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TRINE
Apr 9, 2018 15:02:33 GMT
Post by badger on Apr 9, 2018 15:02:33 GMT
Hi. Has anyone here used Trine www.jointrine.com/ ?
I guess it counts as peer-to-peer : the end borrowers are companies in Africa, who sell and install solar power installations for African villages. Trine has been running since 2015 and has got a good reputation as far as I can see. Villagers buy sets which comprise of (typically) solar panels, a number of lights, radio and phone charger. It replaces kerosene lamps, so claims to have saved thousands of tons of CO2 as well as improving living conditions.
Interest rates are typically 5-6%, repayable (amortising) over 20-40 months or so, but with typically 1 year before the first payment.
I've just had my first dabble. The only difficulty I found is that Trine is based in Sweden and you have to pay in Euros. First time I did it I used my Visa debit card and my bank charged 3% for a non-sterling transaction - the buggers! Next time I intend to use CurrencyFair www.currencyfair.com/ (which is itself a form of peer-to-peer).
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cb25
Posts: 3,528 
Likes: 2,668
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Post by cb25 on Apr 10, 2018 9:56:13 GMT
Hi. Has anyone here used Trine www.jointrine.com/ ?
I guess it counts as peer-to-peer : the end borrowers are companies in Africa, who sell and install solar power installations for African villages. Trine has been running since 2015 and has got a good reputation as far as I can see. Villagers buy sets which comprise of (typically) solar panels, a number of lights, radio and phone charger. It replaces kerosene lamps, so claims to have saved thousands of tons of CO2 as well as improving living conditions.
Interest rates are typically 5-6%, repayable (amortising) over 20-40 months or so, but with typically 1 year before the first payment.
I've just had my first dabble. The only difficulty I found is that Trine is based in Sweden and you have to pay in Euros. First time I did it I used my Visa debit card and my bank charged 3% for a non-sterling transaction - the buggers! Next time I intend to use CurrencyFair www.currencyfair.com/ (which is itself a form of peer-to-peer).
Not for me, given you can get 6.25% with a provision fund in AC, without the complication of UK-Sweden-Africa/Pounds-Euros. I'd need a lot more than 5-6% to step into that.
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daveb
Member of DD Central
Posts: 253
Likes: 210
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TRINE
Apr 10, 2018 16:56:01 GMT
Post by daveb on Apr 10, 2018 16:56:01 GMT
I suspect the main reason to do it is to be environmentally friendly and generally helpful rather than to make much money. Presumably if there was much money to make in it then someone would just be doing it
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TRINE
Apr 10, 2018 22:47:08 GMT
cb25 likes this
Post by badger on Apr 10, 2018 22:47:08 GMT
Yes, I'm already well diversified in other platforms and making acceptable returns, so the main attraction is ethical rather than financial. I just wondered if anyone else had any experiences of Trine to offer
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TRINE
Apr 11, 2018 9:50:57 GMT
Post by shyinvestor on Apr 11, 2018 9:50:57 GMT
Have not seen Trine, but have invested a small amount in Lendahand Ethex. They raise money for solar electricity projects in Africa. The hoped for return is 5 - 6 % but there is no guarantee. I consider it more of a charitable donation and will be happy to come out even.
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Liz
Member of DD Central
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Post by Liz on Apr 11, 2018 9:55:41 GMT
Have not seen Trine, but have invested a small amount in Lendahand Ethex. They raise money for solar electricity projects in Africa. The hoped for return is 5 - 6 % but there is no guarantee. I consider it more of a charitable donation and will be happy to come out even. Never heard of it. How do we know it's not a scam.
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angrysaveruk
Member of DD Central
Say No To T.D.S
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TRINE
Apr 11, 2018 12:04:02 GMT
Post by angrysaveruk on Apr 11, 2018 12:04:02 GMT
I definitely think there is a place for "feel good" investments in P2P but you definitely have to be careful they are not scams. In my experience charitable endeavours attract the very best and the very worst kind of people.
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pom
Member of DD Central
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TRINE
Apr 11, 2018 12:18:55 GMT
Post by pom on Apr 11, 2018 12:18:55 GMT
I dipped a toe in Lendahand when someone else mentioned them a couple of months ago, so no payments yet. Being Africa there's probably a lot that could go wrong, but given they're already legit enough (authorised representatives as far as the FCA permissions is concerned) to offer an IFISA I think they're considerably less scammy than certain other platforms...Lendahand is a dutch based crowdfunder so maybe that's why we've not heard of them before.
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cb25
Posts: 3,528
Likes: 2,668
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TRINE
Apr 11, 2018 12:46:53 GMT
Post by cb25 on Apr 11, 2018 12:46:53 GMT
I dipped a toe in Lendahand when someone else mentioned them a couple of months ago, so no payments yet. Being Africa there's probably a lot that could go wrong, but given they're already legit enough (authorised representatives as far as the FCA permissions is concerned) to offer an IFISA I think they're considerably less scammy than certain other platforms...Lendahand is a dutch based crowdfunder so maybe that's why we've not heard of them before. From their website - www.lendahand.co.uk/about - doesn't appear that Lendahand itself is FCA regulated: "In respect of its regulated activities, Lendahand Ethex Ltd is an appointed representative of Share In Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 603332)." FCA website shows Lendahand Ethex Ltd as an 'Appointed representative' shyinvestor I prefer to keep my investments and charity donations separate.
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TRINE
Apr 13, 2018 12:14:56 GMT
Post by badger on Apr 13, 2018 12:14:56 GMT
How do we know it's not a scam? Like any other p2p platform, do some homework. Google for reviews? look at the website - is it professional and credible? Look at the finances if available? Search this forum to look for bad comments? Then take it slowly and build up confidence. That applies to the platforms and the end borrowers.
I hadn't looked at Lendahand before but from what I've seen both Trine and Lendahand have good reviews (Lendahand mainly in Dutch). However I did discover that one end-borrower B***X is currently borrowing on both platforms which rings some alarm bells for me.
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Imothep
Member of DD Central
Posts: 106
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TRINE
Apr 16, 2018 1:19:27 GMT
via mobile
Post by Imothep on Apr 16, 2018 1:19:27 GMT
Decent rate for an ethical investment  |
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Nomad
Member of DD Central
Posts: 755
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TRINE
Dec 23, 2019 22:59:54 GMT
Post by Nomad on Dec 23, 2019 22:59:54 GMT
They seem like a very credible operation - Site
www.trine.com/news/awarded-by-the-king€30.6 million lent to date by over 10K investors, defaults at 1.3%, average interest rate quoted as 7.7%. "Trine is registered as a financial institution with The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen)." Current loan to a proven Kenyan solar supplier will return 8% for sums €1000+. I shall have a dabble... |
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Nomad
Member of DD Central
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TRINE
Dec 27, 2019 20:49:03 GMT
Post by Nomad on Dec 27, 2019 20:49:03 GMT
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mrk
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TRINE
Sept 15, 2022 15:55:17 GMT
Post by mrk on Sept 15, 2022 15:55:17 GMT
Resurrecting this thread to note that new loans on Trine now offer "Investment protection by DFC", which sounds pretty good: The U.S. International Development Finance Cooperation (DFC) is in collaboration with Trine providing an Investment Protection for this loan, reducing the risk to your investment. DFC would cover 50% of outstanding capital losses in the event that a company defaults on a loan. |
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