Hello,
I have done some P2P lending across a couple of the Irish platforms and also, I have read some discussions on P2P lending and individual experiences, over on Boards.
Overall, my experience has been reasonable (spread across two P2P websites, with over 140 active loans), however I would caveat that by mentioning a few things:
Anyway, that's a summary of my own experiences.
I would love to learn how other people here are getting along, what tips or traps they've discovered etc. ?
I have done some P2P lending across a couple of the Irish platforms and also, I have read some discussions on P2P lending and individual experiences, over on Boards.
Overall, my experience has been reasonable (spread across two P2P websites, with over 140 active loans), however I would caveat that by mentioning a few things:
- My "real life" brings some relevant experience to the table, when it comes to lending to SMEs.
- I have been somewhat conservative when lending into the P2P sector, by not lending to what I see as higher risk borrowers, tending to avoid borrowers who frequently appear looking for new loans, and generally only lending for a maximum of 2 years.
- Financial information for borrowers is limited, and sometimes out of date. Perhaps more importantly, there is no information provided on the parties providing the personal guarantees for the loan.
- Lending rates appear to be dropping. I think this is being driven by two things, firstly some of the P2P websites (wrongly) trying to offer lending rates similar to Banks, and secondly, more investors getting into P2P - resulting in demand outstripping supply for good loan opportunities and by extension, rates are being forced down.
- Communications vary, with some reasonable 1-2-1 interaction when I have looked for it, but not much in terms of general updates on how loans are performing (this is a particular concern, when loans fall into arrears).
- What exactly is being done to deal with loans in arrears is unclear. There's a clear deficit in the level of communication being provided and by extension, one loses confidence in what the P2P provider is actually doing to collect arrears or enforce security.
Anyway, that's a summary of my own experiences.
I would love to learn how other people here are getting along, what tips or traps they've discovered etc. ?