In trading, accessing your funds quickly and efficiently is essential for managing capital and reacting to market conditions. However, some brokers engage in questionable practices, such as forcing traders to call the risk team to release funds. This means that after a withdrawal request is made, the broker requires the trader to go through additional steps, such as speaking to the broker’s risk team, before funds are released. This practice often raises red flags about the broker’s transparency and can cause unnecessary delays in accessing your funds.

Why Would a Broker Force a Trader to Call the Risk Team to Release Funds?

A legitimate broker should have clear and efficient processes for withdrawing funds. However, when a broker forces a trader to call the risk team to release funds, it is typically done for one of the following reasons:

• Delaying or stalling payouts: Brokers may use the risk team as an excuse to delay or stall payouts, especially if the trader is withdrawing a significant amount or has made large profits. By making the process more cumbersome, the broker can discourage traders from withdrawing their funds.
• Preventing large withdrawals: If a trader is making a large withdrawal, especially after profitable trades, brokers may use the risk team as a barrier to prevent or delay the transaction. This tactic is used to limit exposure to high withdrawals, particularly when the broker is on the other side of a successful trade.
• Risk management for the broker: Brokers may claim that they are engaging in risk management protocols to ensure the security of the withdrawal, even though this often leads to unnecessary delays or complications in releasing funds.
• Increased scrutiny on withdrawals after profits: Some brokers may place extra scrutiny on withdrawals following profitable trades, especially if the broker operates on a market maker model. In these cases, the broker may want to ensure that the withdrawal is not part of suspected “gaming” or abnormal trading activity, often leading to forced interactions with the risk team.
• Control over fund movements: Brokers might use the risk team as a way to maintain control over their clients’ funds, delaying or complicating the release process to prevent traders from accessing their money too quickly or easily.

Regardless of the reasons, this tactic creates significant challenges for traders, as it makes accessing funds more complicated and raises concerns about the broker’s transparency and fairness.

The Risks of Having to Call the Risk Team to Release Funds

Delayed access to your funds:
The most significant risk is the delay in accessing your funds. If you are forced to call the risk team and endure long hold times or unnecessary steps, it can prevent you from withdrawing your funds when you need them.

Increased frustration and confusion:
Being forced to go through extra steps, especially calling a separate risk team to release funds, can be incredibly frustrating. It creates confusion about why these extra steps are necessary and whether they are legitimate.

Potential for additional fees or restrictions:
The process of calling the risk team may come with hidden fees or additional restrictions on your withdrawal. Some brokers use this tactic to apply conditions that were not part of the initial agreement, such as requiring additional documentation or imposing penalties.

Loss of trust in the broker:
If the broker consistently forces traders to call the risk team to release funds, it can lead to a breakdown of trust between the trader and the broker. Traders expect a smooth, efficient process for withdrawals, and any attempts to complicate this process can undermine confidence in the broker.

Increased risk of account suspension or restrictions:
If the broker imposes additional scrutiny on withdrawal requests, especially after profitable trades, it may signal that they are limiting access to funds or are reluctant to allow traders to withdraw profits, potentially leading to account suspension or the imposition of other restrictive measures.

Signs That a Broker May Be Forcing a Trader to Call the Risk Team Unfairly

Withdrawal requests require a call to customer support or the risk team:
You are told that before your funds can be released, you must speak to a member of the risk team, even if you have provided all the necessary documentation and the request is straightforward.

Unexplained delays after requesting a withdrawal:
Your withdrawal request is delayed without a clear explanation, and you are informed that the risk team must review the request. Customer support offers vague or contradictory explanations as to why this is necessary.

Frequent requests to call the risk team after profitable trades:
You notice that you are frequently asked to call the risk team to release funds, particularly after you have made profitable trades, which suggests the broker is placing extra scrutiny on withdrawals following successful trades.

No clear criteria for why the risk team is involved:
The broker is unable or unwilling to explain why the risk team is necessary for the withdrawal process. You receive inconsistent answers, such as “security checks” or “risk management protocols,” but the explanations seem overly vague or unnecessary.

Issues arise with withdrawal after account changes:
You may experience issues with withdrawal requests after certain account changes, such as adjusting trading strategies or increasing account size, leading to the broker claiming that additional scrutiny from the risk team is required.

What to Do If You Are Forced to Call the Risk Team to Release Funds

Request a clear explanation for the process:
Ask customer support for a clear and detailed explanation of why you need to contact the risk team to release your funds. Request specific information about the process and whether this is a standard procedure for all withdrawals.

Escalate the issue if necessary:
If customer support is unable to provide satisfactory answers or continues to refer you to the risk team without justifiable cause, escalate the issue to a supervisor or the broker’s compliance team.

Document all communications:
Keep a record of all communications with customer support, especially if you are repeatedly forced to call the risk team. This documentation can be valuable if you need to file a formal complaint or seek resolution.

Test the withdrawal process with a small amount:
Before making a large withdrawal, test the broker’s process with a small withdrawal request to see how efficiently the funds are released and whether you are unnecessarily referred to the risk team.

File a formal complaint:
If the broker’s practices are unfair or causing unnecessary delays in accessing your funds, file a formal complaint through the broker’s complaint resolution process, requesting that they streamline the withdrawal process and remove unnecessary barriers.

Report to the regulator:
If your broker is regulated, such as Intertrader, AvaTrade, TiBiGlobe, Vantage, or Markets.com, report the issue to the relevant regulatory authority with evidence of unfair practices related to the withdrawal process and request their intervention.

Withdraw funds if necessary:
If the broker is unable or unwilling to provide a satisfactory explanation or resolution, consider withdrawing any available funds and moving to a more transparent broker with a clearer withdrawal process.

Warn other traders:
Share your experience on independent review platforms, trading forums, or social media to warn other traders about brokers who create unnecessary barriers to fund withdrawals, helping others avoid similar issues.

How to Avoid Brokers Who Force Traders to Call the Risk Team for Payouts

Choose brokers with transparent withdrawal policies:
Look for brokers who have clear, straightforward withdrawal policies that don’t involve unnecessary steps or require additional scrutiny for fund release.

Ensure the broker is regulated by a reputable authority:
Select brokers that are regulated by financial authorities, such as the FCA, ASIC, or CySEC, as these brokers are typically held to strict standards of transparency and fairness.

Read reviews from other traders:
Check independent reviews and feedback from other traders to understand their experiences with withdrawals and whether they faced unnecessary delays or complications related to the risk team.

Test the withdrawal process early on:
Before committing significant funds, test the withdrawal process with a smaller amount to ensure that the broker releases funds quickly and without requiring unnecessary interactions with the risk team.

Look for brokers with efficient customer support:
Choose brokers that offer responsive customer support that can address withdrawal concerns quickly and efficiently without referring you to additional departments, such as the risk team, unless absolutely necessary.

Conclusion

When a broker forces a trader to call the risk team to release funds, it creates unnecessary delays and complications in accessing your money. This practice can be frustrating, confusing, and undermine trust in the broker. Always ensure that you choose brokers with transparent and efficient withdrawal processes, and take proactive steps to protect your funds and avoid unnecessary roadblocks.

Learn how to safeguard your capital, choose the right brokers, and ensure a seamless trading experience by joining our Trading Courses. Stay informed, stay empowered, and ensure your trading success is never compromised by unnecessary withdrawal barriers.