You know where it says Data: real time on the upper left corner of the platform? It was switched to "delayed" but looking at the quotes and positions you would never notice, except at the open. the P/L for all positions was zero even the the market had been open 10-15 minutes. That's when I grabbed the phone and called. I was told it was because I need to fill out some forms on the TD website. You asked about account size, why? I'm not imagining this. It happened and is completely unacceptable.
Because sometimes ETers kvetch about poor customer service, and it turns out they have $5000 or some such in the account... Of course, I have no idea in your case.
Data subscriptions are normally a user-defined parameter from the TOS "settings" window. I have a hard time believing that TDA changed it for you. Data-agreements do change, but normally you receive an email that says "if you don't notify us to the contrary, your continued usage of our data constitutes your acceptance of the new agreement" or some such thing. I haven't re-signed a data agreement with TDA since my original account opening with Ameritrade 10+ years ago. Further, if you traded more than 5 sides a month, you would be Apex anyways - which is automatically entitled to real-time news & many other things beyond just real-time data. The most likely scenario is an accidental data-change on your end (though there is no way for me to know for sure). But I can assure you, if you don't like TDA, you won't like IB - TWS is 10x harder to use & much less powerful than TOS.
I haven't used tradestation, but tos is probably the best of the "free" platforms. There seems to be more thinkorswim bashing on here lately. In general, I've always found tos' employees professional and prompt. Somewhat higher commissions, but unless you're scalping, it shouldn't be a major issue. That said, IB is probably a better broker if you don't use tws, which is a joke.
both TDA and TOS are driving me up the wall with TDA, I'm spammed with email surveys on customer satisfaction, was mailed a survey when i signed up, was then called by an account rep asking for feedback yesterday, then today i got another call asking for feedback on my feedback with the last call. with TOS, there is no way to turn off the 'swim lesson' notifications, every five minutes the little "!" icon starts flashing red/yellow, which i have to click to stop the flashing, then close the window advertising the next 'swim lesson' that opened from me clicking on it, then the news feed i have setup to glance at headlines is replaced by a big ad announcing the next 'swim lesson' broadcast, you can turn off all notifications, except these. yeah i get it, show me more ways i can generate commissions for you. on a mac, not a lot of platform options, so I'm stuck with java, have been playing with IB's demo, might make the switch.
I tried TDA and didn't like them either. I am with IB now and they are okay. I have been looking at others but like IB platform.
Raincrab - The TOS ! button has been complained about by alot of people - if it wasn't so useful to know when I trade has gone off I'd cover it on the monitor I use TOS for ~ If you don't want them sending you surveys or calling you randomly - just call them up and ask them to remove you from any contact unless there is a problem w the acct. I had a local rep call several times after market hours (when I nap) and leaving long messages and waking me up ... I put an end to that ~ & I have NEVER gotten an email asking about survey and I've been a TDA customer since 1998. The other guy complaining about the 20 min delay ? come on man ... that's just ridiculous - it's more likely that you never had RT quotes then anything else and you just didn't notice.
You have a hard time believing that TD changed this setting to delayed data? Did I just imagine this then? Was my call to the trade desk in my imagination too? And no, I did not change the settings in TOS to delayed data, why would I do that? I've this account open continuously for more than 5 years. It is true however that I've slowed down trading this account to a bare minimum (partly due to commissions which are way better at IB) I agree that IB's TWS is nowhere near as good as TOS. The TOS platform is hands down the best in the industry and I've tried a lot of platforms. My complaint is not with TOS its with TD Ameritrade. I've been a TOS customer for years and have been a huge fan until TDA came along. TDA is retail. It's like Charles Schwab etc... Anyway, no worries, as I will now do only the bare minimum trading required to keep the platform and data feed going in TOS and I'll continually check to see if my feed is delayed.