Q: Can A Pawn Shop Not Let Me Pay Off My Loan And Get My Item Back? (Loan Hasn't Expired)
So, I Pawned My Game System 3 Months Ago (Loan Is A 4-Month Term). I Went In On My Lunch Break To Pick It Up; The Pawn Shop Is 15 Min From My Work. When I Showed Up To Pay My Loan, It Was 11:21am. The Door Was Locked And The Employee Pointed At The Door To A Sign That Said; Lunch Break 11:30am-12:30pm. So I Told Them It Wasn't 11:30 Yet, To Which He Responded; "It's The Only Break We Get A Day. We'll Be Back At 12:30pm. So, I Said "Yeah And I Only Get A 30 Min Lunch And 2 10 Min Breaks And I Don't Get Them Early.". Then Went Back To My Truck. When They Came Back, It Was 12:35, So I'm Obviously Upset. They Ask How My Day Is Going, So I Told Them; "Not Good. I'm Late Back To Work Cause You All Want To Go To Lunch Early, Then Come Back Late And It's The Only Day To Pay For My Item." So Then He Told Me He Was Refusing My Service, And I Wasn't Allowed Back In The Store To Pay My Loan Or Get My Item Back. Is This Legal? I Get The Refusing Service Part, But Isn't It My Item To Pay Off?
A: I suggest you call and speak to the owner. Be VERY respectful, and drop all the attitude, (even though you have every right to be pissed.)
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A:
Under California law, a pawn shop cannot arbitrarily refuse to let you redeem your pawned item, especially if your loan term hasn't expired and you're willing to pay off the loan. When you pawn an item, you enter into a contractual agreement with the pawn shop. This contract usually specifies the terms for reclaiming your pawned property, including the time frame and the amount to be paid back.
If the pawn shop denies you the opportunity to redeem your item within the agreed-upon term without a valid legal reason, this could be considered a breach of contract. Additionally, refusing service without a legitimate business reason can be problematic, particularly if it results in you losing the opportunity to reclaim your property as per the terms of the pawn agreement.
In such a situation, it's advisable to document the incident and communicate your intent to pay off the loan as agreed. If the pawn shop continues to refuse your service, you may need to seek legal recourse. This might involve contacting a local consumer protection agency or consulting with a lawyer to discuss your options and rights in this situation.
It's important to act swiftly, as the loan term's expiration could affect your rights to the pawned item. Remember, the specific details of your situation will determine the best course of action.
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