People lend their cars to Pam to save themselves over the month: "Stuck without us"
Created: 2022-12-27 05:18
By: Tanja Kipke
“Cash immediately on hand” for your own car: that’s everyday life at the car pawn shop in Nuremberg.
The energy crisis is bringing more and more people to the Pomerance family.
Nuremberg – Lena F. (name changed) lives with her violent partner.
She wants out of the relationship, but cannot afford her own apartment.
Since she owns a car, she comes up with the idea of a pawn shop.
The loan gives her enough money to pay the deposit for the new apartment.
A quick way out.
"That's just one of many stories," says Pam Pomerance from Nuremberg's
Merkur.de
motor vehicle pawn shop from
Ippen Media
.
“At the beginning of the year, there were again situations in which the additional payment for electricity led to the electricity being switched off.
People then pawn something here so that they can use the money two streets away to pay in.” Mainly as a result of the energy crisis and rising inflation, more and more people are currently finding themselves in financial difficulties – and thus to the Pomerance family.
The motto here is “cash immediately on hand”.
Energy crisis makes many despair: "We have an inflow of 30 percent"
Many people don't even know about pawnbrokers because they haven't been in such a situation themselves.
"People often have prejudices and imagine it like in Hollywood, a sleazy guy in the dark corner who swindles things from you."
Anyone who then gets into an awkward situation, whether through no fault of their own or through their own fault, is looking for a quick loan.
At some point, those affected come across the car pawn shop in Nuremberg.
How does the pawn shop work?
The principle of the pawn loan remains the same for cars, the pawn loan regulation provides for the same procedure for each item.
Customers hand in their valuables and receive 30 percent (e.g. for electronics) or 60 percent (e.g. cars) of the current value in cash.
This eliminates lengthy credit checks, such as for bank loans.
The pledged property is liable for the amount paid out.
This allows people to borrow money easily and quickly.
"Many have to bridge at the end of the month," explains the 36-year-old.
It was then “more month than money left”.
In December and January it will be even tighter, as these are already the most expensive months of the year for many with Christmas and New Year's bills.
Due to the energy crisis, the pawn shop has now seen an increase of 30 percent.
Oldest vehicle pawnshop in Nuremberg: "90 percent of the cars are picked up again"
"We were there first," says Pam Pomerance.
It fills her with pride that she and her father run the oldest car pawn shop in Germany.
There is now one in every major city.
Her father Rick, a former US soldier, founded the company in 1994. "At the time, many said it would never work, the Germans wouldn't give up their cars." They were probably wrong, the shop is running and helps many, a financially difficult one situation to bridge.
Victims entrust their vehicles or valuables to Pam and her father.
"They would be lost without us," explains Pam.
Car pawn shop: Pam and Rick Pomerance have "cash in hand immediately".
© Pam Pomerance
The pledge agreement runs – like everywhere else – at the Pomerances for three months, and there is an additional “security month” if you cannot pay back the money you have borrowed.
Of course, the owner can bring his vehicle back at any time and cancel the contract.
If the car is still in the warehouse after four months, it will be auctioned off.
The proceeds then of course go to the owner, not to the pawn shop.
However, that often doesn't happen.
"90 percent of the cars are picked up again on time."
The Pomerance earn money from the pawn shop through interest and a parking fee for the vehicle of 70 euros per month.
(By the way: Our Nuremberg newsletter regularly informs you about all the important stories from Middle Franconia and the Franconian metropolis. Register here.)
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US military vehicles, lawn mowers and asphalt stoves: everything can be found in the car pawn shop
The Pomerances car pawn shop currently has around 60 cars, including many second cars, convertibles and vintage cars.
"And then there are motorcycles, bicycles and special vehicles," Pam tells our editors.
By special vehicles, the 36-year-old means, for example, a US military vehicle, a three-axle vehicle called "Gama Goat".
They have also housed a "crazy ride-on lawn mower" and large agricultural machinery or asphalt stoves.
From a US military vehicle to farm machinery, all kinds of vehicles can be found at the oldest car pawn shop.
© Pam Pomerance
But it also happens from time to time that the inquiries are so crazy that the pawnbroker family has to turn down the order.
“A month ago someone wanted to rent out a 20 meter yacht.
She would have had to come in a special truck because such a large boat legally counts as real estate,” explains Pam.
However, pawnbrokers cannot lend against real estate.
Someone also wanted to bring a helicopter, "of course that doesn't work either," she says and laughs.
Pawn shop in Nuremberg: man pawned wedding ring to pay gas bill
What Pam also remembered: "We once had a situation where someone had simply forgotten their wallet at the gas station and quickly borrowed their wedding ring to pay for the gas," she tells
Merkur.de
.
"Of course he came back the very next day to pick him up."
Pam loves her job.
"It's great for us when you realize, okay, I helped people to bridge an emergency situation and they were able to get out of the awkward situation again." Her customers are often very grateful for the help.
In the run-up to Christmas, many former customers come and bring gifts such as cakes and stollen.
"That gives you a lot in return."
(tkip)
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