Stockbrokers > Online Stockbrokers

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Faulty

...buying and selling shares with Halifax Share dealing when one day I clicked on a button to cancel an amendment and it bought the shares instead. But there was an element of dought and I had no proof. However, one day I bought some shares and a tried the Stop Loss function. Not being happy with the stop loss price I set, I amended it and was charged another £2 for doing so and was not informed by the Halifaz system that a charge had been made. To ... Read review

Advantages: Great for beginners
Disadvantages: Some online technology pitfalls

Having contacted The Share Centre after seeing their advertisement in the Daily Express. You will find a number of benefits from this service. On enquiry, you will find that their sharedealing promotional leaflets are well written, clear and very concise. Share Centre says it offers one of the easiest and cheapest ways to buy and sell shares. If you are, as they say, "a dabbler" or a "dab hand" their intial information will inform you and make you ...
...no initial set-up fee was the winner for me. In fact, online you are able to "practice" without spending anymoney. This means you can learn how to use the system or try out new techniques or trading systems without having to spend a penny. Their leaflets Trading, Investing, Shares and their application form are easy to read and are a great resource, even if you use them to learn about sharedealing, without having to use their service. You can buy ... Read review

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Arrogance and bad technology

I had a terrible time opening the account (10 different registration forms supplied), transferring holdings (inaccurately done) and done very slowly. Any complaints about non working features on their website (buttons that don't work, inaccurate displays) have been met with stonewalling and vague regrets. The call back feature in their telephone service didn't work on at least three different occasions. Finally, I terminated my account, they then ... Read review

Advantages: None any more
Disadvantages: Don't reply to emails

I was a customer of Selftrade for many years. As an execution only service I thought they were great with no management fees and just a flat fee per trade. All that changed in December 2003 when they decided to impose a quarterly management fee on "inactive" accounts. I don't necessarily have a problem with the fee, but I do object to the fact that it was imposed without being notified. They claim to have informed me of the change via email, but ...
...me and tell me that they were taking money from my account to cover the fees, but not to inform me of the change in the first place. I have now closed my account and am trying to reclaim the inactivity fees but they DO NOT reply to my emails. In addition other online brokers offer a better service with NO management fees, and for less per trade. ... Read review

Advantages: very cheap and reliable
Disadvantages: ? high management charges

I have been using HL for about 9 months now and it is the best broker I had so far in terms of cost, accessibility and reliability. I also use Killik but the charges are very high. I have prevoiusly used Teletrade and Charles Schwab before them but they wouldnt match HL in terms of service and cost. The dealing charges are fixed at £9.95 per trade aand till last week, once you place the order onlin it is executed manually by the delarers. However ...
...on, you will be given a quote and you would have 15 seconds to accept it. If the quote is not accepted within 15 seconds, one has to place the deal again. It is one of the big steps forward for me as I have been waiting for a longtime for this. Some are concerned about the management charges (£12.50 per quarter) which is not too high considering the low dealing charges. ( as far I am aware it is the cheapest flat rate dealing around at present) ... Read review