Vernon pawn broker on hook for guitars destroyed in downtown fire

A Vernon pawn broker, razed by a massive fire in 2023, has been ordered to cough up after it refused to pay for a customer’s pawned guitars, which were destroyed in the blaze.

According to a March 11 BC Civil Resolution Tribunal decision, Lisa Zoe McPherson received $425 from Vernon Centre Pawn when she took three guitars there in 2023.

McPherson estimated the value of the guitars at $4,000 and had to either repay the $425 within two months, or pay $25 or $30 for each month the items to stay at the Vernon Centre Pawn.

However, weeks after pawning the guitars the store and the building were destroyed in a massive fire.

The fire destroyed numerous businesses and razed much of the 2800 block of 30 Street. It’s now a parking lot.

It’s unclear what happened next, but McPherson took the pawn brokers to the online small claims court to recoup her losses.

She claimed $4,084 for the guitars and $265 for “sentimental loss.”

The Vernon Pawn Centre argued her losses were limited by the Pawnbrokers Act, and she was only entitled to $637.

However, the Tribunal pointed out that the Pawnbrokers Act legislation hadn’t existed for almost 25 years.

“There is no longer any provincial legislation that applies specifically to pawn brokers,” the Tribunal said. 

The decision said McPherson wanted $4,000 for the guitars, but didn’t provide any evidence of the guitars value or a quote for the replacement cost.

“I also note Vernon Centre Pawn argues the guitars were in ‘below average condition’. While Ms. McPherson denies this, she did not provide any evidence of the guitars’ condition, such as photos,” the Tribunal said.

The decision said that Vernon Pawn Centre agreed McPherson was entitled to some compensation, given her guitars were destroyed before the two-month loan was due.

“I find it is fair and reasonable in this circumstance to award Ms. McPherson $500 for her guitars’ value, acknowledging that she has already received $425, when she first brought the guitars in,” the Tribunal ruled. 

The Tribunal ordered the Vernon Centre Pawn to pay her $500, but stopped short of having the pawn brokers pay McPherson’s $125 Tribunal fee.

The pawn broker has 21 days to pay.