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Dear Fellow Pawnbrokers: This was one of the most difficult legislative sessions we’ve seen as an industry in a number of years, and many of you understand why. If passed in their original forms, S.810 (prefiled in December of 2017) and its companion House bill H.4534 (filed in January 2018) would have destroyed the pawn industry in South Carolina. Under the provisions of their original versions, they would have: Repealed Section 15 of Act 262, which states, “A county or municipality may enact ordinances that are in compliance with, but not more restrictive than the provisions of this act, except […]<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
A number of pawnbrokers across South Carolina have faced a situation that is making it increasingly difficult to operate. In fact, this problem is so serious, some pawnbrokers may be forced to close their doors because of it. Partly due to flaws in the Patriot Act and partly due to Operation Chokepoint, banks and other financial institutions have told many of their pawnbroker customers that their business is no longer wanted. Banks are telling pawnbrokers that they have to find another place to house their accounts. Other banks are refusing to extend lines of credit to pawnbroker customers. Has this […]<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
At the 2017 South Carolina Pawnbrokers’ Association’s fall membership meeting, ATF Industry Operations Investigator Suzanne Costello conducted a seminar and Q&A dealing with firearms acquisition and disposition record books and the changes in Form 4473. If you were unable to attend the seminar and dinner or just want to watch it again, the entire presentation is available here. This year\u2019s Platinum Sponsors are Geib Refining Corporation\u00a0and Marshall & Sterling Insurance. Our Gold Sponsor is Palak Diam. Our Silver Sponsors are ABC Diamonds\u00a0and Wexler Insurance Agency. Please support our sponsors. <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
The South Carolina Pawnbrokers’ Association wants to extend a special thanks to: This year\u2019s Platinum Sponsors Geib Refining Corporation\u00a0and Marshall & Sterling Insurance, who also served as Presenting Sponsors for the event. We also thank our Gold Sponsor Palak Diam\u00a0and our\u00a0Silver Sponsors ABC Diamonds\u00a0and Wexler Insurance Agency. Thank you also to\u00a0ATF Industry Operations Investigator Suzanne Costello, who provided our seminar and Q&A. If you could not join us this year, we hope you can be with us in 2018.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
Dear Fellow Pawnbroker: I have been asked by many Pawnbrokers, \u201cWhy do we have the SC Pawnbrokers\u2019 Association, and why should I be a member?\u201d\u00a0 The answer is simple. 1) Pawnbroking is among the most heavily regulated industries in America. For example, in my small shop, I must simultaneously ensure compliance with the zoning standards, rules, statutes, laws and codes enforced by the US Treasury, ATF, Columbia Police, Richland County Sheriff\u2019s Office, SLED, and, because of my downtown location, possibly the University Police and the Capital Complex Police. Any one of these agencies has the judicial and\/or legislative power and […]<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, in partnership with the\u00a0Better Business Bureau of the Upstate and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is\u00a0offering a half-day forum to local businesses regarding industry compliance\u00a0and responsibility in advertising. This forum will address requirements set forth\u00a0by both state and federal law. The Federal Trade Commission will provide a presentation on advertising laws to include: Advertising Basics (use of the word \u201cfree\u201d, using testimonials, required disclosures, etc.) DOT COM Disclosures Cases \/ Issues seen by FTC FTC Resources The Department of Consumer Affairs will provide an overview of state advertising laws and provide examples and […]<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
At the South Carolina Pawnbrokers’ Association’s Fall 2016 seminar and dinner in Columbia, SC on August 27, 2016, Carri Grube Lybarker (Administrator; South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs) hosted a presentation and question and answer session covering the 2016 South Carolina Pawn Act. If you were unable to attend the seminar and dinner or just want to watch it again, the entire presentation is available here. <\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
The South Carolina Pawnbrokers\u2019 Association (SCPA) is the unified voice of the Palmetto State\u2019s pawn industry \u2013 providing education, advocacy, and networking for its members. We want you to take an active role in the development of the pawn industry and our association in South Carolina, so please mark your calendar for Saturday, August 27, 2016, and join us at the Columbia Marriott (1200 Hampton Street Columbia, SC 29201). This year\u2019s membership meeting and dinner are sponsored by Geib Refining Corporation,\u00a0Palak Diam, and Wexler Insurance Agency. Please support our sponsors. We will begin with check-in at 4:15 before a presentation […]<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
After several years of discussion and debate, the South Carolina General Assembly took steps to modernize laws governing the state’s pawn industry to help it compete more fairly with pawn industries in other states. The 2016 Pawn Act (Act 262 of the 2016 General Assembly) is a comprehensive revamping of Title 40, Chapter 39 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, and while the South Carolina Pawnbrokers’ Association plans to conduct a late summer\/early fall meeting to review all of the changes, we wanted to make sure the state’s pawnbrokers had access to those sweeping changes now. The 2016 […]<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
As the pawn industry continues evolving in South Carolina and nationwide, the 2015 Southeastern Regional Convention and Trade Show in Atlanta will be an event you won\u2019t want to miss. PawnCon 2015 will be held November 5-8 at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North Resort in Atlanta, GA. Receive an \u201cEarly Bird\u201d rate of $169 per attendee if you register by September 14. After that and until September 23, the registration rate is $249 per attendee, and \u201cOn Site\u201d registration that begins September 24 is $349 per attendee. For more about PawnCon 2015 — including agendas, speakers, and exhibitor information —\u00a0click […]<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
Special Contribution to the SCPA by\u00a0Kurt Offner Virtually every state and numerous municipalities require pawnbrokers to be licensed to conduct business. The governmental authority licensing and regulating pawnbrokers varies widely. Some States require the pawnbroker to solely obtain an occupational license from their county or local municipal authority. In other instances, a State regulatory body is in charge of licensing, inspecting, and governing pawnshop activities (NOTE: In South Carolina, this is the Department of Consumer Affairs.). In some instances, a pawnbroker may be required to deal with both local and State authorities in order to obtain a license. In other […]<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>