I don't have the time in the next day or two to review your calculations but the SS approach you take strikes me as a logical and correct way to approach this. Maybe others can comment. I do think you are better off using as few words as possible when communicating with the broker and I would NEVER, EVER say "in my opinion". That can lead people to believe this is a matter of opinion and it is not ... these are questions of fact, not opinion. If you are wrong let them step up (or as we say in America ... let them "step up to the plate") and detail your errors with their own SS. Here is what I would say: I attach my spread sheet which details the transaction made in account # xxxx on the dates indicated. Please revise my confirmations/statements to reflect your correction. Please attend to this within the next three trading days.
In my opinion you would be better to find a single transaction line that is wrong in their statements using their method of accounting. In other words, put their statements into a spreadsheet using their method of accounting (which you will have to figure out - yes this is complicated) and understand every line and how the balances are computed. Then find a single line in that that is in error within the framework of their method of accounting. You cannot really ask them to reconcile to a different method of accounting that you may prefer but they do not use. They might do this but they are not obliged to. If there are still open positions, it is quite possible that the discrepancy lies in open positions which may be carried at cash for some purposes and market value for others. This is very common - some brokers carry options at cost and others at market. It is normal for an account with open positions to have several different valuations depending on accounting method used. Once it is all cash, of course, they all have the same value. Meanwhile, do not worry. You have made your complaint so they are on notice. I am confident that they will correct it if there is a problem once you can reduce it to a single line that is in error.
This is excellent advice; much better than my earlier post. You should do precisely as he has advised. I agree that you will come out being made whole in the end -- whatever that amounts to -- but in the meantime this is exactly how you should proceed. Look for their error and point it out to them in terms that their system reflects.
they have send me an email: Thank you for your email response. It would be better for you to give us a call to discuss this inquiry over the phone. We have 24 hours customer service and someone can review this information with you so you don¡¯t have to go back and forth via email. how can i reply ?i almost can not speak and listen ,it is fit for me to write ,i think it is an unreasonable demands.it is unfair for an un-native speaker to make a discuss on a sophistical problem with an native speaker ,the broker want to play trick on me . would you mind telling me how to express my anger politely ?
They are only trying to help. They do not understand exactly where the problem is and figure that the two of you might be able to sort it out on the phone. That is usually a good idea. I know who the firm is from your file upload and they are reputable and would never try to cheat anybody. Errors can occur certainly. But there is no point being angry or accusing them of anything until you completely understand how every line on their statement is calculated and how the individual lines add up to the totals shown. Once you do that, the problem will be readily solvable because it will be obvious to you and them where any error occurred. If you do not understand how the numbers on their statement are calculated, you can call and they will explain any lines that you do not understand or how their statement works. I suggest calling and going over the statement with them. Just approach it as trying to identify an apparent discrepancy. Do not accuse them of anything for now. You can ask if they have any Cantonese speaking agents. They may have. If you really do not want to talk on the phone, you do not have to, but in that case you are going to have to figure out in more detail where exactly the problem arose on their statements.
Sure, that's what they all say, but if the error was in the trader's favor, Oh boy, they would correct it in half a second!
They are not demanding anything. Understand there are cultural as well as language diferences and you should be calm. There is no indication they want to play a trick on you. Do you have someone that is fluent in English you could use on a conference call or, as has been suggested, ask if they have a staff member that speaks Cantonese. You should find the specific point where the miscalculation. It will help immensely.
it is unluck that the broker do not tell me by which method they calculate my balance when i ask for the method. so ,i have to calculate with my method .
You need to speak with someone at the firm who speaks Cantonese or else you need to have an fluent English speaker on your end, preferably in a conference call (Skype), but there must be a common language.