Hi all
I started a thread on T2W coz lately I've been walking down the road of "trying to find a decent SB broker". It's a long, tough, often disheartening path.
I have to say, though, that recently I've opened a demo with SLM for the reasons everyone is talking about in this thread (MT4, good spreads, AMAZING customer service) and so far I have been impressed more than with any of the many others I have tried in past/recent times.
I want to spreadbet as yes perhaps I'm lazy when it comes to tax. My head is full of charts, markets, MM, risk management, attitude towards markets etc. - the stuff that's important, not s*dding tax returns. Frankly, we are blessed in the UK to have this opportunity no-one else does and I simply refuse to believe this idea that spreadbetting is a path to ruin in trading, but I don't blame the people that feel this way if they've been stung by the conmen in this game, like I have before.
If (and I mean a big IF) you can find an honest SB broker then why should it be any different from trading futures, FX spot, stocks etc.. It shouldn't, it works, you can trade your way to financial freedom with any trading vehicle, but there is that big IF....
So I'm hoping SLM are the answer to my IF.
So far, so good. I recommend them for anyone who is basically on this same path as me. I haven't found anything wrong with them yet but yes I'm on demo and I've read some people moan about late market opening and heavy re-quotes BUT equally I have notice how quick the customer service from SLM, live on this thread, have heard the moans, answered fairly and above all SOLVED the problem! I mean would you get that from IG? CMC? Capital? No. You moan about an issue on a forum, they wont roll up their sleeves and fix it like SLM have! You moan in an email and you get a reply from a receptionist saying thanks for your comments. Only with SLM have I experienced true efforts to accomodate customer needs, I mean actually hear the problem and say "ok sorry my fault I forgot to push a button, problem now solved" from a company rep (who I believe is higher than a rep, I think these guys answering on this thread/emails obviously are the show-runners which is even better customer service frankly).
Where else in the world of SB are you going to find that?? They have even said that a poor data spike will be a). refunded b). re-positioned as if nothing had happened. If CMC (aka Steal4Free) did this, no offence, but they would be out of business by October.
So for all the gripes and moans and never ending requests on this thread, guys at SLM I want to say: if you are reading this, a huge well done from me. You new service is not perfect yet, but I really think it can be. You seem genuine, I think I can trade profitably with you without worrying whether you'll steal it back like other SB companies, I think I can contact you without having to climb Everest, I think I can trust you to do business with. Thanks for your efforts, you obvoiously know you are a small fish in a big pond right now yet I think if you carry on with such wonderful customer attention and responses to needs/wants to build your business, you will maintain this edge you have currently (with MT4 etc..) and you will one day swallow IG whole.
I noticed a few posts on this thread were a bit too negative towards a new SB company who are clearly trying their hearts out to give you what you want. Not really fair. Give these guys a chance to spread their wings a little coz from where I'm sitting they have answered many prayers of the SB community already and are trying hard to answer more.
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