ATTORNEY GENERAL HERRING REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH STAFFORD-AREA PAWNBROKER

~ 610 Pawn, Inc. agrees to offer refunds to more than 650 eligible borrowers~

RICHMOND (August 1, 2017) - Attorney General Mark Herring announced today that his office has reached a settlement with 610 Pawn, Inc. (610 Pawn), a Stafford-area pawnbroker, to provide more than $27,000 in refunds to more than 650 consumers as a result of the company's alleged violations of the Virginia statutes applicable to pawnbrokers and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (VCPA).  This settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Herring in June 2016.

"We've continued to see a rash of pawnbrokers across Virginia skirting laws and overcharging consumers," said Attorney General Herring. "If you're considering using a pawn shop or other small dollar loan lender, you should always closely review the terms and know your rights before signing anything that might result in even more money coming out of your pocket. As Attorney General, I'll continue to go after those that try to take advantage of Virginia consumers."

610 Pawn has operated as a pawnbroker out of its store on Garrisonville Road in Stafford, Virginia.  In connection with its business, the company issues closed-end loans and takes possession of consumers' personal property as security for its loans.

In the Complaint filed in June 2016, the Attorney General alleged that 610 Pawn charged interest and fees beyond those permitted by the Virginia pawnbroker statutes.  By violating the pawnbroker statutes, the company also allegedly violated the VCPA.  

The settlement includes the following key terms relating to the loans the pawnbroker made during the Relevant Period:

• 610 Pawn agrees to offer refunds totaling $27,731.88 to 651 borrowers representing the amounts those borrowers paid beyond what Virginia's pawnbroker statutes allow.

• 610 Pawn agrees to pay the Attorney General $6,226.85 for reimbursement of the Commonwealth's reasonable expenses, costs and attorney's fees.

• A permanent injunction preventing 610 Pawn from violating the Virginia statutes applicable to pawnbrokers and the VCPA.

Individual consumers who received loans from 610 Pawn during the period from March 12, 2015 to April 11, 2016 and who have questions about the settlement may contact the company directly at (540) 840-8261.

The civil settlement is in the form of a Consent Judgment that has been approved by the Stafford County Circuit Court.

This matter was handled by Attorney General Herring's Consumer Protection Section. In November, Attorney General Herring announced the completion of a reorganization of the OAG Consumer Protection Section to more efficiently and effectively enforce Virginia's consumer protection laws, provide exceptional customer service in resolving complaints and disputes, and provide robust consumer education to keep Virginians from being victimized by fraud, scams, or illegal or abusive business practices. During Attorney General Herring's administration the OAG Consumer Protection Section has recovered more than $220 million in relief for consumers and payments from violators.

If you have any consumer-related inquiries, the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline telephone counselors are available to assist you with your consumer questions.  Please call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-552-9963 if calling from Virginia, or 804-786-2042 if calling from the Richmond area. You can also subscribe to the Consumer Protection Quarterly Newsletter here. 

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