prestige pawnbrokers review€¦ · and cheaper than trying to secure an overdraft from his bank....

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Cash-poor-asset-rich?Pawnbrokers in Weybridge? The word brings

to mind a rather dingy, Dickensian world,doesn’t it? But Prestige Pawnbrokers in

Queen’s Road is not like that. It’s clean,professional, airy – more like a bank or abuilding society office.

Which is exactly the point. In the modernworld, where cash-poor-asset-rich individualsand small businesses have liquidity problems,pawnbrokers can be just like a bank – onlymore e�ective. Which is why Prestige’sproprietor James Constantinou set up thebusiness.

“I realised I was dealing with lots of verysuccessful professional people who hadtemporary cashflow problems as a result of therecession,” he says, “and I saw a gap in themarket to provide a cost-effective way of helpingthem through it.”

Because we all know the old cliché: banks aredelighted to lend you all the money you want –as long as you don’t need it. In an emergencymany people find that a lifetime’s carefullyprotected credit rating counts for nothing.

“This is where we have the edge,” James adds.“All we need to worry about is the value of theitems offered as security – we don’t have to ask

patronising, long-winded questions about whyyou want the money and your budget forrepayments.”

That’s one place where they score – the other iscost. Because the loan is effectively guaranteed,interest rates can be as low as 4%. Try gettingthat from one of our nationalised financialinstitutions.

The Weybridge business has had a stormingopening month: examples include a localindependent businessman pawning his Ferrarito raise funds to complete a propertydevelopment project. The client was waiting forfunds from a previous deal to be released;Prestige provided a quick and simple solutionthat avoided a cashflow crisis that could haveruined him.

Other items include a pair of classic HarleyDavidsons pawned by a dealer looking to raiseworking capital from his stock – quicker, easierand cheaper than trying to secure an overdraftfrom his bank.

Weybridge, like the rest of the country, isobviously having to tighten its belt. And Prestigeare providing a valuable extra solution to helppeople through their short term problems. t

125 Queens Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 9UN

0800 917 6894 (Freefone)

info@prestigepawnbrokers.co.uk

www.prestigepawnbrokers.co.uk

PrestigePawnbrokers

My view?With Prestige, pawnbroking hasentered the 21st Century. No-one willever enjoy borrowing money, butsometimes we all have to. Forgetstigma – this could be a clever andcost effective option for anyone in ashort-term financial emergency. Andhow long before we hear people atdinner parties boasting about thecunning way they financed theirbridging loan?

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