ilmoro
Member of DD Central
'Wondering which of the bu***rs to blame, and watching for pigs on the wing.' - Pink Floyd
Posts: 11,329 
Likes: 11,549
|
Post by ilmoro on Aug 4, 2016 11:59:15 GMT
Thanks everyone. We think the idea is a dead duck primarily as it will require staffing and thus costs. This forum does a grand job and we don't see a need to replicate what is already a vibrant and jolly useful resource. We do intend however, to improve comm's both through here, texts and emails etc. Might be worth revisiting the user information part of the platform. A more comprehensive 'how it works', FAQs and perhaps some examples or video explanations would enhance the user experience. Also the existing Q&A on each loan page offer an opportunity for 'forum lite' if the Q's and A's were displayed (save on responding to repeats). The FAQ on the forum gives an indication of what lenders are asking, an IMHO the FAQ on Ablrate and Q&A on Assetz are good examples of such features in the P2P area. My personal view is that P2P has missed an opportunity in this area to offer an improved customer experience compared to that offered by most banks by providing clear & concise communications on how sites work. Edit - have you considered directing people to this forum from the platform?
|
|
bloodycat
Member of DD Central
Posts: 184
Likes: 84
|
Post by bloodycat on Aug 4, 2016 11:59:52 GMT
In principle internal SS forums, free from some of the necessary restrictions on here would be a good idea. I don't know what proportion of active SS investors use these forums, but I suspect many more would probably look at an official company one.
However , as has already been mentioned, such a forum would require a significant amount of resources if it is to be effective and useful.
As well as reasonable levels of participation in the discussions from staff, active moderation is also required, if only to prevent spam and protect against libel, but the problem is how you moderate and where you draw the line for what is acceptable and how much criticism you are prepared to accept. Whenever you moderate a post there is always likely to be complaints about how or why it has been moderated.
Could your resources be better used elsewhere? I don't know. Regardless there will still be a place for an independent forum like this one.
|
|
fasty
Member of DD Central
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 388
|
Post by fasty on Aug 4, 2016 12:26:23 GMT
Fumbling Circus have tried with several flavours of their own internal forum, none of which seem to have been particularly successful. From an investor perspective, although we have to excercise some care to avoid "naming names" in this forum, the independence and ability to speak openly without risk of censorship from the P2P organisation is a great benefit. Participation by SS is very welcome but I wouldn't want to see them trying to dominate the discussion. In general I believe that they get the balance about right in that respect.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2016 12:56:27 GMT
NB that having a private forum would not keep out Journos, they would just need to make a tiny investment to gain access.
Really there is no where private on the internet.
I'd leave as is but I like the idea of SS joining in on occasion. I suggest review the quality of MT input which is presently the standard setter in this area. This will take up resources and hence costs but may prove useful and be a benefit.
FC's performance, as usual leaves a lot ... etc.
|
|
jsmithe
Member of DD Central
Posts: 74
Likes: 22
|
Post by jsmithe on Aug 4, 2016 13:23:58 GMT
I agree with SS saying no, this does a good job so why confuse things with another one.
Also, keeping it separate gives the option of keeping it anonymous, an option I take advantage of.
|
|
merlin
Minor shareholder in Assetz and many other companies.
Posts: 902
Likes: 302
|
Post by merlin on Aug 4, 2016 13:58:02 GMT
A further suggestion would be to have a question and answer facility built into each loan in a similar many to AC. This allows concerned lenders the opportunity to ask "difficult questions" and get back "sensible answers". Some of the stuff that has come up on the AC Q & A has been both complex and very informative and I think serves a very important purpose.
|
|
|
|
Post by dualinvestor on Aug 4, 2016 14:18:47 GMT
A further suggestion would be to have a question and answer facility built into each loan in a similar many to AC. This allows concerned lenders the opportunity to ask "difficult questions" and get back "sensible answers". Some of the stuff that has come up on the AC Q & A has been both complex and very informative and I think serves a very important purpose. Fourth tab in on each loan, not that I have ever seen it used (not saying it isn't just that I have never seen it)
|
|
registerme
Member of DD Central
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 6,437
|
Post by registerme on Aug 4, 2016 14:22:39 GMT
Well the functionality on AC is a) visible by all and b) receives serious attention from AC staff. Can the same be said of SS?
|
|
ilmoro
Member of DD Central
'Wondering which of the bu***rs to blame, and watching for pigs on the wing.' - Pink Floyd
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 11,549
|
Post by ilmoro on Aug 4, 2016 14:23:34 GMT
A further suggestion would be to have a question and answer facility built into each loan in a similar many to AC. This allows concerned lenders the opportunity to ask "difficult questions" and get back "sensible answers". Some of the stuff that has come up on the AC Q & A has been both complex and very informative and I think serves a very important purpose. There already is but it isn't used like AC. It's just another contact form with questions answered direct by email and neither Q or A displayed for future reference (with one random exception) See my suggestion above
|
|
registerme
Member of DD Central
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 6,437
|
Post by registerme on Aug 4, 2016 14:30:34 GMT
Also worth bearing in mind is that were I SS I'd look at the notion of hosting an internal forum and go "nope, we've outsourced the hosting, management and admin, as well as off-loaded litigation risk, to the P2P Independent Forum, all at no cost........".
Now, they don't get to have it entirely their own way, and it's certainly not under their control (viz FC's problems with this forum), but it's not a bad trade from their perspective.
|
|
ilmoro
Member of DD Central
'Wondering which of the bu***rs to blame, and watching for pigs on the wing.' - Pink Floyd
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 11,549
|
Post by ilmoro on Aug 4, 2016 14:38:26 GMT
There still remains the option of a private SS pink forum here. This could have different rules to main forum like AC version which allowed wider discussion of loans, security, naming borrowers, links, ethics and nomenclature of spades. Those who advocated for a new more open forum, an independentp2pforum (ip2pf) (as opposed to those arguing for an if4p2p, f4ip2p, ethical f4p2p -splitters!  ) could possibly act as moderators for that bit There would be some initial workload for SS authorising registered lenders or even only active borrowers if they prefer a narrower constituency (matching lenders to alter ego - well those not already in their rogues gallery of novelty dartboards) but thereafter it would be low maintenance. It might also have the advantage of permitting SS to just monitor posts in that board rather than the whole SS area. Only issue would be loss of anonymity for some. |
|
|
|
Post by supernumerary on Aug 4, 2016 15:35:57 GMT
Thanks everyone. We think the idea is a dead duck primarily as it will require staffing and thus costs. This forum does a grand job and we don't see a need to replicate what is already a vibrant and jolly useful resource. We do intend however, to improve comm's both through here, texts and emails etc. That sounds excellent! Personally I've always found your e-mails comms top notch, but it would be nice to see you engage on this forum a tad more  . Cooling_Dude, many folk think you are the Saving Stream representative...  With ALL the sterling work that you do, that leaves Saving Stream hands free, to get on with finding and negotiating more loans on stream, successfully.
|
|
|
|
Post by supernumerary on Aug 4, 2016 15:43:34 GMT
Also worth bearing in mind is that were I SS I'd look at the notion of hosting an internal forum and go "nope, we've outsourced the hosting, management and admin, as well as off-loaded litigation risk, to the P2P Independent Forum, all at no cost........". Now, they don't get to have it entirely their own way, and it's certainly not under their control (viz FC's problems with this forum), but it's not a bad trade from their perspective. Good points, succinctly made. From my perspective, what I do like about Saving Stream is that they are not constantly commenting on this message board. IMHO, I would rather that Saving Stream just get on with doing their job properly and let results speak for themselves. I personally think Saving Stream are doing a great job and I can't thank them enough.
|
|
Liz
Member of DD Central
Posts: 2,426
Likes: 1,297
|
Post by Liz on Aug 4, 2016 19:09:41 GMT
Thanks everyone. We think the idea is a dead duck primarily as it will require staffing and thus costs. This forum does a grand job and we don't see a need to replicate what is already a vibrant and jolly useful resource. We do intend however, to improve comm's both through here, texts and emails etc. Maybe it's worth sending an e-mail, informing all SS investors that this resource exists.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2016 8:12:15 GMT
Thanks everyone. We think the idea is a dead duck primarily as it will require staffing and thus costs. This forum does a grand job and we don't see a need to replicate what is already a vibrant and jolly useful resource. We do intend however, to improve comm's both through here, texts and emails etc. Maybe it's worth sending an e-mail, informing all SS investors that this resource exists. I honestly think that would not be appropriate. A serious financial company cannot send customers to a third party forum (which in theory could close or ask a fee the day after). That would be a totally daft move. SS should continue to appear on this and any other financial venues (interview with the press, White papers on p2p lending etc), but not support 'officially' any non-owned third party site.
|
|
) could possibly act as moderators for that bit
.