Just got a $21,508.58 margin call (DAY EQUITY CALL)

That was what I meant, cash secured puts, or covered calls.

 

No shorting in a cash account. Only longs. Stocks settle in 2 days and options in 1.

 

Interesting. Does that apply to futures trading as well?

 

No. Futures have no PDT or min account size from the NFA/CFTC.

 

it seems doubtful the way you wrote it, under your scenario you can't sell an uncovered call option because the loss is theoretically unlimited.

 

You can short a call and buy a higher strike call.

 

Good excuse to close the account and do something productive with your life

 

I’m not aware of any broker that allows spreads in a cash account.

 

I don't have any cash accounts myself, but I thought (at least at one point?) that IB let you do spreads in a cash account as long as they were european style options. I could be wrong though.

 

The easiest way to fix this problem is simple, don't be a pleb and lose money.