SSLS director Chen Hwei-pin states that in contrast to private pawnshops where the relationship between pawnbrokers and clients is not always on the up-and-up, the SSLS mainly provides "micro-loans"; 90 % of the loans are for less than NT $ 100,000. In most cases the money is needed to pay school tuition, utilities, or medical expenses, or to resolve similar short-term emergencies.
北市動質處處長陳惠平表示，相較於業者和典當人互動複雜的民營當舖，動質處提供的其實是一種「小額借貸」，借 10 萬元以下者超過 9 成，多是為了繳清學費、水電費與醫療費而來，都是為了解決燃眉之急。