Class Action Against Pawnbroker, Taylors Business Pty Ltd

Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) acts on behalf of the lead plaintiff, a Victorian woman, who has filed a class action in the Federal Court of Australia against Taylors Business Pty Ltd (ACN 107 445 723) (Taylors Business).

Taylors Business operated a pawnbroking business in Delahey, Victoria, but closed permanently in December 2024.

Abandonment of Pawned Goods and Scheme for their return, sale or disposal

On 19 September 2025, the Federal Court of Australia held that Taylors Business had abandoned any pawned goods that it left in its pawnbroking shop when it vacated the premises in December 2024, and declared that the Group Members in the class action are entitled to immediate possession of those pawned goods.

The Court further ordered that a scheme be set up to facilitate the return of the goods found at the pawn shop to Group Members (Scheme).

On Thursday 23 October 2025, Consumer Action took possession of the pawned goods that were left behind at the pawn shop by Taylors Business.

Not all of the pawned goods that were the subject of the class action were found amongst the goods recovered from the pawn shop.

On Tuesday 2 December 2025, the Court amended the Scheme to allow for the Consumer Action Law Centre to deliver the pawned goods to Group Members.

Judgment on the registration issue

On 15 April 2025, the Court conducted a trial considering the question of whether Taylors Business Pty Ltd was registered to operate lawfully as a pawnbroker in the relevant period or not, and if not, whether that rendered the pawn contracts void / unenforceable or not. This is referred to as the ‘registration issue’.

On 11 December 2025, the Court delivered judgment on the registration issue and found that:

Taylors Business was not registered to operate as a pawnbroker from 15 November 2022 to 26 October 2023;
As a result of not being registered, Taylors Business operated unlawfully from 15 November 2022 to 26 October 2023;
For the pawn contracts entered into between 15 November 2022 to 26 October 2023, there should be:
- An injunction preventing enforcement of the pawn contracts;
- A declaration that the pawn contracts are void and unenforceable;
- An award of damages for the amount of interest or other costs paid under the pawn contracts;

Winding up of Taylors Business and appointment of a liquidator

On 8 July 2026 Taylors Business was ordered to be wound up by the Federal Court.

A Liquidator was appointed to:

assess whether the company has any money or assets;
sell any assets; and
pay out anyone who is owed money from the company, should there be funds available.

Final Court hearing

On 3 August 2026 the Federal Court held a hearing to finalise the case. Amongst the orders, the Court:

found that a total of $159,903.78 was paid in interest on the voided pawn contracts and this amount should be refunded to Group Members; and
ordered amendments to the Scheme.

Whether Group Members will receive a payment from the Liquidator depends on the funds available in the liquidation.

Next Steps

Consumer Action will continue its duties as administrator for the Scheme and will be in contact with Group Members if the liquidator is able to find any money which it is able to pay to Group Members.

Media releases

Launch of class action

Federal Court grants injunction

Key documents

Originating Application

Amended Statement of Claim

Interlocutory Injunction

Case Management Hearing – 23 August 2024

Freezing Order – 7 January 2025

Case Management Hearing – 24 January 2025

Further Amended Originating Application – 22 May 2025

Second further amended Statement of Claim – 22 May 2025