Friday, April 1, 2016

Fidelity blocks dark companies

Well chalk up today to a bad day.  I found out this morning that Fidelity has decided to block companies marked with a stop from otcmarkets.com.  This includes at least the companies on otcmarkets Caveat Emptor list.  Generally for me this means Fidelity is blocking companies that don't file with otcmarkets.



I manage several retirement accounts through Fidelity so I guess I'll be moving those.  Problem is my company uses Fidelity for the 401k so I can't move that one.

For example Fidelity will not allow me to buy HEMA stock anymore.  I asked why and was given the usual stuff about how it's risky due to a low price and lack of information.  They don't care that HEMA does produce reports which are available on their website.  Similarly they block other companies that only send reports to shareholders.  They still allow me to buy ADDC presumably because of its higher share price.

Another blocked stock, recently profiled by Oddball stocks, is Hanover Foods (HNFSA).  Again due to lack of information even though this company does provide reports to shareholders.

Something changed at Fidelity and I wonder why.  Two weeks ago they accepted an order of mine for a stock that is now blocked so this change is recent.  I was on chat with customer service for over 3 hours this morning and unfortunately was unable to get any information on why the change.  I chatted with one guy then his boss.  These men called all around Fidelity and were unable to find information on how these decisions are made, who makes them, and what caused this recent change.  Maybe that's typical for a large corporation and it stinks.  They are going to keep poking then email me if they find anteing but I won't get my hopes up.  I think

Later on today I'll complain to otcmarkets about this.  Probably won't get anywhere but you have to try.  They have stop designations on companies due to "lack of information" when in reality that information does exist but they are too lazy to find it.

Has anyone had a similar experience with their brokerage house blocking these companies?

--Dan

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30 comments:

  1. CapitalOne also restricts purchasing some dark companies.

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  2. Thanks.

    I need to finish up my investigation and do a follow up post. And figure out what to do with my accounts. I talked to about 10 different brokerage houses. Most will allow trading on dark companies. Some restrict dark companies, some restrict grey market.

    I have found brokerage houses that will allow trading on all dark companies, so the issue has become transferring an IRA holding OTC stocks. Most will not allow this. Only IB so far has said they will let me transfer without liquidating all my OTC stocks. I need to follow up

    Unfortunately my 401k has to stay with Fidelity. They are horrible. I have pleaded my case more than once but they don't care. They don't know how or why the change was made to block dark companies, they don't know who made the call or who can change it. All I get is nonsense about how they perform reviews on offered products and somehow must have decided dark companies were too risky. Nevermind the fact that I don't pay them to offer me advice and they let me buy the stocks a few months ago and their currently policy of allowing me to sell but not buy will only serve to manipulate the price down...OK I'll stop ranting now. I wish they would just let me sign a waiver acknowledging risk then move on

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  3. So even if I call it in no stop signs allowed at all or just some?

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    1. Calling in doesn't change anything. But it's not quite all stop signs. For example ADDC has a stop sign but Fidelity will let you buy it, I think because the share price is out of penny stock range. For Fidelity just search for the ticker and if they show you a quote they'll let you trade it.

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    2. Yea for sure they act as if they own your money.I had ,y wife call in anorder for RSII when it was at .0012 for 3 million shares.The guy told her it woild make the stock more illiquide.I told her go ahead and tell him you want it.The stock went to .029.....

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    3. SCHUM... you are incorrect.. CBIS and all stock tickers are reviewable on FID web site...still cant trade

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    4. Well there's a first time for everything

      Looks like Fidelity has made some changes to their website. You can now see the charts and info on the Stop Designation List companies but still not trade them. They've also modified their warning messages. I guess it's an improvement

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  4. The other day I tried buying a dark company through Fidelity. Hadn't tried for a while so I just wanted to test them. I'm still blocked but at least now they give a more descriptive reason:

    "Error:(TC9052) Opening transactions for Pink Sheets (without information) are not permitted because of the risks associated with these securities and all Microcap securities."

    It used to just say something about being restricted so call customer service.

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  5. im in the same boat, I had called and was upset, but for our protection. It should not matter to them.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, why should Fidelity be allowed to set it's own policies? It shouldn't be Fidelity's choice. That being said, I'm sure they are struggling without your business.

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  6. Please look at ADPTQ. Just a month ago I tried buying 25000 shares at $0.25. Stock was then at $0.24. Fidelity won't let me after letting me buy a day earlier at $0.39. I called their number and an active trader guy came on. He tried to place the trade but could not. He asked me to hold as he checked to know why. He returned and said apparently they decided for some reason not to allow the trade. He told me that they don't know what other Brokers we're doing. Yesterday the stock hit 1.52. Today, I am pulling my Fidelity account. I am also examining whether I have any legal remedies against Fidelity.I am so enraged at Fidelity. Jude Orji.

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  7. That's on the stop designation OTC Markets so yeah, Fidelity won't let you buy that. I don't know how they let you buy at 0.39 because it's my understanding they won't allow any purchases of these types of stocks.

    What's weird is Fidelity will show a chart for ADPTQ. Normally they don't show charts for the stocks they won't let you buy, like SIMA for example.

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    Replies
    1. actually that company filed for bankruptcy on Apr 19, 2017. Maybe that's why

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  8. I am able to buy OTC dark stocks in my fidelity Roth IRA, but not in my individual investment account. Anyone else having the same experience?

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    Replies
    1. I don’t know why that would be. Try contacting the brokerage

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  9. Suggestions as to where to move my Fidelity portfolio?

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  10. Depends on what you want to do. You can read about my drama here: http://www.nonamestocks.com/p/dark-companies.html

    Earlier this year I opened an account with Schwab and I’m loving them. They let me buy whatever I want. Also had a friend recently transfer his account to Schwab with OTC stocks in kind

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    Replies
    1. Schwab also does not carry lots of great OTC

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    2. what issues do you have with Schwab? specifically which stocks?

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  11. thanks Dan Schum, had similar error messages and might now move to Schwab.

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  12. Fidelity caused me to miss out on thousands of dollars today because of restrictions on buying OTCs we all know the risks and rewards of playing trips it's my choice to invest 100 bucks on whatever I want. Om cashing out and taking my money someplace else probably robbinhood

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    Replies
    1. good luck trading OTC on Robinhood

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    2. if you want to do OTC stuff I'd suggest Schwab.

      you can see some of my posts here:

      http://www.nonamestocks.com/2016/10/brokerage-firms-otc-markets-and-dark.html

      http://www.nonamestocks.com/2019/06/my-brokerages-fidelity-schwab-etrade.html

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  13. I bought a ton of MJNA at .019/share last month and can still buy it. Tried to buy solar panel maker ASTI today and got the Pink Sheet block. I contacted Ascent Solar investor relations to give them a heads up. Have not heard anything back yet. So I'm wondering if the companies complete Fidelity's hopps that they get the green light. I had to sign off on the Fidelity risk statement to trade penny stocks - was no big deal, I don't have my net worth in penny bits. But I do have a fair amount. Seems like they'd want this business.

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    1. A lot of companies have changed there policy and become less risky as a whole. Each company has their own policies on the matters. They are subject to change about as often as the market changes. Too many clients do not actually fully understand the risk of penny stocks or speculative trading and therefor to limit the risk to the clients, a lot of companies have moved away from this practice as a whole because of the risk to the company. Too many client "claim" they didn't know, and sue, and the companies, to avoid this, just have stopped giving the options.

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    2. I tried for ASTI today as well. Error: TC9052....What the hell.

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    3. yeah I've signed the penny stock thing too. that opens up more shares per trade.

      The issue is Fidelity blocking buying of stocks on otcmarkets stop designation list. I wrote up some more on it here: http://www.nonamestocks.com/2016/10/brokerage-firms-otc-markets-and-dark.html

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  14. So any consensus here on trading platforms / brokerages for OTC and penny stocks? I'm on Fidelity too and have had way too many problems. they'll let me buy and then not let me sell. The rep told me there is no demand when it was obvious I can see there is volume. Also the change in price. I bought PRED and then couldn't sell and would have made a lot of money. So I'm stuck holding that position I don't even know how to get out of it. Anybody know anything about Webull where is everyone just saying Schwab is the only place to go?

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    Replies
    1. try this: http://www.nonamestocks.com/2016/10/brokerage-firms-otc-markets-and-dark.html

      personally I have never had a problem selling with fidelity. Only issue was they restricted my buying

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  15. I have two issues with Fidelity.
    They won't allow me to buy something that I already own (HOMU) so I can lower my cost basis.
    They used to allow GTC orders of penny stocks that were more that 50% from current price. No longer.
    For example: I had an order to sell a micro penny trading at .0015 (not a typo) and my GTC order to sell was at .03
    They couldn't explain to me as to why.

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