Linkfest In Exile

Why is it that all kinds of news start happening when I'm having to scrounge around for both time and a wireless connection (and CES starts tomorrow - it was nice having all this free time). So, I'm gonna knock this out and go have breakfast.

Prosper Raises Borrower Origination Fees (Prosper Blog)

Effective today, Prosper has increased the origination fee for borrowers. The rationale behind this increase is to enable us to better cover our administrative costs and bring our fees more in line with the market. We have endeavored to continue to keep the fees very straightforward for our borrowers.

Doug Fuller delivers the first of the long promised collections updates. Feels a little light on answering questions people want to know, but I'll take it as a good start.

One of the many activities aimed at improving collections undertaken in the last couple of months was the testing and implementation of an “Early Delinquency” letter series. Although borrowers were already receiving reminder emails and phone calls during the early delinquency period (1 -30 days past due), we thought it worth seeing if an actual letter might drive additional payments. We conducted an initial test in mid-October where half of the early delinquency population was sent a letter and half was not. Measured by the number of manual payments initiated, the results were good. In the three weeks after the letter was mailed 57% more recipients initiated a manual payment (41% vs 26%).

Prosper Pays Up With Style - Refunds to Lenders and Group Leaders

Also, because Prosper was clearly in error the application of all of the above payments in question, and our error involves a time delay between when Prosper should have made payments to lenders, Prosper will pay interest at California’s legal rate of 7% on all amounts due to the affected lenders or GLs, from the date the payment should have been made. Interest will be paid in all 3 situations mentioned above.

Alternative Lending Sites Often Have Good Deals; Each Has Its Own Twist

Prosper is the most laissez faire of the peer lenders: It allows almost anyone to borrow and lend on its site, after it checks that person's credit and verifies his or her identity. At Prosper, borrowers with the worst credit scores could be stuck with rates as high as 30%, if they're funded at all. Consumers with great credit might be able to receive rates of 7%.

"We think it defeats the purpose if you have to know people" to borrow and lend money, says Chris Larsen, Prosper's CEO. "It's kind of like on eBay. If you can only sell products to family and friends, we think that doesn't lead to the best prices."