Pawnbroker merchant accounts UK

Card networks treat pawnbroking as adjacent to high-risk consumer-credit verticals. Some mainstream acquirers decline; specialist programmes more comfortable.

Legal status (UK)

Regulated under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. FCA authorisation required for the lending side; second-hand-goods retail is unregulated.

Acquirers accepting

  • Specialist pawnbroker-friendly acquirers
  • Trust Payments (selectively)
  • Specialist consumer-credit-aware ISOs

Typical pricing

Rate
2.5% to 4.0%
Settlement reserve
5% to 10%

Watch outs

  • FCA consumer-credit permission required for the lending side.
  • Stolen-goods compliance under the Police Property Act and similar.
  • Customer-vulnerability rules around redemption / non-redemption.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-26.