So we moved to TN 2 1/2 years ago from CA. 5 years ago, while living in CA, we had to resort to pawn loans on family jewelry due to a high federal and state tax bill which squeezed our monthly budget. I had all my CA receipts and knew exactly what the local pawn shop company there paid me and charged me in interest for up to 120 day loans. The pawn shop there in CA was extremely professional and courteous. Fast forward to the present, after we have lived here in Knoxville for 2 1/2 years, we now have family medical expenses that have once again squeezed our budget. So I took my jewelry to Cash America in Alcoa, and asked them for a loan amount on one of my gold & platinum rings that I was loaned $225 on back in CA. In CA, the interest on the loan was $3 and some change for each $100 per 30 day period (which equated to just shy of an annual percentage rate of 41%. Imagine my surprise when I was told that for the same ring they would only loan $100 and the monthly interest for 30 days would be $22!!!!! The loan amount offered was only 44% of what I was getting in CA. But the kicker was that they charge over 7 times as much interest. The interest equates to over 280%! So in 4 1/2 months they make $100 off their $100 loan. How ironic that with average incomes much lower in TN compared to CA (don't get me wrong, we love TN over CA) they loan drastically less and charge drastically more in interest. I can't believe the TN legislature allows such usury. Needless to say, you have to be as desperate as can be to pawn jewelry there. Not to mention, it took 30 minutes just to come up with the loan amounts on two items due to the inexperience of two employees who constantly had to check with the more senior person there. What an awful experience. read more