Interactive Brokers is a scam, 2-3x margin maintenance requirements

IB A scam ?

Try an experiment: Do I have the right broker for me ?

Search the worldwide web and find 5 super low margin brokers, that got the best in everything including lowest fees. Fund it with the minimum amount, trade conservatively ( if possible ) for a short time so you maintain a positive balance and then withdraw all your funds.

See if your definition of scam has changed ? If not, Deposit withdrawn with your new broker(s) and get rich .
 
Scataphagos said:
Don't you think IB's margin requirements reflect their sense of higher market risk at this time... trying to protect both customers and themselves?
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If they were clearer about this, or an idea on how they are calculating it, that would be fine. I had to contact them 3 times before someone told me what was going on.
Even here AMD is not being listed on special margins requirements list. https://ibis.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=5168&cntry=usa&tag=United States&ib_entity=llc&ln=

So I wonder if there is a legal requirement to publish special margin rates. They could liquidate someones account if it dropped too much and the person would have no idea it was even coming because the rate they are using isn't published anywhere, and all their information says it uses the default of 25% if it isn't on the special margin requirements list.
 
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R123 said:
IB A scam ?

Try an experiment: Do I have the right broker for me ?

Search the worldwide web and find 5 super low margin brokers, that got the best in everything including lowest fees. Fund it with the minimum amount, trade conservatively ( if possible ) for a short time so you maintain a positive balance and then withdraw all your funds.

See if your definition of scam has changed ? If not, Deposit withdrawn with your new broker(s) and get rich .
More...
AMD isn't being listed on their list of special margin requirements, but a special rate is being pulled out of the butt when try to trade. https://ibis.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=5168&cntry=usa&tag=United States&ib_entity=llc&ln=
 
bongey said:
IB needs to post more information about their margin maintenance to not being scamming.
interactive brokers margin maintenance stock site:interactivebrokers.com
find an example how to look up their margin maintenance per stock.
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OK. https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=marginnew&p=stk

I had to contact them 3 times to get out of them that AMD has a maintenance rate of 66%, while I called two others, when not even being a customer and they just gave me their rate.

That is probably why I somewhat pissed off too, it took multiple times contacting them going wtf why is it erroring out?
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Keep trying. If they do not satisfy your needs, move on. But no need to bash them if you don't understand all the ins-and-outs of how they do business.
 
But there is this bit on that page, under the question-mark...

"Margin settings can vary based on account type, portfolio positions, and other factors. To calculate the most accurate margin settings, use the Check Margin feature. See also the website information on margin requirements."

*shrugs*
 
bongey said:
AMD isn't being listed on their list of special margin requirements, but a special rate is being pulled out of the butt when try to trade. https://ibis.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=5168&cntry=usa&tag=United States&ib_entity=llc&ln=
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Let me try another angle.

IB has made a lot of margin changes in recent times and some have affected how I trade some products. But over all there very good for how I trade.

With IB's aggressive advertising and good reputation they have found themselves with traders that are challenging their Risk model. Their a business, they cannot raise prices ( look at their marketing ), so their going to raise Margin on what they want type trades they want to reduce.

If IB does not fit your trading plan , find a broker who is comfortable with it.

When you withdraw your funds, you will get your funds and in a reasonable time. This ALONE is a big reason I stay with IB.

Good luck to you finding the broker for you.
 
On the contrary, their margins on most futures spreads are pretty low. Of course, it depends on the months of the spreads.

I have noticed their margins on stocks are pretty high. But I trade only x3 etfs and assume that high margin is pretty normal.
 
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