AdBroker we recommendIC Markets
Find my broker

Complaints and Protection of Trader Rights: How to Escalate a Broker Dispute

This page explains how to complain about FX Recap and how to escalate a dispute with your broker. FX Recap is a review and education site, not a regulator or financial service, so we cannot step into disputes, but we can show you the right route.

2complaint routes
3escalation steps
6regions covered
Freemost ombudsman schemes

Last updated

Complaints about FX Recap

For a formal complaint about our content, a published review or a breach of our policies, follow our internal process.

  1. Submission

    Email [email protected] with "Complaint" in the subject line. Include all the facts: who, what, when, where and why, with page links and any evidence.

  2. Impartial handling

    A member of the team is assigned to document and handle the complaint impartially.

  3. Right of reply

    If the complaint concerns an author or editor, they are contacted and given the chance to respond.

  4. Confidentiality

    The process is confidential and records are kept for a defined period. Complaints found to be malicious are dealt with appropriately.

  5. Corrections

    If a complaint shows a factual error, we correct the page and update its date, as set out in our methodology.

How to escalate a dispute with your broker

Your strongest protection is the broker's regulator. Before anything else, check which company holds your account and which licence it trades under; it is in your account agreement and the website footer.

  1. Complain to the broker in writing

    Use the broker's formal complaints procedure, which regulated firms must have. Keep copies of everything: statements, screenshots, emails and chat logs.

  2. Wait for the final response

    Regulated brokers must answer within set deadlines, for example up to 8 weeks in the UK and 30 days in Australia. Note the date you complained.

  3. Escalate to the external scheme

    If you are unhappy with the answer, or it does not arrive in time, take the complaint to the ombudsman or dispute body that covers the broker's licence (table below). Most are free for traders.

Where to escalate, by regulator

LicenceRegulatorExternal dispute body
United KingdomFCAFinancial Ombudsman Service; FSCS compensation if the firm fails
AustraliaASICAustralian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)
Cyprus / EUCySECFinancial Ombudsman of the Republic of Cyprus; ICF investor compensation fund
United StatesCFTC / NFANFA arbitration or CFTC reparations
South AfricaFSCAOmbud for Financial Services Providers (FAIS Ombud)
Offshore membersVariousThe Financial Commission, if the broker is a member

The Financial Commission is an independent, non-judicial dispute body used by many offshore brokers. Filing is free for traders, its decisions bind member brokers, and the trader remains free to take other legal action. Check its filing deadline before you submit.

If the firm is unlicensed or a scam

Stop sending money

Do not pay "release fees", "taxes" or "insurance" to get a withdrawal. Real brokers do not ask for them.

Report it

Tell the regulator in the country the firm claims to be in and in your own country, and report it to your local police.

Contact your bank or card issuer

Ask about a chargeback or recall as soon as possible; time limits apply.

Beware recovery scams

Firms promising to recover lost money for an upfront fee are often run by the same people.

Check a firm on our scam broker blacklist before depositing.

General trader rights and recourse

  1. Legal recourse

    If your investment was mismanaged or a broker broke the law, you can seek advice from a qualified lawyer.

  2. Data rights

    • Correction: ask any firm, including FX Recap, to correct inaccurate personal data.
    • Deletion: ask for your personal data to be deleted, subject to legal exceptions.
    • Complaint to a supervisory authority: if you are covered by the GDPR or UK GDPR, you can complain to your local data protection authority.

    See our privacy policy for how to use these rights with FX Recap.

Our commitment to due diligence

The best dispute is the one you never have. FX Recap favours brokers with strong regulation and fund security, so readers choose platforms where their rights and capital are protected. Choosing a well-regulated broker is where risk management starts.

Start with our tested broker rankings and how we score regulation.

Trader Rights and Complaints FAQs

Can FX Recap help me get my money back from a broker?

No. FX Recap is a review and education site, not a regulator, so we cannot intervene in disputes. This page shows the escalation route for your broker's licence.

My broker is not regulated. What can I do?

Your options are limited. Stop sending money, report the firm to regulators and the police, and contact your bank about a chargeback quickly.

Do ombudsman schemes cost money?

Most, including the UK Financial Ombudsman Service, AFCA and the Financial Commission, are free for the trader.

How do I complain about an FX Recap review?

Email [email protected] with "Complaint" in the subject, the page link and your evidence. The complaint is handled impartially and the author can respond.

Sources: Financial Ombudsman Service, AFCA, NFA dispute resolution, The Financial Commission.