I've been using TDAmeritrade since about 2001, maybe before. During this time I've been actively trading about 4 or 5 different periods lasting maybe 3-6 months each so I'm not the most active trader by any means. I've observed a pattern and I'm wondering who else has noticed this. EVERYTIME there is a critical juncture in the markets, TDAmeritrade becomes "inaccessible" for the day. By that I mean I cannot get streaming data or sometimes even quotes. This has the effect of making it impossible to trade with any accuracy, especially when selling or closing a position. The most recently happened on July 28 when the market was at a lowest point and I needed to sell my puts but couldn't find a price. The next day the puts were worthless. I'll usually call support and in the past they have tried to blame the Command Center software. Most recently I was using their "Trade Architect" software and it was experiencing the same problem except even worse, I couldn't get any quotes for options. (I mostly trade options). This was one of the few times they acknowledged they had a problem and didn't try to blame my system. I've been in IT for over 25 years and I know instinctively the problem exists with their servers. I've verified it wasn't my computer or DSL. I won't bother to go into the technical details. I believe they are coordinated with some shadowy force to screw traders, as this ALWAYS happens at those critical days when I need to take an action, as in 'NEED'. So when I googled TDAmeritrade complaints or problems I find there are many instances of TDA doing harm to individuals. Am I the only one who has been seeing this pattern?
tdat, as a TDAmeritrade customer can you use ThinkorSwim? I have not heard any complaints about them.
I have been using thinkorswim for many years, and only very rarely have had any problems. There were times in the past where they went through a couple rough patches, but they have been solid for quite a while now. As was already posted, you need to switch to the thinkorswim desktop software. Your conspiracy theories sound rather far-fetched. There are times when markets get really busy and quotes can slow down for a couple seconds, but I have seen that on most every platform I have tested at one time or another.
there was a thread a while back where the op was bragging about picking off the spx market makers LOL, then he was bitching about getting filled on the mid price, pretty funny thread. That said it does seem like an unfair game sometimes when you are losing....
I don't get how making the platform being inaccessible would benefit them. I mean they make money on commissions...they want you to be trading. What's the point of keeping you out of the market? And...no I highly doubt TD is betting against your 5 shares of SIRI.
I haven't noticed any problems and I use some of their tools daily. Sure every once in a while the java crashes and you have to restart, or maybe there's a delay in the data which catches up after a minute plus or minus. But we're talking rare problems and technical ones, not correlated to market conditions at all.
jeff fox-worthy... "you may be a trader when" : * your periodic daily loss reminds you of an xfiles episode * you're certain your b/d is shilling for your counter party * your dictionary is missing pages for coincidence and randomness * the GS quarterly report is pinned to your dartboard * your mother is not allowed to see your book there's a lot more of these....