---

What people are saying
about borrowing

Journalists

Consumer Choices
"Zopa provides an interesting alternative to high-street lending, and if you have a fairly good credit rating the rate you are offered on Zopa could beat those offered by high-street lenders. One of the main advantages of borrowing from Zopa is the fact that you can make overpayments on your loan or repay it in full early, without suffering any penalties."

Yahoo! Finance
"The benefits for borrowers are that interest rates available are typically 20% lower than the rate each borrower can get from a traditional lender and that there are no early repayment penalties. There is also the personal element and knowing that someone is getting a good deal by lending to you - not taking you for a fool.
Of course with no big bank involved, borrowers who meet the strict credit criteria for Zopa will be side-stepping the current hikes in rates as banks try to recoup money lost in the credit crunch. This is the reason Zopa is booming right now - arranging twice the volume of loans month by month on this time last year - simply because the creditworthy part of the borrower market Zopa serves is being rejected or overcharged by the banks."

The Independent
"With fewer overheads, Zopa lenders offer better rates: borrowers in the A* market are currently enjoying an average rate of 8.1 per cent on loans of £5,000 over three years."

moneysavingexpert.com
"For top credit scorers, loan marketplace Zopa is cheaper. For A* or A grade credit scorers wanting cash over a short period, it can beat most loan rates."

MSN Money
"In just under four years since launch in March 2005, Zopa has attracted 230,000 members of whom three quarters are borrowers and the rest lenders. For borrowers, the attraction is the low rate payable, and the flexibility of the loans, which come with no early repayment penalty or hidden costs."

Read more press clippings about Zopa

Borrowers

Ruth, from Action
"My husband and I think ZOPA is totally brilliant. I have had a thoroughly positive experience on the listings and am humbled by complete strangers having faith in us and choosing to help us out. Thank you for making ZOPA so professional and secure. We put our preferred rate at 10% - prayed for 7% and ended up getting under 6. Am thrilled!!."

Sue, from Cardiff
"I am so pleased and impressed with ZOPA's fuss free supportive service and particularly as I have experienced first hand the hoops customers have to jump through to get a loan from the banks."

Patrick, from Stockport
"Next week I will be making the last of 36 monthly payments on my Zopa loan and I just wanted to say a very big 'Thank You' to all my lenders and to the special people at Zopa who made borrowing so simple and trouble-free."

Siobhan, from Harrogate
"I was incredibly impressed with Zopa, it was very easy and the customer service was excellent. The thing that most attracted me was that the money is not from a bank, it is from people who understand what it is like to need a helping hand every once in a while. It also means that I will never miss a payment as I know that a real person is depending on me making the repayments, so it makes the borrower a lot more conscious about making sure they pay the money back. It just feels more ethical, and I think it is a brilliant idea, and I would certainly recommend it to my friends and family. In fact, I have already mentioned it to several people."

Damien, from Northampton
"The reason I decided to use Zopa was because of the great rates and also the fact I could pay back more of the money borrowed when I could afford it. When I was taking out the loan the service I received was second to none and very friendly!"

Tina, from Bradford
"I chose Zopa for two reasons. Primarily because you are dealing directly with other people, you know who's lent you money and it all feels far more human and real than some impersonal, cold and amorphous bank. Secondly, the rates were extremely competitive. If ever I found myself with spare cash I would without question consider investing in Zopa as I know the people who profit are deserving, and are not fat-cat bankers."

Ruby, from Brighton
"I applied to Zopa because the APR rates were reasonable and I liked the concept. I would rather pay real individuals for my loan than a bank. It's a fantastic lending model, very refreshing and a great alternative. I am happy to meet my monthly payments because I'm paying back people who have decided to trust me after considering me on my individual merits."

---

Next... See today's rates and repayment amounts