Your trading history is one of your most important assets as a trader. It allows you to review past trades, refine your strategies, and provide proof of performance if needed. However, a concerning issue arises when a trade history purged after inactivity event occurs. Some brokers quietly erase client trading records after periods of inactivity, leaving traders without access to vital information. Knowing why this happens and how to prevent it is essential for protecting your trading journey.

Why Would a Broker Purge Trade History After Inactivity?

Reliable brokers maintain client records for several years, even if accounts are inactive. If a trade history purged after inactivity happens, it often reflects:

• Reducing server costs: Storing long-term trade data consumes resources. Some brokers clear inactive accounts to save on data storage.
• Limiting client disputes: Without a full trade history, traders find it harder to challenge past execution errors or withdrawal disputes.
• Discouraging account reactivation: Brokers may prefer inactive clients to open new accounts, making it easier to impose updated terms and conditions.
• Covering past issues: Less ethical brokers might erase trade histories to hide previous pricing irregularities, manipulation, or poor execution practices.

Properly regulated brokers are required to retain and provide access to client trading records for a set number of years, regardless of activity.

The Risks of Losing Your Trade History

Loss of personal performance data:
Without a record of your past trades, it becomes harder to analyse and improve your strategies.

Difficulty in filing complaints:
Historical trade data is essential evidence if you ever need to raise a dispute about trade execution, spreads, or broker behaviour.

Weakened financial tracking:
For tax reporting and financial planning, access to complete trade records is crucial.

Loss of trust:
When a trade history purged after inactivity situation occurs without warning, it signals that the broker may not prioritise client interests.

What to Do If Your Trade History Is Purged

Contact support immediately:
Request recovery of your full trading history. Legitimate brokers should have backup systems or archived records.

Demand a written explanation:
Ask why the history was purged, under which policy, and whether you were notified in advance.

Check the broker’s terms and conditions:
Reliable brokers like Intertrader, AvaTrade, TiBiGlobe, Vantage, and Markets.com outline their data retention policies clearly.

Report the issue to the regulator:
Brokers regulated by authorities such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) must adhere to strict record-keeping standards.

Save all current records:
Download whatever account statements or transaction histories you can immediately, to preserve evidence for any future claims.

How to Prevent Loss of Trade History in the Future

Regularly export trade reports:
Most trading platforms allow you to export trade histories to CSV, PDF, or Excel files. Make this a habit.

Keep monthly backups:
Even if you are not actively trading, logging in once a month and saving your records ensures you always have an up-to-date archive.

Choose brokers with strong data policies:
Select brokers that explicitly state they retain trade data for several years and provide easy access to historical records.

Stay moderately active:
Logging into your account periodically, even without placing trades, can sometimes prevent automatic account archiving or data deletion.

Monitor broker communications:
Stay alert to any notifications about account inactivity policies that might lead to purging data.

Conclusion

When a trade history purged after inactivity situation arises, it can significantly impact your ability to track your trading journey, dispute broker errors, and plan your financial future. Traders must act quickly to recover lost data, escalate complaints if necessary, and ensure they work with brokers who value transparency and client rights.

Learn how to protect your trading records and safeguard your financial interests by joining our Trading Courses. Equip yourself with the skills to trade securely and build a resilient trading career.