i have enough exposure to stocks. can zopa.com be recommended for investing cash?

*6.9 percent PA Average achieved on money
lent over the last 12 months
(after fees, before bad debt)"
a very average return, BEFORE bad debt.

but i am led to believe if spreading the risk, ie want to lend 10k so lend 1000 x £10, then bad debt will amount to very little?

don't know the details of this scheme but in theory one default in 10 gives you a 10 percent loss. Even if this is worst case (though Zopa collapsing is probably worst case) then 6.9 percent pa still isn't that good.

i understand bad debt is only expected to be 0.05% with zopa

interestingly i see that balderton capital, who invested in betfair, also invested in zopa.

if they're confident with that expectation they could offer the 6 percent guaranteed and pocket the .85 as profit.
my guess is they're not so confident.

zopa, like betfair, don't lose their money, they just take the commissions, the punters take on the risks and losses.