Inadequate business descriptions, and other questionable loans

[Guest]

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[Diane R]

This thread is meant as a place for you to note any questionable loans you find on the site, including suspected double-dipping or misposted loans, loans that you feel are questionable as to purpose or merit (such as this car loan which received a lot of discussion recently), or other loans that have problems.  Please post the borrower's name, a link to the loan listing, and what you feel is wrong. 

I am setting this thread up at the request of the Kiva staff, which will monitor this thread and use it as a way to quickly be alerted to possible problems.  In addition, the staff will use comments here as talking-points with the MFI partners, to help improve future loans.  Please use this thread wisely.  :-)

Thanks for your input and cooperation!

--Diane.

[AccountAbility]

One of the things I find problematic is the categories of activities assume an entrepreneur in a business.  So when I click on a link to a borrower who is labeled "concrete", I expected to find a concrete business.  Instead I find a home improvement loan who wants to add a room--presumably made out of concrete.

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=18013

If we are going to have home improvement loans interspersed with entrepreneurs, can we at least have the labels accurate?  This one was from our usual Mexican partner who is into home improvement loans.  A bunch of others were labeled "construction" which again I got sucked in, thinking it would be a construction company--which would appeal significantly to me.

Hopefully this meets the goal of your thread.  It is so easy for threads to get cluttered.

Dan

[Diane R]

In order to focus attention for the Kiva staff who are looking to us for concise pointers to problem loans, we should keep this thread for the report of same.  I have created a sister topic, Discussion of inadequate business descriptions, and other questionable loans for discussion of the issues underlying our concerns. 

Please post ONLY reports here, and continue with any discussion there so the focus is not diluted.

(I've started the discussion thread by moving a series of discussion posts over there. It will be a little confusing at first, but I didn't want to edit everyone's posts.  Thanks for your understanding.)

--Diane.

[Henry]

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[Diane R]

DOUBLE-DIP LOAN COMING UP

And now, an actual problem which has not surfaced yet.

This morning there was a loan (*A* loan) posted from a new partner in Lebanon.  It funded quickly, but I see through searching All Loans for Lebanon, that there are two more loans from Lebanon not yet opened -- and they are identical except with different photos.

Nada Bashir:   http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=17638
Nada Bashir:   http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=17416

This would be an example of "double dipping" or double loans with different photos.  I am reporting it here because they have not been opened for lenders yet, maybe it can get caught before she goes out for funding.

FIXED!!

--Diane.

[Henry]

UNLIKELY REPAYMENT TERM

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=15520
ProMujer Bolivia
$1200 to be repaid in ONE MONTH
Reported on Previous Email prior to 'disbursed' status.

[Jundee]

DianeCharlie, re. your double dip post:

I saw identical pics yesterday from Mexico for two loan requests. I wasn't sure whether maybe it was an error with the pictures or whether it was a double dipping event.

I started a post with the first link & when I check to post the second link it was gone & I couldn't find it again.

In fact, there was a whole bunch of pictures with different women where the background in the picture was identical. It looked like a whole group had their pictures taken at that location.

[Diane R]

Reminder to Kiva staff (and everyone else): 

There is an earlier thread called "KivaFriends Calling Kiva.org..." which includes similar reports and discussion.  That thread should be reviewed for related concerns and comments.

http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,898.0.html

Also, an earlier thread called "Double Loan Listings" contains reports and discussion of double loan requests, in case any of those have not been addressed yet.

http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,506.0.html

[Steff]

This may not be exactly a questionable loan, but this gentleman is listed in the "female" section of raised loans.
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&queryString=GHAPE&status=raised&gender=Female&sectors%5B%5D=All&regions%5B%5D=All&sortBy=New+to+Old

[Steff]

Sorry, his name is Ndoh Vincent Che