Can EZCorp contact my friends or family

For pawn loans: NO. EZCORP explicitly states that pawn transactions involve "no collection activity" at all — period . There is no need to contact anyone because you simply lose your item if you do not repay.

For historical payday loans (before 2015): YES. The CFPB found that EZCorp's debt collectors called credit references, supervisors, and landlords, and disclosed debts to third parties .

Since EZCorp exited the US payday lending business in 2015, this behavior should no longer be happening.

Detailed Explanation

Current Pawn Operations — No Third-Party Contact

Pawn loans are fundamentally different from unsecured loans. Here is how a pawn loan works :

1. You bring an item of value to a pawn shop (jewelry, electronics, tools, etc.)
2. The pawnbroker assesses its value and offers you a loan — typically a percentage of that value
3. You receive cash immediately
4. You receive a pawn ticket with the due date and terms
5. You have a set period (30-90 days in the US) to repay the loan plus interest
6. If you repay, you get your item back
7. If you do not repay, you forfeit the item — and that is the end of the transaction

Because the loan is secured by your item, there is no need for:

• Phone calls to collect payment
• Letters demanding payment
• Contacting your friends or family
• Contacting your employer
• Reporting to credit bureaus
• Lawsuits or wage garnishment

EZCORP's own SEC filings and earnings presentations confirm: "No collection activity or reporting to credit bureaus" .

Historical Payday Lending — Serious Violations

Before 2015, EZCORP operated payday lending under names like "EZMONEY Payday Loans," "EZ Loan Services," and "EZ Payday Advance" . For those unsecured loans, the CFPB found that the company:

• Called credit references, supervisors, and landlords
• Disclosed or risked disclosing debts to third parties
• Potentially jeopardized consumers' jobs or reputations
• Ignored consumers' requests to stop calls to their workplaces 

The CFPB investigation also found that EZCORP made "in-person collection visits that disclosed or risked disclosing consumers' debt to third parties, and caused or risked causing adverse employment consequences to consumers such as disciplinary actions or firing" .

This was the basis for the $10.5 million penalty and the ban on future in-person debt collection.

How to Protect Yourself from Third-Party Contact (General Advice)

For EZCorp pawn loans:

• Step 1: Understand that pawn loans are non-recourse. The only thing at risk is the item you pawned.
• Step 2: If you cannot repay, simply forfeit the item. You do not need to answer calls or respond to letters.
• Step 3: Keep your pawn ticket safe. It is your proof of the transaction.

For any other type of loan (from any lender):

• Step 1: Never grant contacts access to any loan app.
• Step 2: Check your phone permissions regularly and revoke any unnecessary access.
• Step 3: Read the loan agreement carefully for any language about "contacting references."
• Step 4: If a lender contacts your friends or family, document everything (screenshots, call logs, dates, times).
• Step 5: Send a written request demanding they stop contacting third parties. Keep a copy.
• Step 6: Report violations to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
• Step 7: Consider changing your phone number if harassment persists.

What to Do If It Happens to You

If a lender contacts your friends or family about your debt (regardless of which company):

• Step 1: Do not panic. You have rights.
• Step 2: Tell your friends and family: "Do not engage. Do not give them any information. Hang up immediately."
• Step 3: Document everything — save voicemails, screenshot texts, write down call times.
• Step 4: File a complaint with the CFPB.
• Step 5: File a complaint with your state attorney general.
• Step 6: Consult a lawyer. You may have grounds for a lawsuit under the FDCPA or state law.

The Bottom Line for EZCorp

For their current pawn operations, EZCorp does not engage in debt collection. There is no need to contact your friends or family because the loan is secured by your item.

For their historical payday lending operations — now discontinued in the US — the company engaged in serious violations, including contacting third parties, calling workplaces, and making in-person collection visits. The CFPB penalized them heavily.

If you are considering any EZCorp product other than a standard pawn loan (such as auto title loans in Puerto Rico), ask specifically: "What are your collection practices? Do you contact third parties?"

And if any lender — past or present — contacts your friends or family, report them immediately.