AZE.US
A resident of Mashtaga settlement in Baku’s Sabunchu district says he has been unable to recover gold jewelry he pledged at a local pawnshop, despite offering to repay the loan and accumulated interest in full.
According to Vusal Khalilov, he handed over about 10 grams of gold worth approximately 2,160 manats ($1,271) on April 11 and received a loan of 350 manats ($206).
Khalilov later decided to repay the debt ahead of schedule. He said the total amount due, including interest, had risen to more than 470 manats ($276). However, the pawnshop has still not returned his jewelry.
“I want to close the debt and take back my gold, but they keep creating problems,” Khalilov said. “There is no representative at the pawnshop, and no one is returning the jewelry.”
He also claimed that other customers may be facing similar problems. According to Khalilov, people have arrived at the business to make payments or recover pledged items, only to find the premises closed.
Khalilov said several individuals had contacted him and promised that the gold would be returned at a later date, but those assurances had not produced any result.
He filed a complaint with police and submitted a formal statement. The case has reportedly been under investigation for more than a month.
Journalists who visited the pawnshop also found the doors locked. They later reached a representative using the telephone number displayed on the company’s sign.
The pawnshop owner denied any intention to deceive the customer and said the jewelry would be returned by July 17. The representative also rejected claims that several other customers had encountered the same problem.
Police are continuing their investigation based on Khalilov’s complaint.
People who repay a pawnshop loan but are unable to recover their collateral are advised to contact law enforcement agencies, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan and the State Service for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control.
AZE.US