I lent there many times a couple of years ago.<p>I always insisted that I was only paid back what I had lent. I stopped doing this when I was not paid back several times in a row.<p>As a frequent reader what I noticed was that people were repeatedly coming back. They might ask for £250, they repay with whatever 'interest' was asked, and then they post again asking more money. As the user's payment history is posted, and they seem trustworthy, they get the new loan. Repeat and repeat.<p>They are forever trapped in a cycle of paying more back and from what they ask - it's never for what might be called luxuries - they slowly sink.<p>So while I saw it as useful, and indeed it may be for some, there are others who are effectively being financially abused and they have no way out of that loop.