TradeATF Review
Editor’s Note: Why TradeATF Doesn’t Suck in 50 Words
Over 700 tradable assets from all relevant categories (crypto, FX, stocks, indices, commodities, etc.), spreads as low as 0.07 and a good choice of platforms: WebTrader and Meta Trader 4. In a nutshell, TradeATF offers great trading conditions and that’s one of the most important things for any trader.
Why TradeATF Sucks in 50 Words or So
According to their Accounts page, there are no deposit limits for either account type. Could this mean that I can deposit 1 buck and get all the perks of the most expensive account? Certainly not.
According to their Live Chat, an account manager will contact you within 24 hours of depositing and will discuss the account that fits you, depending on your trading knowledge, risk management, and other such stuff. Ok, you have my best interest in mind, but I would still like to know from the get-go how much each account requires me to deposit.
Is TradeATF A Scam?
One of the operating companies of TRADEATF is regulated by the IFSC, while the other is incorporated under the laws of the UK, which makes this a safe broker. TradeATF also offers segregated accounts, which means that all the client funds are separated from the company’s funds. This way, your money is safe from embezzlement. All this makes us believe that we are not dealing with a scam.
However, TradeATF was owned/operated Hoch Capital, a accompany that has been fined by CySEC for 30,000 EUR back in 2018, and in early 2019 they have reached a settlement of 200,000 EUR with the same regulator for possible violations of the Investment Services and Activities and Regulated Markets Law of 2017 – L.87(I)/2017. Since then, Hoch Capital has voluntarily renounced its CySEC licence.
Of course, since TradeATF is under new management, it wouldn’t be fair to “blame” the new company for the misdoings of the old one. So far, the “new” TradeATF has been doing a good job and we consider them a reliable trading partner.
Should I Open An Account With TradeATF?
TradeATF is an online CFD broker operated by Bayline Trading Ltd, a company regulated by the International Financial Services Commission (IFSC) under authorization number IFSC/000188/250. The website is also operated by Bayline Global World Ltd, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of UK with Company No. SC517838.
The Company offers CFDs trading on a multitude of assets, including currencies, indices, stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The platform of choice is Meta Trader 4, which I can safely say that it’s the most popular trading platform out there. They also offer a web-based platform called WebTrader (no download or installation required) and a mobile version.
The website offers a lot of information but is well organized so you will easily find what you are looking for. They have an extensive Education section, which includes e-books, videos, tutorials, courses, articles, and webinars. Apart from all this, they offer an Earnings Reports Calendar as well as an Economic Calendar where you can keep track of all important economic releases.
TRADEATF offers three types of accounts: Silver, Gold, and Platinum, each with different leverage, spreads, and perks but unfortunately I cannot give you the exact sums for each account due to the reasons that I’ve already explained above. I don’t really like this approach, and I consider that all conditions should be known from the start.
Probably the most important things to look for in a broker are regulation and good trading conditions. TRADEATF is regulated and their trading conditions are great: tons of assets, very low spreads, good platforms, and more. Overall this looks like a good broker but time will tell if it can step out of the shadow of the “old” TradeATF, which had some dents in its reputation.
The broker can be contacted at phone +54 1152194139 and email [email protected]. Bayline Trading Ltd lists the address 5 Cork Street, Belize City, Belize. Bayline Global World Ltd lists the address 69 Brunswick Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH7 5HT.
TradeATF Complaints
Some traders have complained that account managers have asked them to deposit more money, others have complained that they had to send ID verification and others call them an outright Scam. It’s a well-known fact that nowadays all brokers ask for IDs in order to prevent money laundering so the fact that TRADEATF asks for these documents should be considered normal, not a cause for concern.
About the other type of complaint… what can I say, I don’t like those account managers ask for larger deposits, but on the other hand, they have to do their jobs, so simply think about how much you want to invest and don’t let them sway you. Also, I have to mention that we cannot verify any of these online complaints, so take them with a pinch of salt.
TradeATF Bonus
According to the FAQ section, a bonus can be offered for depositing and/or trading but the type and amount are not specified. The FAQ instructs clients to contact their broker.
TradeATF Withdrawal
Withdrawals are one of the most important things when dealing with a broker and I am sure you agree. TRADEATF processes withdrawal requests within 7 business days and additional time will pass until the money reaches you, depending on the method used for withdrawal. The available methods are credit cards, wire transfers, and Skrill.
TradeATF Extras
Normally I would list Meta Trader 4 as an extra, but this is an FX/CFD broker (not Binary Options) and Meta Trader is widely used by CFD brokers. So in other words, TRADEATF doesn’t have any outstanding features that would put it ahead of the pack but there’s a relatively extensive education section and some nice calendars (economic and earnings reports).
TradeATF Ratings
User-Friendliness 15/20
The website contains a lot of information and it is relatively well-structured, which means that you will find easily what you’re interested in. Demo accounts are available, without the need to deposit first and the trading platform is one of the best out there in my opinion (Meta Trader 4). You can also find a slightly simpler version that is entirely web-based and doesn’t require any download or installation (WebTrader). The website is available in 3 languages; US Clients are not accepted.
Range Of Markets, Spreads, And Leverage 17/20
Their asset basket is wide, including currency pairs, indices, commodities, stocks, and a hefty selection of cryptocurrencies. Spreads are floating and change depending on the account you have. Given that TradeATF doesn’t offer information about the minimums required for each account, it is unclear what spread you will benefit from but according to info available on their website, the spread for EUR/USD is floating and can go as low as 0.07 for the lowest account (Silver), which is very good.
Leverage goes up to 1:200 for currency pairs and lower for the other asset classes. Cryptocurrencies have the lowest leverage, at 1:2. The Platinum account offers 1:500 leverage for some asset classes.
Fees and Support 13/20
TRADEATF doesn’t charge any fee to deposit or to withdraw; however, your bank or payment provider may charge for transactions. Your account will become “dormant” if there’s no activity for 31 days, at which point you will be charged a 250 EUR fee each month. After 61 days the fee goes up to 500 EUR; after 91 days the fee goes up to 1000 EUR and it can even reach 5,000 EUR (!!!) if your account is inactive for 271 days.
These are extremely high fees, so be aware and take the necessary action to avoid paying them. Support is available via phone, email, a ticketing system, and a (slow) live chat.
Deposits And Withdrawals 17/20
The minimum deposit is 250 EUR/USD/GBP and can be done via credit cards, wire transfer, and e-wallets (including Skrill, and possibly others, depending on client’s location). Withdrawals are processed within 7 business days and will incur a fee up to 30 EUR if the client makes a wire transfer request with an amount lower than 50 EUR. Due to anti-money laundering rules, clients have to provide IDs and proof of residence.
Extras 15/20
Lots of educational material, daily market review, and trading ideas brought to you in video format. TradeATF also offers an Economic Calendar and an Earnings Reports Calendar – it’s not something unique but definitely useful.