wow, i missed all the fun last night, french bashing and all.
FWIW, overnight, IB prefers not to autoliquidate due to the thin markets. Under normal circumstances they would have been liquidated on the open. Red flags were raised, compliance called and that should be the end of it. No one likes to be forced out of a position. Nick Leeson didn't,. ditto for the Griffen Case, the Irish Bank Forex case, and the list goes on. Brokers must protect themselves and their clients.
Mike-claire: read the margin agreement you signed. It clearly states that if you violate margin the firm can autoliq the account. You were given a courtesy of a phone call.
14. Margin Requirements:
A. In General. Customer shall monitor Customer's account so that at all times the account shall contain a sufficient account balance to meet the margin requirements set by IB. IB may modify such margin requirements for any Customer for open and new positions, at any time, in IB's sole discretion. The margin required by IB may exceed the margin required by any exchange or clearing house. IB may reject any Customer order if Customer does not have a sufficient account balance to meet margin requirements and may delay the processing of any order while determining the correct margin status of Customer's account. Customer shall maintain, without notice or demand, a sufficient account balance at all times so as to continuously meet the margin requirements established by IB. IB has no obligation to notify Customer of any failure to meet margin requirements in Customer's account prior to IB exercising its rights and remedies under this Agreement. Customer understands that IB will not issue margin calls, that IB will not credit Customer's account to meet intraday margin deficiencies, and that IB is authorized to liquidate positions in Customer's account in order to satisfy margin requirements without prior notice to Customer (See Section 16).
Sorry things didn't work out. But in effect you were knowingly violating an agreement and should not be surprised when appropriate action is taken.
Finally, IB in its doucments clearly states that it does not make margin calls. Other US brokers will afford you time to put up cash to settle funds. It is not a US/French issue. I am certain are aware of this information.