Defendants then requested that Plaintiff buy a brand new 2010 Camaro engine

and transmission and interior parts worth over $11,000.00. Plaintiff bought the aforementioned

parts and shipped them to Defendants. True and correct illustrations of the parts, as well as

evidence of the $11,311.65 transaction, is attached hereto as Composite Exhibit “F”.

11. Thereafter, after the Project Completion Date had come and gone, Plaintiff failed to

receive any updates from Defendants until Plaintiff proactively traveled to Defendants’ shop in

October 2009 where he found the car had been stripped to a mere “shell”. Defendants advised

Plaintiff that the Work would be completed by December 31, 2009. That date also passed

without completion and Defendants advised Plaintiff that the Work would be completed by the

spring of 2010.

12. The Work was also not completed by the spring of 2010. What ensued after this date was

2.5 years of further excuses and delay tactics as provided below.

13. In addition to the original quote, in July 2010, Defendants advised Plaintiff that the

Camaro was close to completion and requested an additional sum of money upon furnishing two

(2) more quotes for additional parts and labor. Immediately, Plaintiff sent Defendants two

additional payments, $13,050.62 (cash) and $22,759.05 (via personal check). True and correct

copies of the invoices and proof of payment is attached hereto as Composite Exhibit “G”. At

this point, Defendants had received sums from Plaintiff is excess of the original quote.

14. After receiving these payments, Defendant Serafine advised Plaintiff that the Camaro

would be completed for a popular car show in Las Vegas scheduled for September 30, 2010.

4

Defendant Serafine invited Plaintiff and his wife to the show to view the Camaro and drive it

home to San Diego, California.

15. Leading up to the car show in Las Vegas, Defendant Serafine ignored Plaintff’s calls for

two weeks and the Camaro was a complete “no show” at the September 30, 2010 car show.

Defendants did not return any of MYSELF’s calls regarding the same.

16. In December 2010, Plaintiff traveled to Florida unannounced to find his car nowhere near

completion. Defendant Serafine apologized profusely, made numerous excuses and promised

completion by January 31, 2011. In late March 2011, upon Plaintiff’s inquiry, Defendants again

requested a few more weeks via email. A true and correct copy of the March 2011 email is

attached hereto as Exhibit “H”.

17. March 31, 2011 passed without completion and Defendant Serafine sent Plaintiff a

detailed email on September 8 and 14, 2011 justifying the delay and expenses and requesting an

additional $36,000.00 A true and correct copy of the September 14, 2011 email is attached

hereto as Exhibit “I”. Defendants promise completion by December 25, 2011 or will selfimpose

a $50.00 penalty per day against himself. In another email dated September 15, 2011,

Defendant Serafine expresses to Plaintiff that 90% of the parts are already on the car. A true and

correct copy of the September 15, 2011 email is attached hereto as Exhibit “J”. Defendant

Serafine then requests an additional $18,063.10 which Plaintiff sends immediately. A true and

correct copy of the September 12, 2011 invoice and proof of tender of funds is attached hereto as

Composite Exhibit “K”.

18. The Camaro is not completed in 2011 and Defendant continues to send Plaintiff

numerous emails in early and mid-2012 promising completion first by March 2012, then June

2012. None of these promises materialize. Plaintifff finally travels to Defendant’s shop in late5

September, 2012 and witnesses the Camaro in very poor condition. The Camaro is rusting, the

body panels are not fitting properly and it is missing the crucial items such as various engine

compartment parts, brake system, dashboard, fuel system and exhaust system. True and correct

copies of photographs of the Camaro at the time Plaintiff came to Defendants’ shop in late

September 2012 are attached hereto as Exhibit “L”.

19. During Plaintiff’s visit, Defendant Serafine apologized profusely and became very

emotional in response to Plaintiff’s justifiable concerns. (ERASING THIS NEXT SENTENCE
FOR FRANKS BENEFIT, DOESNT NEED TO BE SAID AS ITS PERSONAL PROBLEM REGARDING
HIM AND DOESNT PERTAIN TO CAR)

20. Plaintiff has gone above and beyond all reasonable efforts to allow Defendants to

perform the Work promised on the Camaro. To date, including expenses and costs, Plaintiff has

sent Defendants $136,564.41 (the “Final Work Amount”) to complete the Work on the Camaro.

21. A breakdown of the dates and amounts expended by Plaintiff and received by Defendants

(with Plaintiff’s supporting affidavit) is illustrated in the chart attached hereto as Composite

Exhibit “M”.

22. An affidavit by a certified mechanic and automotive expert, (NAME EXCLUDED BY ME)

attesting to the value and condition of the Camaro at the time that Plaintiff finally picked it up is

attached hereto as Exhibit “N”.

23. Through its undersigned counsel, Plaintiff sent a formal demand letter to Defendants on

November 7, 2012 and received by Defendants on November 8, 2012. A true and correct copy

of the demand letter is attached hereto as Exhibit “O”.

24. Plaintiff has retained the undersigned law firm to prosecute this action and has agreed to

pay attorney’s fees accordingly.

COUNT I

BREACH OF CONTRACT

Plaintiff hereby sues Defendants, repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 24 as if restated

more fully herein, and states:

25. In January, 2009, Plaintiff and Defendants entered into an oral agreement whereby

Defendants agreed to perform the Work on Plaintiff’s Camaro for the Quoted Work Amount.

26. Plaintiff immediately complied with his obligations under the Agreement and sent the

Quoted Work Amount to Defendants at periodic intervals as provided above and supported in the

Exhibits attached to the Complaint.

27. Defendants breached their obligation to perform the Work by the Project Completion

Date.

28. Even after expiration of the Project Completion Date and after all payments comprising

the Quoted Work Amount had been sent by Plaintiff, Plaintiff, in good faith, continued to

comply with Defendants’ requests to send additional funds to Defendants resulting in the Final

Work Amount.

29. Three years and ten months after the parties entered into an oral agreement, Defendants

have not completed the Work and the Camaro is close to worthless. See Exhibits “N” and “L”.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants in the amount of

$136,564.41, together with prejudgment and postjudgment interest, attorney’s fees, costs and

such other relief as this Court deems appropriate.

COUNT II

UNJUST ENRICHMENT

Plaintiff hereby sues Defendants, repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 24 as if

restated more fully herein, and states:

7

30. Plaintiff has conferred a benefit on the Defendants.

31. Defendants voluntarily accepted and retained the benefit conferred.

32. The circumstances render Defendants’ retention of the benefit inequitable unless the

Defendants pay to Plaintiff the value of the benefit.

33. Defendants have been unjustly enriched at the expense of Plaintiff.

34. Plaintiff is entitled to damages as a result of Defendants’ unjust enrichment.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants for the claim of unjust

enrichment, together with prejudgment and postjudgment interest, attorney’s fees, costs and such

other relief as this Court deems appropriate.

COUNT III

FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT

Plaintiff repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 24 as if restated more fully herein, and

states:

35. Defendants initiated communication with Plaintiff via the Camaros.net online message

board forum. Such communication resulted in Defendants making a false statement concerning a

material fact in that Defendants induced Plaintiff to send monies for the Work.

36. Defendants had no intention to commence the Work on the Camaro and had knowledge

that such communication regarding the Work was false.

37. Defendants intended that such communication would induce the Plaintiff to act upon it

and send the Camaro and monies to Defendants.

38. Plaintiff relied upon Defendants’ communication and has been injured as a result of such

reliance.

39. Additionally, upon realizing Plaintiff’s willingness to submit initial sums and amounts,

Defendants’ later emails and messages (as illustrated in the Exhibits) to Plaintiff after the initial

8

communication on the Camaros.net internet message board resulted in Defendants making

further false statements concerning material facts which induced Plaintiff to send additional

monies to Defendants pursuant to these additional communications and monetary requests for the

Work.

40. Defendants schematically attained Plaintiff’s trust on the message board and in

subsequent communications in an effort to convince Plaintiff to send Defendants his Camaro for

the Work. Once the Camaro was in the possession and control of Defendants, Defendants

established a fraudulent pattern of requesting additional monies from Plaintiff upon recognizing

Plaintiff’s willingness to continue “topping off” every one of Defendants’ fraudulent monetary

demands.

41. Defendants had knowledge that such additional communications would induce Plaintiff

to act upon them, and used this knowledge to extract monies over a period of over three years.

42. Plaintiff relied upon Defendants’ additional communications and has been injured as a

result of such reliance.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants in the amount of

$136,564.41, together with prejudgment and postjudgment interest, attorney’s fees, costs and

such other relief as this Court deems appropriate.

COUNT IV

CIVIL THEFT

Plaintiff hereby sues Defendants, repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 24 as if

restated more fully herein, and states:

43. Defendant Serafine knowingly and intentionally took monies in the amount of

$136,564.41 and personal property in the amount of $6,200.00 from Plaintiff with the felonious

intent to, either temporarily or permanently, deprive Plaintiff of the right to the money.


Total Monies Expended by MYSELF and/or received by Frank Serafine and Prodigy Customs for the Camaro

DATE METHOD NOTES AMOUNT

02/25/2009 Shipment Fee Shipment of Camaro from California to Florida $ 980.00

03/14/2009 Credit Card Paid , Business Account $ 4,800.00

03/14/2009 Credit Card Paid , Business Account $ 8,200.00

03/14/2009 Credit Card Paid , Business Account $ 2,600.00

06/24/2009 Check/Debit Card Paid via MYSELF Bank of America Account $ 5,000.00

06/25/2009 Check/Debit Card Paid via MYSELF Bank of America Account $ 5,000.00

06/26/2009 Check/Debit Card Paid via MYSELF Bank of America Account $ 5,000.00

06/29/2009 Check/Debit Card Paid via MYSELF Bank of America Account $ 5,000.00

06/29/2009 Check/Debit Card Paid via MYSELF Bank of America Account $ 5,000.00

07/01/2009 Check/Debit Card Paid via MYSELF Bank of America Account $ 5,000.00

11/02/2009 PayPal transaction Down payment for Camaro engine and parts $ 1,000.00

11/05/2009 Cashier’s Check Full payment for Camaro engine and parts $ 10,311.65

11/26/2009 Online Bid MyAuctions Payment for Interior seats $ 1,499.99

07/23/2010 Cash via FedEx Payment for first Invoice dated 07/19/2010 $ 13,050.62

07/23/2010 Personal Check Payment for second Invoice dated 07/19/2010 $ 11,000.00

08/07/2010 Personal Check Payment for second Invoice dated 07/19/2010 $ 11,759.05

09/20/2011 Credit Card Payment for Invoice dated 09/12/2010 $ 4,850.00

09/20/2011 Credit Card Payment for Invoice dated 09/12/2010 $ 7,650.00

09/22/2011 Personal Check Payment for Invoice dated 09/12/2010 $ 5,563.10

12/25/2011 – 09/26/2012 Penalty owed Self-imposed $50 per day penalty by Prodigy Customs $ 13,800.00

09/26/2012 Storage and Moving Costs Fees paid to (NAME EXCLUDED) for moving the Camaro $ 2,000.00

3 x trips from CA to FL Travel Expenses ($2,500 ea.) MYSELF Expenses for 3 trips to check on the Camaro $ 7,500.00

TOTAL $ 136,564.41

[Hard2core]

this is the engine I sent him

50 miles on it

off a 2010 SS Camaro

cost me close to 11k

Frank took parts off it including my fuel injectors and sold them to someone else or used my engines parts for something else (my engine that I paid for and sent him)

I tried to attach a picture but its not letting me

[Hard2core]

I have won the court case against Prodigy for 133k
and I have won the court case against frank serafine for 409 thousand because he willfully defrauded me and its triple damages.

[Hard2core]

As far as my car....after all the invoices I paid for all the parts.....I got a car that has carpet in it and has a paint job

I sent him a 10k Camaro SS engine with 50k miles on it and that's on the car but Frank took parts of it and sold it or put it on someone elses car..(things like my fuel injectors)

I sent him a complete interior from a Camaro SS and that's in the car....

I have invoices for just so many parts that I paid for (wheels, tires, stereo, brakes, on and on and on and on...multiple Marquez specialty parts that he took my money for and he pocketed.....The guy lied to my face, on the phone, and in emails so many times its sickening... so I paid 100 plus K for pretty much...a car with a paintjob and carpet...all the parts he took off my starting car (interior, brand new instruments,) gone...

The story they have conspired is: His son and he don't get along and his son has somehow someway ended up with all the parts and tools in a new shop https://www.facebook.com/pages/Muscle-Car-Dynamics/446532298787289

I gave my car to him in 2009 and in 2 months it will be 5 years and im still not driving my car.

I said it on the other board and ill say it here

Do you know what smart people do Frank when they have wronged someone and are facing bigtime legal consequences? They contact those people and say "How can I make this right? I know I did you wrong...how can I make this right?"...This judgement doesn't go away with bankruptcy or any other way you think you can get out of it....(ask someone about that...I already asked my two lawyers...this is iron clad..it isn't going away, your on the hook for it) ...
See if I was in your shoes let me tell you what I would do Frank....I would look at my son and think "I don't want this guy coming after him, and his shop and his assets (which I will if you don't act and act quickly)".....so I would get on the horn with my lawyer and tell him "Im going to pay Dante 1000 dollars a month every month until he is driving his Camaro since I took him to the cleaners and need to make it right"

That's what I would do if I was you... but you don't seem to run your life with much smarts so youll probably do nothing, with as many times you have lied to me to my face, on the phone and in email I wouldn't expect anything else.....that's allright you see how I roll when someone like you rips me off...ill just keep doing my thing

[aussietony]

I have won the court case against Prodigy for 133k
and I have won the court case against frank serafine for 409 thousand because he willfully defrauded me and its triple damages.

Congratulations on the win. What are the chances of you ever seeing any of the money? Does Frank have anything of value that can be sold to pay you? He was certainly a piece of work. I'm feeling like one of the lucky ones after my dealings with him. Now I only buy from the likes of summit and jegs etc

[Cdog]

Hard2core,

Good on you for nailing him to the wall. My best guess is Frank will never have a dollar in an actual account for the rest of his life in order to avoid garnishment. My experience with frank the scam artist has taught me to ALWAYS use my Amex when buying anything anymore. And to not trust east coast smokers with bad teeth.:ripped::Alchy:

Happy New Year!

[icemanrd19]

im not sure i can post in here but since you won whats the chances or you collecting? Whats the next step? good luck

[Hard2core]

im not sure i can post in here but since you won whats the chances or you collecting? Whats the next step? good luck


I hope you can understand...I just want to be quiet right now on the details of that.

[Hard2core]

Since you moderators keep deleting the posts I made on this subject let me go ahead and show you the first PM I ever received here at Pro Touring....and you ask Larry and anyone else in charge if they would be pissed off if they joined my forum and I was in cahoots with someone who took them for 100 plus thousand! The more you guys are moderating my posts the more Im getting pissed and wonder what the hell is going on here and why are you trying to protect Frank Serafine. I get it Larry he built your car! Regardless of that he screwed over about 37 people for thousands of dollars including me for the top amount. I could prove to you 1000 times over the lies he told me....so what is going on here with the protection factor with this individual????

I thought I was safe since this was the first PM I received...I thought I was in good hands.

Welcome From Prodigy Customs!



Hello and congratulations on joining the worlds largest Pro Touring Forum, Pro-Touring.Com. I wanted to personally welcome you and introduce myself. My name is Frank Serafine and I own Prodigy Customs. We are one of the original site sponsors here and the proud builder of the Official Pro Touring Car named MotiV8tr owned by Pro-Touring.com owner, Larry Callahan. We specialize in building Pro Touring cars and sell all the parts to build you dream Pro Touring ride.

I also wanted to let you know that as a member of Pro-Touring.com, you as a member have some benefits with Prodigy Customs you should know about.

(1) We do FREE Pro Touring Project Planning for forum members. If you're building a Pro Touring Project and confused by all the manufacturer advertising and claims, not sure what is hype and what is fact, or what products to use, or how much you have to spend, then Project planning is for you. With Project Planning we discuss your needs and wants (often not the same), Goals, Capabilities, Time-line and Budget. We have multiple product lines of suspension, brakes, wheels, A/C, etc. Because we use and sell multiple products from multiple manufacturers, through Project Planing we can choose the best product for you needs and budget, and not just try to sell you our product because it is the only product we sell.

We are consulting and planning 100s of projects literally all around the world. We are working with hobbyist and shops all over the US, Australia, Holland, Sweden, France, England, and more.
Get your advice from someone that has substantial experience and uses what they sell!

There are a lot of companies that sell parts but do not build cars! There are a lot of companies that sell parts and claim to build cars they did not build! But at Prodigy Customs, We build a lot of cars, check out our website and look around the forums. There are 22 Pro Touring projects on the property today! In just the time period from August through December 09 we had 6 features cars in magazines and 2 magazine covers! You can also follow the build of our Project UNFAIR in current issues of Super Chevy magazine. We feel all this is important. So besides being able to build some of the coolest Pro Touring cars on the planet, our shop also serves as a R and D center for our parts business. We use and install in our shop everything we sell and we only sell products we know work through our own personal experience.

And we share all our experience with you for free with no purchase required or implied. Although a lot of people end up buying a lot of their product from us because they trust us and appreciate the help.

And members also buy from us because...............................

(2) As a member, you get great discount pricing on many items in our product line up!

Right now all parts sales are done by phone and email, but our new ProTouring SuperStore will be open very soon with 100s of items. We have almost everything you will need for your Pro Touring build, and if we do not sell something you need, we will tell you where we get it!
If you need Project Planning services. The best way to start is with a email, a quick breakdown of where you are with your project and where you need to be. Give me a phone number and a time window I can call you. Evenings are a great time for me for Project Planning calls. And if you need something right away, I take calls from 8AM to 8PM eastern time. ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT! PM's are the absolute worst way to reach me. E Mail is THE preferred method of contacting me.

My personal E Mail is [email protected]

And again, if you have a emergency related to your project, and you cannot wait for a email answer, feel free to call, that is what I am here for.

The Official Pro Touring Car, MotiV8r by Prodigy Customs. See more here http://www.prodigycustoms.com/projects/

etc

[Larry Callahan]

I thought I was safe since this was the first PM I received...I thought I was in good hands.

Welcome From Prodigy Customs!



Hello and congratulations on joining the worlds largest Pro Touring Forum, Pro-Touring.Com. I wanted to personally welcome you and introduce myself. My name is Frank Serafine and I own Prodigy Customs. We are one of the original site sponsors here and the proud builder of the Official Pro Touring Car named MotiV8tr owned by Pro-Touring.com owner, Larry Callahan. We specialize in building Pro Touring cars and sell all the parts to build you dream Pro Touring ride.

I also wanted to let you know that as a member of Pro-Touring.com, you as a member have some benefits with Prodigy Customs you should know about.

(1) We do FREE Pro Touring Project Planning for forum members. If you're building a Pro Touring Project and confused by all the manufacturer advertising and claims, not sure what is hype and what is fact, or what products to use, or how much you have to spend, then Project planning is for you. With Project Planning we discuss your needs and wants (often not the same), Goals, Capabilities, Time-line and Budget. We have multiple product lines of suspension, brakes, wheels, A/C, etc. Because we use and sell multiple products from multiple manufacturers, through Project Planing we can choose the best product for you needs and budget, and not just try to sell you our product because it is the only product we sell.

We are consulting and planning 100s of projects literally all around the world. We are working with hobbyist and shops all over the US, Australia, Holland, Sweden, France, England, and more.
Get your advice from someone that has substantial experience and uses what they sell!

There are a lot of companies that sell parts but do not build cars! There are a lot of companies that sell parts and claim to build cars they did not build! But at Prodigy Customs, We build a lot of cars, check out our website and look around the forums. There are 22 Pro Touring projects on the property today! In just the time period from August through December 09 we had 6 features cars in magazines and 2 magazine covers! You can also follow the build of our Project UNFAIR in current issues of Super Chevy magazine. We feel all this is important. So besides being able to build some of the coolest Pro Touring cars on the planet, our shop also serves as a R and D center for our parts business. We use and install in our shop everything we sell and we only sell products we know work through our own personal experience.

And we share all our experience with you for free with no purchase required or implied. Although a lot of people end up buying a lot of their product from us because they trust us and appreciate the help.

And members also buy from us because...............................

(2) As a member, you get great discount pricing on many items in our product line up!

Right now all parts sales are done by phone and email, but our new ProTouring SuperStore will be open very soon with 100s of items. We have almost everything you will need for your Pro Touring build, and if we do not sell something you need, we will tell you where we get it!
If you need Project Planning services. The best way to start is with a email, a quick breakdown of where you are with your project and where you need to be. Give me a phone number and a time window I can call you. Evenings are a great time for me for Project Planning calls. And if you need something right away, I take calls from 8AM to 8PM eastern time. ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT! PM's are the absolute worst way to reach me. E Mail is THE preferred method of contacting me.

My personal E Mail is [email protected]

And again, if you have a emergency related to your project, and you cannot wait for a email answer, feel free to call, that is what I am here for.

The Official Pro Touring Car, MotiV8r by Prodigy Customs. See more here http://www.prodigycustoms.com/projects/

etc

I would like to address this. I was not aware that Frank was sending such a PM to new members until very late. I don't remember exactly when it was but I remember receiving a PM from someone asking about it and I was not happy. I did not authorize that PM or endorse it in any way. I immediately put a stop to it after I found out. I am certain that all he did was watch the bottom of the forum for new members as they registered and sent them PM's.

[Hard2core]

I apologize for that...I talked to one of the moderators today and he cleared me about the situation...again I apologize for my haste.

[Bill Howell]

Since you moderators keep deleting the posts I made on this subject let me go ahead and show you the first PM I ever received here at Pro Touring....and you ask Larry and anyone else in charge if they would be pissed off if they joined my forum and I was in cahoots with someone who took them for 100 plus thousand! The more you guys are moderating my posts the more Im getting pissed and wonder what the hell is going on here and why are you trying to protect Frank Serafine. I get it Larry he built your car! Regardless of that he screwed over about 37 people for thousands of dollars including me for the top amount. I could prove to you 1000 times over the lies he told me....so what is going on here with the protection factor with this individual????

I thought I was safe since this was the first PM I received...I thought I was in good hands.

Welcome From Prodigy Customs!



Hello and congratulations on joining the worlds largest Pro Touring Forum, Pro-Touring.Com. I wanted to personally welcome you and introduce myself. My name is Frank Serafine and I own Prodigy Customs. We are one of the original site sponsors here and the proud builder of the Official Pro Touring Car named MotiV8tr owned by Pro-Touring.com owner, Larry Callahan. We specialize in building Pro Touring cars and sell all the parts to build you dream Pro Touring ride.

I also wanted to let you know that as a member of Pro-Touring.com, you as a member have some benefits with Prodigy Customs you should know about.

(1) We do FREE Pro Touring Project Planning for forum members. If you're building a Pro Touring Project and confused by all the manufacturer advertising and claims, not sure what is hype and what is fact, or what products to use, or how much you have to spend, then Project planning is for you. With Project Planning we discuss your needs and wants (often not the same), Goals, Capabilities, Time-line and Budget. We have multiple product lines of suspension, brakes, wheels, A/C, etc. Because we use and sell multiple products from multiple manufacturers, through Project Planing we can choose the best product for you needs and budget, and not just try to sell you our product because it is the only product we sell.

We are consulting and planning 100s of projects literally all around the world. We are working with hobbyist and shops all over the US, Australia, Holland, Sweden, France, England, and more.
Get your advice from someone that has substantial experience and uses what they sell!

There are a lot of companies that sell parts but do not build cars! There are a lot of companies that sell parts and claim to build cars they did not build! But at Prodigy Customs, We build a lot of cars, check out our website and look around the forums. There are 22 Pro Touring projects on the property today! In just the time period from August through December 09 we had 6 features cars in magazines and 2 magazine covers! You can also follow the build of our Project UNFAIR in current issues of Super Chevy magazine. We feel all this is important. So besides being able to build some of the coolest Pro Touring cars on the planet, our shop also serves as a R and D center for our parts business. We use and install in our shop everything we sell and we only sell products we know work through our own personal experience.

And we share all our experience with you for free with no purchase required or implied. Although a lot of people end up buying a lot of their product from us because they trust us and appreciate the help.

And members also buy from us because...............................

(2) As a member, you get great discount pricing on many items in our product line up!

Right now all parts sales are done by phone and email, but our new ProTouring SuperStore will be open very soon with 100s of items. We have almost everything you will need for your Pro Touring build, and if we do not sell something you need, we will tell you where we get it!
If you need Project Planning services. The best way to start is with a email, a quick breakdown of where you are with your project and where you need to be. Give me a phone number and a time window I can call you. Evenings are a great time for me for Project Planning calls. And if you need something right away, I take calls from 8AM to 8PM eastern time. ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT! PM's are the absolute worst way to reach me. E Mail is THE preferred method of contacting me.

My personal E Mail is [email protected]

And again, if you have a emergency related to your project, and you cannot wait for a email answer, feel free to call, that is what I am here for.

The Official Pro Touring Car, MotiV8r by Prodigy Customs. See more here http://www.prodigycustoms.com/projects/

etc

I am curious, can you tell me the date you received this pm? Also, if others also received a similar pm and how much effect that single pm had on your decision to do business with any given company?

[raustinss]

I never received a pm from Frank thankfully being as I was following the super Chevy magazine project unfair, I could have been easily swayed to purchase products from prodigy. Regardless I joined in may of 2010 i believe and have had no contact from Frank
Ryan Austin

[67rally]

I am curious, can you tell me the date you received this pm? Also, if others also received a similar pm and how much effect that single pm had on your decision to do business with any given company?

I received this PM from him on 2/1/11. There's no question that its why I used him on a couple occasions:








Hello and congratulations on joining the worlds largest Pro Touring Forum, Pro-Touring.Com. I wanted to personally welcome you and introduce myself. My name is Frank Serafine and I own Prodigy Customs. We are one of the original site sponsors here and the proud builder of the Official Pro Touring Car named MotiV8tr owned by Pro-Touring.com owner, Larry Callahan. We specialize in building Pro Touring cars and sell all the parts to build you dream Pro Tourer.

I also wanted to let you know that as a member of Pro-Touring.com, You as a member have some benefits with Prodigy Customs you should know about.

(1) We do FREE Pro Touring Project Planning for forum members. If you're building a Pro Touring Project and confused by all the manufacturer advertising and claims, not sure what is hype and what is fact, or what products to use, or how much you have to spend, then Project planning is for you. With Project Planning we discuss your needs and wants (often not the same), Goals, Capabilities, Time-line and Budget. We have multiple product lines of suspension, brakes, wheels, A/C, etc. Because we use and sell multiple products from multiple manufacturers, through Project Planing we can choose the best product for you needs and budget, and not just try to sell you our product because it is the only product we sell.

We are consulting and planning 100s of projects literally all around the world. We are working with hobbyist and shops all over the US, Australia, Holland, Sweden, France, England, and more.
Get your advice from someone that has substaintial experiance and uses what they sell!

There are a lot of companies that sell parts but do not build cars! There are a lot of companies that sell parts and claim to build cars they did not build! But at Prodigy Customs, We build a lot of cars, check out our website and look around the forums. There are 22 Pro Touring projects on the property today! In just the time period from August through December 09 we had 6 features cars in magazines and 2 magazine covers! You can also follow the build of our Project UNFAIR in current issues of Super Chevy magazine. We feel all this is important. We do not think virgins should tech sex ed!

So besides being able to build some of the coolest Pro Touring cars on the planet, our shop also serves as a R and D center for our parts business. We use and install in our shop everything we sell and we only sell products we know work through our own personal experience.

And we share all our experience with you for free with no purchase required or implied. Although a lot of people end up buying a lot of their product from us because they trust us and appreciate the help.

And members also buy from us because...............................

(2) As a member, you get great discount pricing on many items in our product line up!

Right now all parts sales are done by phone and email, but our new ProTouring SuperStore (http://protouringsuperstore.com/) will be open very soon with 100s of items. We have almost everything you will need for your Pro Touring build, and if we do not sell something you need, we will tell you where we get it!
If you need Project Planning services. The best way to start is with a email, a quick breakdown of where you are with your project and where you need to be. Give me a phone number and a time window I can call you. Evenings are a great time for me for Project Planning calls. And if you need something right away, I take calls from 8AM to 8PM eastern time. ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT! PM's are the absolute worst way to reach me. E Mail is THE preferred method of contacting me.

My personal E Mail is [email protected]

And again, if you have a emergency related to your project, and you cannot wait for a email answer, feel free to call, that is what I am here for.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
The Official Pro Touring Car, MotiV8r by Prodigy Customs. See more here http://www.prodigycustoms.com/projects/ (http://www.prodigycustoms.com/projects/)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
MotiV8r Cover, January 2010 Camaro Performers

Suspension:

Air Ride
Art Morrison
Chris Alston
Detroit Speed
Hotchkis
QA1
Speedtech
Total Control
Brakes:
Baer
Right Stuff
SSBC
Wilwood (Top 10 sales)

Air Conditioning:
Classic Auto Air
Vintage Air (Top 15 in sales)

Wheels:
Billet Specilties
Boze Forged
Budnik
Forgeline (#1 Forgeline Muscle Car Dealer)
HRE
iForged
Rocket Racing Wheels
Rushforth

Engines:
Prodigy Power Crate Engines

Also:
American Autowire
Anvil
Auto Metal Direct
Autometer
Covans Thunder Road
Electric Life
Fesler
IDidIt
Flamng River
Magnaflow
March Performance
Marquez
Mast Motorsports
Moser Engineering Top 8 in sales
Prodigy Customs Glass kits
Ricks tanks
Ring Brothers
Stainless Works
Unisteer
Wegner Motorsports
And more!

[Chev67]

I am curious, can you tell me the date you received this pm? Also, if others also received a similar pm and how much effect that single pm had on your decision to do business with any given company?

Bill

I received one in January of 2012, which played a huge role in me contacting him for advice and then doing business. I think it was a very effective marketing tool. I fortunately recovered my money via the credit card company. I sent you a PM going into more detail.

Jason

[Cdog]

I am curious, can you tell me the date you received this pm? Also, if others also received a similar pm and how much effect that single pm had on your decision to do business with any given company?


Hey Bill. I received the PM from frank & beans as well, but after I had PM’d him asking about the wheel deal offered to RTTC. The schtick was basically the same.

[aussietony]

Again I see things that make me believe that there is more to the Pro touring website and its links to franks Ponzi scheme than what it appears. Now we get the "I'm sorry I didn't know anything about this" line from the owners of this site!

Convenient Eh! Lets see which moderator comes online and tells me im wrong again about this. I swear the Elephant in the room is getting bigger..........

[andrewb70]

Again I see things that make me believe that there is more to the Pro touring website and its links to franks Ponzi scheme than what it appears. Now we get the "I'm sorry I didn't know anything about this" line from the owners of this site!

Convenient Eh! Lets see which moderator comes online and tells me im wrong again about this. I swear the Elephant in the room is getting bigger..........

Tony,

At the end of the day you will believe what you want to believe. Clearly, you think that there is some grand conspiracy between PT.com and Prodigy. No matter we say , this will remain your perspective. I am OK with that, because just like a$$holes, everyone has an opinion.

I met Frank on less occasions than the fingers on one hand. Each time it was at some event or car gathering. We talked cars and car projects and had adult beverages. I have done the same with hundreds of members of this forum.

Larry and the rest of the moderators have job. We moderate this forum out of our respect for Larry and because we value the community that this forum creates. The idea that somehow we knew about what Prodigy was up to and that somehow we were all involved in a grand conspiracy to defraud the member of this forum is not only preposterous, but insulting to me and all of the moderators.

In fact Tony, I demand a damn apology for the mere fact that you sit there and accuse me of being a part of Frank's scam. Shame on YOU!!!

Andrew

[Bill Howell]

Again I see things that make me believe that there is more to the Pro touring website and its links to franks Ponzi scheme than what it appears. Now we get the "I'm sorry I didn't know anything about this" line from the owners of this site!

Convenient Eh! Lets see which moderator comes online and tells me im wrong again about this. I swear the Elephant in the room is getting bigger..........

What exactly are you "seeing"? If you are calling anyone out, go ahead and do it here in the public forum so everyone sees and knows exactly what is said. I can assure you you won't get banned but you will definitely get embarrassed because no one here has anything to hide. Bring your accusations or apologize now---- Your choice!

[Larry Callahan]

Tony, I'm sitting here in awe of your accusation of myself and the moderators here. Are you serious?

If you are then you really haven't a clue what myself and my moderators are about. In all seriousness you have no place here if that's what you really think about us. That accusation is absolutely absurd and uncalled for and I don't think an apology is going to be enough.

[Bill Howell]

Hey Bill. I received the PM from frank & beans as well, but after I had PM’d him asking about the wheel deal offered to RTTC. The schtick was basically the same.

Thanks! And for the record, he promised I know two sets of wheels at different events and then failed to produce. Lesson learned by me on that. Never again will I let someone boast at an event about what they will do as a give a way while using the event as a self promotion tool.
For letting this happen I am truly sorry to our participants.

[CarlC]

So now I and my fellow moderators are Co - conspirators of felonies to intentionally defraud members of this site? That I, and my fellow moderators, are guilty of having morale low enough to intentionally conspire with Frank to profit from his felonious schemes?

I've been called a lot of things in my time, but I sleep pretty well with a clear conscience that I treat others in ways that I would want to be treated. To say what you have is an unacceptable insult to my, and my fellow moderators, integrity.

Why don't you head over to the other Web forums where Frank pulled his schemes and call the moderators co-conspirators? I'm sure they will welcome you with open arms.

Let's be perfectly clear on one point. PM'S are exactly that, PRIVATE! We do not have access to PM's, nor do we want to or have the time to monitor them. Once a member informed us that Frank had sent his marketing PM he was told to immediately cease that activity. Unless a member tells us that they have received such a message we as moderators have no idea what is going on. Frank could have been sending these out for months without us knowing.

[parsonsj]

Lets see which moderator comes online and tells me im wrong again about this.You're wrong.

[Red67Mustang]

I am curious, can you tell me the date you received this pm? Also, if others also received a similar pm and how much effect that single pm had on your decision to do business with any given company?

Bill,
I received that same "welcome" message from Prodigy Customs on 11/11/2011. I never did business with him though as (fortunately?) I do all my own work.

[sjaroslo]

I received mine back in September of 2010! So it had been going on for quite a while, apparently.

[raustinss]

I joined in may or june 2010...never got one thankfully
Tony I think you should try to apologize..tossing pt.com under the bus for one persons lack of moral compass is wrong, I believe it was john parsons who even worked with frank and can tell you he doesn't have any warm fuzzy feelings about the guy, do some home work on frank...all of his business matters are sketchy not just prodigy, his son is somewhat in business probably bankrolled by his dad..franks father was a scam artist too...hate to say it but he comes by it honestly. The "pro-touring" industry covers events sponsored by this website, major industry players are on here, gm employees..etc
If pro-touring was in on some scam I'm sure it would have come out at some point in either franks court cases or word of mouth
I for one don't get that opinion whatsoever which is why I know it would be in your best interest to make thus situation right
Ryan Austin

[aussietony]

We'll well that got a response didn't it!
I've stated all along that since I had my shopping "expierence" with Frank and when I made it Public on this forum thru the feedback section that I was discouraged and warned via pms to be careful what I say about prodigy as Frank and Larry are mates.
Sum of the reasons I have my opinion is that when I felt I was getting screwed by Frank I used the internet to search "Prodigy customs problems". There to my horror I found on other sites like lateral g and camaro central etc horror stories about the lack of service and parts not showing up and the same promises that we're being made to me by Frank were being made to others. And the fact that he had been banned on those forums from advertising and fishing for customers. A couple of them had even stated as to how pro touring was the only site that he was still active on and how there was little complaints about him over there and that Larry and him are mates and that's why etc etc.
Now as I had got onto Frank thru this site I thought that it was only reasonable that I call him out in public on this site. To my amazement the amount if views and the responses I received from other members of this site thru pms convinced me I was onto something. Thankfully I am one of the lucky ones I received my parts eventually as a lot of others didn't, haven't, and never will! Both in large amounts and small.
It's good to see that Larry finally changed the heading on project motivator as I felt and still do feel that to advertise prodigy after all the problems that members of this forum expierenced was wrong. There isn't too many other places that openly advertise a dodgy business once the truth comes out as mud sticks even to the innocent!
Eventually Larry decided to make a statement saying that he wouldn't let Frank advertise on this forum as he was having difficultys and that there was to many complaints being made on the feedback forum about him. That he felt it wasn't right to let him continue. I said then and I say again now the horse had already bolted by that stage.
My beef or conspiracy theory is not towards all the moderators on this site it is to the ones that discouraged me about my complaint thread and warned me to keep to the facts to which I publicly stated in my thread about prodigy. If you take the time to read my thread you will see to whom I mean. John parsons and Carlc neither are you are about whom I speak so if your offended then I apologise to you both.

Also the way that still to this day Frank seems to be forgiven on this site and the innocent victims like navy have to go out of their way to prove to some of the moderators that they have been screwed and that Frank is a common *****!

As for any other moderator or site owner that may be offended and wants and expects an apology it brings to mind I quote I received from your friend Frank "It's all good its on its way I will ship it this week" !!!

I still love this site don't get me wrong I'm on here everyday checking out the projects section and others whilst I may not say much I really do like this site. " Mind you I do seem to get a reaction when I do say something!"
It helps me a lot with my car. It has certainly has taught me to beware as to who I deal with and how I deal with them that's for sure.
As my hero Peter Brock was known to say "Live life and bite of more than you can chew then chew like hell!!
Now excuse me whilst I have to organise shipping something that's lying around here somewhere as it's got to go this week. To somewhere for someone.............

[Damn True]

Again I see things that make me believe that there is more to the Pro touring website and its links to franks Ponzi scheme than what it appears. Now we get the "I'm sorry I didn't know anything about this" line from the owners of this site!

Convenient Eh! Lets see which moderator comes online and tells me im wrong again about this. I swear the Elephant in the room is getting bigger..........

You are quite wrong.

Don't think for a second that the moderator staff is immune to this. I too am owed money by Frank. Pretty sure I'll never see it.....caveat emptor. Other moderators are owed as well but I won't go airing someone else's dirty laundry. So for you to impugn the lot of us by insinuating that we are covering for Frank, which stands on it's own as absurd but to further insinuate that we are in league with him and profiting from this mess is not only one of the most asinine things I've ever read on this site, it insults and offends me to a degree that I cannot express without running afoul of the vulgarity filters.

You haven't a single shred of evidence to support these assertions....mainly because they are patently false.

You owe me and the rest of the staff and ownership of PT.com an apology and full retraction of these baseless assertions.

[Damn True]

To the rest of the membership: We have a well documented policy with respect to vendor feedback that has been in place for ~33 months https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/7...before-posting Item's # 3 & 4 are key to this discussion...


3) Only the vendor or private seller discussed will be able to reply. If the vendor or private seller wishes to reply, the reply will be posted and again the thread will remain visible to the readership but closed to further commentary from non-involved parties.

4) All “I heard so and so had a bad experience” and other such speculative or hearsay posts will not be tolerated. Grievances must be factual, must include supporting documentation and shall not be embellished or emotional. All “so and so is a rip off”, “deadbeat”, “cheat” or any other potentially defamatory, anger driven, adjective laced topics will not be posted. Requirements for an "approved" post are shown below.*

We have, as a group, decided to make an exception to these points in the case of "Frank-gate" by allowing multiple members WITH a valid & DIRECT customer/vendor issue to confer within an individual thread. This decision was made when we became aware of the pervasiveness of the issues between Frank and PT.com members and members of other websites/forums either directly or peripherally connected to the Pro-Touring community. When the pervasiveness of the issues became apparent we decided that it was in the best interest of the membership to allow for the sharing of information between members WITH a valid & DIRECT customer/vendor issue that might aid (even a little) individual members in getting their property back or gaining remuneration of their funds. We did this knowing the odds were slim that any of that would happen, but it was the best we could do with our limited influence beyond simply managing the content of this forum.

As previously stated, I too am owed money by Frank. The question I've asked of myself is one I'd suggest each of you ask yourself. That is, "What is the most productive use of my time & resources in seeking resolution?" For me, it was to simply let it go. I got suckered by a snake oil salesman. He apparently was borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. I'll never see that money again and I'll never see or hear from Frank again. It may have, for me at least, been a worthwhile investment. That said, I realize that some may be into him for more than I am. For you, I'd still suggest you ask yourself this question. I'm betting that the answer isn't to seek other people beyond Frank to blame or impugn for your loss.

A template has been laid out by another member for at least gaining a judgement against him. Will existing or future judgements against Frank be useful in drawing some blood from that turnip? I'm not a lawyer and I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night so I can't say but I'd offer that it stands as a far better example of a good use of time & resources than making baseless accusations and impugning the character of the staff of this forum.

One last thing...for anyone sitting at their keyboard considering a reply to this or any other Frank related thread know this; If you don't have a dog in the fight, meaning that you have a DIRECT customer/vendor issue with Frank and or Prodigy pursuant to the criteria contained in the link above or something constructive to add to the conversation (legal references, links to useful threads or articles on other sites, etc) your post will be moderated. Sympathetic as we may be we aren't going to let this become a feeding frenzy of "interested" parties with no real interest in the party.

[Bill Howell]

Looks like you are aiming arrows at me yet speaking in riddles. If you have something to say, please, enlighten me.

[parsonsj]

John parsons and Carlc neither are you are about whom I speak so if your offended then I apologise to you bothWeasel words. You either apologize for something you've done wrong or you don't. Apologizing by making it conditional on if someone is offended is not an apology.

You need to try again. As Bill said, please speak plainly.

[Damn True]

We'll well that got a response didn't it!

...followed by heaps of manure.....

Now you are simply trolling.

If you have some proof behind these accusations, bring it. (hint for the observers...he can't)

Otherwise you owe a number of apologies & retractions as your accusations, as I said before are baseless & asinine.

[TonyL]

Also the way that still to this day Frank seems to be forgiven on this site and the innocent victims like navy have to go out of their way to prove to some of the moderators that they have been screwed and that Frank is a common *****!


Forgiven? On this site? Really? Look. PT.com has *always* tried to squash vendor bashing. It's a long standing practice from the days of yore when it was possible to sue *us* for something a user said. Since we have the power to remove "baseless" lies, or moderate posts, we were expected to prevent vendor reputations from being destroyed by rival companies (shills) reporting untrue problems or risk a libel suit. It's a huge problem in the industry and did happen to other sites.

Do not confuse our moderation of threads related to Frank's behavior as defense of, or forgiveness of what's happened. You have no idea how many of us mods *myself included* have put in a bind by him. He's not been forgiven. That's evidenced by the existence of these threads. No one has to go "out of their way". It's right there in the rules, if you have a legit issue, post facts, pics, invoices etc. to prove you're you, and and you have a legit complaint. ''

I hope that clears a little up for you.

[FlyDoc]

I also got an PM welcome / this is what I can do for you, let me do something for you from Frank.
I do all my own work except spray paint, so I read it and ignored it. Owners / mediators, if you are not removing Frank, and his advertisements for his business, you are accepting and supporting his practices. I'm not poking at you (the sight owners / moderators) but with the way things go in this day and time, if you don't cut and run your holding hands and conspiring together.

just my 2 cents.

[andrewb70]

…..Owners / mediators, if you are not removing Frank, and his advertisements for his business, you are accepting and supporting his practices…….

Frank and Prodigy have been gone a long time from PT.com

I have a question…Do you hold the same view of Hot Rod magazine and it's publishing company when they publish an ad for a company that might have a questionable reputation?

Andrew

[Damn True]

I also got an PM welcome / this is what I can do for you, let me do something for you from Frank.
I do all my own work except spray paint, so I read it and ignored it. Owners / mediators, if you are not removing Frank, and his advertisements for his business, you are accepting and supporting his practices. I'm not poking at you (the sight owners / moderators) but with the way things go in this day and time, if you don't cut and run your holding hands and conspiring together.

just my 2 cents.

We neither defend, support nor condone anything Frank has done to defraud members...let alone the members of the moderation staff that have been ripped off as well.

Frank's status as a sponsor of this site, his banner ads and his hosted links were removed in August of 2012. His posts remain for two reasons.

a) A reference tool for members (for obvious reasons, and because he did make considerable technical contributions that remain useful)
b) None of us has the time to cull through every post he's made since he joined this site in 2003 to remove the ones that were commercially related

[baz67]

Let me get this straight. Us moderators were able to conspire with Frank to defraud the members of this respected site. I am not sure what all the moderators do for a day job (we help moderate this site for free on our spare time), but I know few of us have positions that require a certain amount of integrity. If such accusations were remotely true we could lose our means of income at most or have a sit down for an explanation at the least. Frankly(no pun intended), I am flabbergasted that anyone could even remotely consider an association. From where I set Prodigy received no more or no less "protection" from the moderators than any other sponsor on pro-touring.com.

Since my integrity has been called in question I will lay out my dealings with Frank and Prodigy. There have been two times I have had interactions with Frank. When I lived in Vegas we got Bill's car ready for SEMA at my house in 2005. Then I contacted him two years ago about a rear suspension for my Camaro. We exchanged a few phone calls and PMs, but I decided to build my own so I did not buy from him. That is it.

I know some of you have your minds made up and that is fine. Believe what you want but from now on, unless you have hard evidence, please waste your own mental bandwith. I can say that I am certain pro-touring.com or any of its moderators did not have anything to do with Franks business practices period end of story.

[raustinss]

I agree. Franks work was great when he did it honest, he was a great supporter and if you followed the magazine build project unfair there was alot of info provided ( math formulas and such) again from what I recall it was john parsons doing all that kind of work regardless taking that info off this Site doesn't help anyone. It also helps leaving SOME info that bashes him and his business practices...why you may ask....In the future if I hear the name frank serefine I'm walking the other way, it provides info and acts as a caution for those who may not know the details to what or who he is

Again my opinion just prove this conspiracy theory with actual evidence or apologize to those accused, it's the right thing to do, you wouldn't like to be accused of being a murderer based on a theory
Cheers Ryan Austin

[wayward]

Cons are cons... I've been taken for a ride and not on this forum. To be taken advantage you must first trust... It appears Prodigy did some things that vetted the business/ people. I know I believed it was a viable option and have spent hours looking at the builds. The deception kicks in and then and somebody or a bunch of people are going for a ride. This is why the court awarded triple damage. The moderators are not here to administer polygraphs but to regulate a peaceful environment.

It seems that when unethical behavior started to take place they took action and removed the risk to the group. I personally don't keep up with it all on th forum but until I read about this lawsuit I was unaware of all this was going on. I believe this is good moderation. Remove the garbage so the people that don't need to know just remains fat dumb and happy...

[David Pozzi]

I found this posted in Tony's Prodigy complaint thread dated one month after Franks banner ads were pulled. It appears Moderator Andrew was involved in this thread: https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/89289-Prodigy-customs-Lack-of-honesty!!

aussietony

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Ok this should be my second last update on these issues that i have expierenced with Prodigy customs.
The good news is my A/C kit appears to have arrived at my shippers in California. I say appears as due to it being rerouted from going to frank then to my shipper it was rerouted direct to my shipper so it appears to be incorrectly labeled, so im just waiting on confirmation from them that they have it and can re label it to me.
And i got a message from my other shipper that my fuel tank has arrived the box is a bit damaged but it all appears well inside. Now i just have to wait to have it put in a couple of containers and shipped to me here in oz.

I do have to point out that since i made my issues public that Franks communication has been good and he only needed a few emails for updates to keep me informed as to what was happening. I first made my concerns public on the 27th April and it took him just short of a month to get my paid for items to my shippers. And as soon as i have my items here in Australia i will be paying frank for my rear shocks for which he has put in to this delivery.

I will also be giving frank another chance in the future for no doubt he knows his stuff and i do appreciate all that he does for the pro touring movement. I'm just disappointed that i had to make public my concerns as to where my money had gone.

I also want to thank the team at Pro-touring.com for giving me a place to make public my concerns and to finally get the wheels rolling on my items. Again i say to anyone out there who is being stuffed around by a supplier to make it public so we all can judge the business and let us then decide who we spend our hard earned dollars with.

Thanks again
Tony Cott

As a Moderator living nearly 3000 miles away from Frank, It was difficult for me to understand at that time if Frank was an incompetent businessman, or a crook. One thing is now clear to me, it appears the loss of the lawsuit entailing treble damages ended Franks attempts to fulfill his commitment to his customers & he went into hiding. Game Over. I sincerely hope everyone owed money get's paid back, they deserve better. Everyone reading this should check out this advice by Bret Volkel of Ride Tech: https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/89928-How-to-get-a-GREAT-deal-on-parts?highlight=great+deal+parts

On February of 2012 Larry posted this sticky in the Open (Pro-Touring) Discussion section: https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/87488-Looking-to-add-or-get-feedback-on-a-vendor

Larry Callahan
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PT Garages

Default Looking to add or get feedback on a vendor?

Hello Members,

About a year ago we had a string of threads in which some members of the community felt that the forum was an appropriate medium for voicing their experience with vendors, some of whom were sponsors of this forum. These threads quickly deteriorated, when other members, who were not at all involved in the transaction, voiced their opinions regarding the situation. The inevitable end result was the closing of the threads, which led to some members getting the perception that this forum was protecting its sponsors, which was completely false.

I, and the moderator team, took the matter under advisement. We discussed various options, consulted with moderators of other forums, an attorney, and ultimately decided that a Feedback forum would be established. The logical place for this forum to exist was in the Marketplace, and so it was, but it seems that location was not very visible. To address this, we've moved the Feedback forum up a level and it is now located in The Classifieds category, just under the Marketplace. You'll be able to see it from the main page of the forum. It can be found here:

Feedback Forum

This forum gives members of our community the opportunity to voice their experiences, either positive or negative, with respect to site sponsors, any other company, or individual sellers. However, this forum carries its own rules, so please read them before posting. They can be found here:

Feedback Forum Rules

If there are any questions, please feel free to ask them in this thread. This sticky will stay up for a period of time so that everyone has a chance to familiarize themselves with the Feedback Forum, its location, and its rules.

Thank you,
Most forums have rules against vendor "bashing". Its not possible for Moderators to verify every claim or remark made in a wide open thread and things get off topic with a lot of Me-Too posts or even threats against vendors. We created the Feedback forum with specific ground rules we hoped would result in a member actually getting his complaint resolved by the vendor, and we wanted the Member to provide as much proof as possible to support his claim.
So in 2011 and into 2012 we created our Feedback section and rules to try and create a place that a member could get the attention of a vendor, state his case, and hopefully get the vendor to respond. We have had people join our Forum just to complain about a vendor, pm'ing the mods asking us to personally get involved. There are a lot of great people here, a very few just don't understand that I'm just a regular guy who comes in here now and then and tries to help in my SPARE TIME, for NO PAY FOR OVER 11 YEARS. I don't deserve to have my name on a list of conspirators to Frank. I may just quit coming here, ignore the email alerts about spammers posting gay porn here, - stay in my shop and get MY stuff DONE!

[howehot]

I was pm also by Prodigy on 9/28/2011 at 12:57pm. It's still in my inbox.

[raustinss]

The level of accusations on this thread is nothing short of ridiculous. To the gentleman who started this thread, let's just say your right. Larry and everyone on here are crooks and get together to laugh at yours and everyone else's expense. Totally rolling in gobs of cash. What do you really want? A sherlock homes award.....pt. Comes to reimburse you....what?
Everyone on here has said NO...Nothing crooked was/is happening and that wasn't enough. Everyone on here has asked for proof,you've never produced any,now it appears that because his name (franks) still appears on this Site in older threads which they (Larry and the team) don't want to remove for many reasons that's not enough. What will it take to make you happy...to enjoy this Site....to believe what everyone is saying?
Someone once told me opinions are like toothbrushes we all have one but there is no need to share.
From me to you thank you for your opinion and contributions to this Site. If there is no way to make you happy or convince you that there isn't any scam going on behind the scenes then please feel free time just leave as all your doing is stirring the s#*t pot which has no angered people whom I look up to,respect and, hope to get some praise from when my car is done to the point that they may leave this Site yes (Mr David Pozzi I mean you lol).
Think about what your doing your accusations are pushing David Pozzi away....spend some time and look at his contributions to this Site...Industry..etc. I can only imagine what some if the other moderators are thinking now
Ryan Austin

[andrewb70]

I was pm also by Prodigy on 9/28/2011 at 12:57pm. It's still in my inbox.

I am quite certain that Frank spammed every new member with his PM. Again, moderators do not have access to member PMs, nor do we want to.

Andrew

[efs69]

David, your contributions are too valuable to members on this forum including myself. It would be a great loss for you to step away because of one persons views.

[Hard2core]

One thing is now clear to me, it appears the loss of the lawsuit entailing treble damages ended Franks attempts to fulfill his commitment to his customers & he went into hiding.

Thats not true. I got that judgement 3 weeks ago....this guy has been shafting customers for years now. I got a judgement...a peice of paper....ive recieved no money. I got my car out of his shop in late september/early October of 2012.....he went on a trip to Europe with his wife right after that! This was a Ponzi scheme where the culprit was spending beyond his means and trying to always play catchup by taking the latest cars money to fix the earlier car. How does my judgement in December of 2013 effect Frank Serafine invoicing me for thousands upon thousands of parts (which I paid) which he never ordered but pocketed the money? Thats what this is about. A guy who was taking orders for parts, and invoicing people like myself and Navy Flyer...pocketing the money and not buying the parts...or working on the car.

[Hard2core]

The level of accusations on this thread is nothing short of ridiculous. To the gentleman who started this thread, let's just say your right. Larry and everyone on here are crooks and get together to laugh at yours and everyone else's expense. Totally rolling in gobs of cash. What do you really want? A sherlock homes award.....pt. Comes to reimburse you....what?
Everyone on here has said NO...Nothing crooked was/is happening and that wasn't enough. Everyone on here has asked for proof,you've never produced any,now it appears that because his name (franks) still appears on this Site in older threads which they (Larry and the team) don't want to remove for many reasons that's not enough. What will it take to make you happy...to enjoy this Site....to believe what everyone is saying?
Someone once told me opinions are like toothbrushes we all have one but there is no need to share.
From me to you thank you for your opinion and contributions to this Site. If there is no way to make you happy or convince you that there isn't any scam going on behind the scenes then please feel free time just leave as all your doing is stirring the s#*t pot which has no angered people whom I look up to,respect and, hope to get some praise from when my car is done to the point that they may leave this Site yes (Mr David Pozzi I mean you lol).
Think about what your doing your accusations are pushing David Pozzi away....spend some time and look at his contributions to this Site...Industry..etc. I can only imagine what some if the other moderators are thinking now
Ryan Austin

To the gentleman who started this thread? That would be me but i think you were talking to aussie tony. I have apoligized to the moderators for my haste already. But I will say I can see alot what Aussie Tony is saying. I also did alot of searching around when this was all going on and saw some things that were peculiar to me. I also got alot of PM's saying...."those guys at pro touring protect him".....why would numerous people say that? They didnt say it about lateral-g, and they didnt say it about camaros.net. I dont know either way but alot of people who read this site felt there was a good ol boys club going on over here. Im not asking for anything....im telling my story

[Hard2core]

a post by a member at camaros.net:

Frank, Michael, and Lisa continue to live a lavish lifestyle on all of the money they have stolen from us. Word gets around throughout the Camaro community, and has made it here (not that far away) in Georgia. Frank is driving a new Cadillac, and Lisa is driving a new Mercedes recently purchased out of state. On the nicer days they can be found enjoying the breeze on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Meanwhile Michael is enjoying the success of his new shop (Muscle car Dynamics) with customers who believe Frank successfully retired from the business. Michael also can be seen cruising in his new Cadillac CTS-V, and financially benefiting from customers that have no idea what actually happened. I wonder how those customers would feel if they knew that their cars were being worked on with tools and parts that belong to victims of the Prodigy Customs Ponzi Scheme? Disgusted!!

[raustinss]

Hard2core....finally you've said. What this is about so how does. Larry,bill,Andrew ,David etc tie into the fact that some scumbag unfortunately screwed you...I can't recall who but even one of the moderators got screwed. Your not the only one who became a victim, life sucks get a helmet my friend...decide if your going to let this situation become who you are. You've voiced your opinion pt.com doesn't allow him to advertise here but does leave his postings they don't support him in any other way. Pt.com ownership and moderators have not nor do they have anything to do with frank.
Lets all breathe and move on become a better person from this...don't let it define you, don't bring others down with accusations. If we (the pro touring community & website ) can't please you or relieve you of your stress brought on from this please move on no business owners (Brett vokell etc ) website owners (Larry callahan) moderators ( bill Howell etc) need this, they're volunteers, don't get paid for this, they're advocating fun responsible muscle car ownership and modification . Nobody who's innocent needs to be a keyboard warrior and fight they're innocence
Cheers Ryan Austin

[XLexusTech]

One thing that bothers me is who was sleeping at the wheel on the PM's and had no idea it was happening.. .. I for one lost 10K to Frank.. I wont go into it further, have no delusion i will get the Money back.. However mark my words i will have my 10 pounds of flesh.

that said , for those who were in Franks corner and in particular those with power or influence on this site.. you should figure out a way to do something to make it right.. obviously the amout of money were talking here is crazy.. but something more than an Opps sorry..

[andrewb70]

One thing that bothers me is who was sleeping at the wheel on the PM's and had no idea it was happening.. .. I for one lost 10K to Frank.. I wont go into it further, have no delusion i will get the Money back.. However mark my words i will have my 10 pounds of flesh.

that said , for those who were in Franks corner and in particular those with power or influence on this site.. you should figure out a way to do something to make it right.. obviously the amout of money were talking here is crazy.. but something more than an Opps sorry..

Once again….PMs are just that…PRIVATE. We do not have access to them, nor do we want to, nor do we have time to micro manage all of the PM traffic that takes place on this forum. In other words, no one was "falling asleep at the wheel." Once it was brought to our attention it was stopped.

As for "those with power or influence" figuring out a way to make it "right" you're barking up the wrong tree.

Andrew

[raustinss]

I believe it was Andrew who said pm's are just that private how could they know? Please tell me your not in the same boat of ....Bill used the scam money to fund one of his now sold race teams, Andrew used it as bribe money to get the goat in phr mag David used it to fund bad penny and his wife's car..etc etc etc
The amount of money is ridiculous I'm sure but again please do your homework into frank serefine and his family..I did not hard to find..I did he's a scammar thru and thru. Now you may ask whydid Larry and pt.com investigate him previous...well they're was no reason to...like many criminals things fall into place once one little detail is revealed
Ryan Austin

[Hard2core]

Your not the only one who became a victim, life sucks get a helmet my friend...decide if your going to let this situation become who you are.

The first post is from august of 2012 before i even had my car.
Then a person asked what happened to my car.
I just got the report from my lawyers a few weeks ago.
I have lost about 140k total with lawyers fees.... I answered his question. Was I supposed to be quiet and not tell this story? Would you take a 140k so lightly and like me to tell you "hey your not the only victim, life sucks, get a helmet"
I dont know what 140k means to you...but its not a "oh well lost a 5 dollar bill out of my wallet" to me.

[Damn True]

One thing that bothers me is who was sleeping at the wheel on the PM's and had no idea it was happening.. .. I for one lost 10K to Frank.. I wont go into it further, have no delusion i will get the Money back.. However mark my words i will have my 10 pounds of flesh. As has been explained numerous times we cannot see PM's. Ive no way of knowing what PM you receive or from whom....hence the description "PRIVATE Message". When Larry was alerted to the practice that Frank was engaged in he put a stop to it.


that said , for those who were in Franks corner and in particular those with power or influence on this site.. you should figure out a way to do something to make it right.. obviously the amout of money were talking here is crazy.. but something more than an Opps sorry.. Keeping in mind that three members of the moderator staff (myself included) also have been ripped off by Frank exactly what do you have in mind here? In detail, explain how much money you think I and the fellow moderators owe you for being suckerd by a con artist?

[raustinss]

Hard2core
Your right I would be absolutely certifiably nuts if I had spent that kind of cash and have nothing to show for it now please don't take this the wrong way but I would never had let things get that bad to begin with lots I know they say hindsight is 20-20 but still,
Losing that money is only part of it, it now seems your fighting a website and those who run it just because they A worked with him at one point
B had a car built by him
C help run a Site he advertised on
As stated many times your barking up the wrong tree....don't beat up the innocent
Please don't take this to heart but my god man fight frank and only frank or as much as it truely sucks move on.
Hey not to capitalize on a bad situation but try to ask the venders who have the parts you want for some donations or discounts. You don't know what you'll get until you ask right?

[andrewb70]

Hard2core
Your right I would be absolutely certifiably nuts if I had spent that kind of cash and have nothing to show for it now please don't take this the wrong way but I would never had let things get that bad to begin with lots I know they say hindsight is 20-20 but still,
Losing that money is only part of it, it now seems your fighting a website and those who run it just because they A worked with him at one point
B had a car built by him
C help run a Site he advertised on
As stated many times your barking up the wrong tree....don't beat up the innocent
Please don't take this to heart but my god man fight frank and only frank or as much as it truely sucks move on.
Hey not to capitalize on a bad situation but try to ask the venders who have the parts you want for some donations or discounts. You don't know what you'll get until you ask right?

In all fairness, I don't believe that Hard2core ever suggested that we compensate him for what Frank did.

Andrew

[raustinss]

Andrew your right I didn't....it was a off the cuff comment I was simply lost on why he's fighting pt.com and those associated with it. My apologies to hard2core for implying that you might be looking for compensation from the website
Ryan Austin

[Hard2core]

Hard2core
Your right I would be absolutely certifiably nuts if I had spent that kind of cash and have nothing to show for it now please don't take this the wrong way but I would never had let things get that bad to begin with lots I know they say hindsight is 20-20 but still,
Losing that money is only part of it, it now seems your fighting a website and those who run it just because they A worked with him at one point
B had a car built by him
C help run a Site he advertised on
As stated many times your barking up the wrong tree....don't beat up the innocent
Please don't take this to heart but my god man fight frank and only frank or as much as it truely sucks move on.
Hey not to capitalize on a bad situation but try to ask the venders who have the parts you want for some donations or discounts. You don't know what you'll get until you ask right?

I thought I cleared this all up with post 13 https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/92029-Prodigy-Customs-100-thousand-dollar-project?p=1041093#post1041093
I don't know why you are still harping on it unless you are confusing me with aussie tony

[garickman]

The first post is from august of 2012 before i even had my car.
Then a person asked what happened to my car.
I just got the report from my lawyers a few weeks ago.
I have lost about 140k total with lawyers fees.... I answered his question. Was I supposed to be quiet and not tell this story? Would you take a 140k so lightly and like me to tell you "hey your not the only victim, life sucks, get a helmet"
I dont know what 140k means to you...but its not a "oh well lost a 5 dollar bill out of my wallet" to me.

Dante, you're spinning your wheels trying to explain yourself to those people who don't have a clue what you went through and who have never picked up the phone to get to know you. There is no need to defend yourself or your actions to people on a public forum who continue to take things out of context and will never really understand your situation. People are going to believe what they want and there is always going to be those who say it would have never happened to them with out having a clue as to what the circumstances were in each of the victims particular situations.

Your a better man than most for your contributions to society and your willingness to help others. To those of us that know what happened and to those of us that believe, no explanation is necessary, to those that don't believe no explanation will suffice.

[Damn True]

The previous two post illustrate why, when the feedback forum was created some ~33mos ago, it was formed such that only the member with a valid and verifiable gripe against a vendor and the vendor in question were permitted to comment in a thread.

We made an exception to this rule with the "Frank-gate" threads, to allow the members to share information that may be beneficial. Where this policy is not adhered to, as shown in this thread and un-moderated feedback forums on other sites, you get this. A feeding frenzy of uninterested parties casting supposition, hearsay and generally mucking up what may have been a good resource.

[Bill Howell]

To the gentleman who started this thread? That would be me but i think you were talking to aussie tony. I have apoligized to the moderators for my haste already. But I will say I can see alot what Aussie Tony is saying. I also did alot of searching around when this was all going on and saw some things that were peculiar to me. I also got alot of PM's saying...."those guys at pro touring protect him".....why would numerous people say that? They didnt say it about lateral-g, and they didnt say it about camaros.net. I dont know either way but alot of people who read this site felt there was a good ol boys club going on over here. Im not asking for anything....im telling my story
Dante, You and I have talked on the phone and as far as I am concerned we are good. I do think there has been some confusion between your posts here and Aussietony's post.
I can not, nor can anyone else see Frank's pm or yours for that matter. That said, I would love if you still have them to know who accused us of covering for Frank via PM. If you have those and will, please send them to me. I will not share them with anyone, but I will certainly pm or call anyone that has accused me or any other mod of wrong doing. PMing such information is no better than school yard or old lady gossip and I will challenge anyone, anytime that is guilty of that nonsense. We have been pretty public and open about this whole mess and for someone to hid behind a computer board and stir the pot with pm, that is Chicken ****. If anyone reading this post is guilty, step up, be a man and say so. If you don't, then you prove my point.
Again Dante, I hate what happened to you and others. It is despicable and deplorable. If I have learned one thing in my 55 years on this earth, I have learned that carma is a bitch though, and everyone will deal with carma sooner or later.

Lexastech, read my pm, or read Hard2core pm or read anyone's pm. Right!!! we can't either you dipstick. No one has been asleep at the wheel. All of us have day jobs, hobbys and a life. Get out from behind that keyboard and build your car, spend time with family or something but either know what you are typing about or keep your posts to yourself. If you lost money dealing with Frank, join the crowd, that seems to be a growing list. However, to blame me, or anyone else for your dealing with someone you have never met, sending money to someone you had no way of knowing who they were, shame on you. Take some responsibility for your actions and quit blaming everyone else. Frank worked on my GTO, for about 4 months. I showed up unannounced and announced 5 times in that four months. How anyone that can send a car across country, leave it there for months or years and keep sending money without knowing what is going on, demanding pictures of progress, paying someone to go by and check or whatever method used to know what is going on, is beyond me. Losing a little money to a con artist, shame on him, but losing the kind of money I am hearing, sorry but shame on the victim also for poor decisions.

Aussietony, why crickets suddenly. You had so much to say when no one would engage your conversation. OK, we all engaged, you got what you wanted, now where is you so called proof of wrongdoing. Again, either back up your accusations or leave your keyboard alone. When you blabber hearsay , it only shows your ignorance to the facts. You ended up getting your parts right? Why are you even in this conversation. We all already knew Frank had done people wrong. You opinion wasn't needed. You accuse us of covering for Frank in our feedback section when all we have done is remove post, like yours, that served no purpose.
Here is a suggestion for you Tony, start your own feedback thread about how the mods here ripped you off of whatever it was we did to you so we can respond, as any vendor would be allowed to. Otherwise, I strongly suggest you troll the forums and be very careful before posting anything about the management of this forum. Trust me, you are on the radar and it would be pleasurable to have that one excuse now to permanently remove you from the mix here.

As True pointed out in his post, this thread is the very reason we have rules and why they are followed. Since obviously, Frank is never going to come in and post his side of the story, I think we are done here and this thread is done. No more bending the rules. If your username isn't Hard2core or Prodigy Customs, don't post in this thread anymore....PLEASE

[raustinss]

Bill I would like to please come out here and sincerely apologize to hard2core. I am totally wrong and yes I most definitely did have yourself and aussietony mixed up. Now I need to make this right . I got mixed up with different post and should have made sure of whom I was mentioning in my posts. Please accept my most sincere apologies as I meant them towards him and not yourself. Once again I was wrong and need to make it clear
Thank you
Ryan Austin

[Damn True]

Allowed Ryan to post in order to clear that bit of air. Otherwise, Bill's directive stands.

[Hard2core]

Apology accepted. (sorry im in a rush..leaving the house)

[Hard2core]

I was crossing my fingers that I could start this project again and hopefully bring it together still at a huge loss but at least somewhat salvageable. I am having Bryan from Screamin Performance (who knows his ****e) and could probably build a pro touring car out of raw steel beams (after I saw the fabrications in his shop....he is ridiculously skilled) ......he is taking a look at things. Well Bryan saw some things that seemed sketchy and pulled off the dash to find this..... (picture)....this is the kind of work Frank Serafine/Prodigy did with 100 thousand dollars.

You can see more pics of what Bryan is having to fix from Prodigy Customs right here. Start from the top and then make sure you go to the bottom.... that's the timeline
http://screaminperformance.com/gallery/Current%20Projects/Dante's%20Camaro/index.html

Bryan had to start from scratch because of Prodigy's handiwork. Feb 2009 I handed Prodigy my car....here we are in April 2014 more than 5 years later starting from scratch.....