Quote from rmorse:
In a margin account, even if you securities are paid for in full, they can lend them out. In a cash account, they can not.
Quote from maxplanck:
Can they rehypothecate if one has a margin account, but one is not currently using that margin?
Be on the safe side, have a cash account. If you just have a small amount of margin you can be transferd over to UK..and your whole account is in danger, not worth it. Now a lot of brokers are not engaged in that practice, but there is no assurance that they can not decide one blue Monday, that to engage in somthing that is with in their -legal rights- and only needs to be reported off balance sheet -twice a year-Quote from maxplanck:
Can they rehypothecate if one has a margin account, but one is not currently using that margin?