I like HL because they have good customer service and they’re free to use. The app is well designed (albeit slow sometimes) and intuitive.
If you’re looking to day trade, I wouldn’t recommend them as you’re going to be spending at least £12-£20 per trade depending what you’re trading. If it’s just for long term plays then they’re ideal.
Who would you recommend for day/week/month trade then? Rather than investments for years down the line?
And don’t say RH 
Just wait until the negative interest rates turn up on our shores BOE came out and told banks to prepare for that eventuality.
My friend started investing because the GME thing interested him and he because he made £40 from interest on £2,000 over a year in Santander’s highest rate account. He was so pissed that after reading about the GME thing he opened an IG account and put the £2k into that and is now up £1,000 on several different short term plays
IG is probably you’re best bet then. Though they charge £25 either monthly or quarterly but then it you trade at least 3-4 times a month the transaction fees fall significantly.
Haha don’t worry about Robinhood they’re not in the UK yet
Ahhh okay fair, wish I could just give someone a 4/500 and say buy this this and this I mean I know that’s what I’m doing with these companies but still.
Looks like it’s gonna have to be HL:
It basically doesn’t get any easier than this dude!!
Also, I’d stay away from contracts for difference and spread betting etc.
Unless you’re an actual trader for an IB or just seriously rich, that is just bad news. Just saying.
Yeah for sure I won’t touch them, just that regular trading is currently off limits so need to go for HL I think unless you know any other alternatives?
Is it saying you can’t open a SnS ISA?
Look th bottom of my last screenshot, those are the 3 options to Set up an account and the top two are of no interest to me as you said.
It said the decision to be unavailable is up for review on feb 1st…
Oh that’s weird. I’d try and call their customer service line to see what’s up, otherwise just go for IG
No that is IG (saying no trading)my man, HL was fine
Ohhhh right, no idea then. Maybe they’ve had too many new customers to on board recently.
I would just go with HL then, if you’re itching to get started.
Thanks man. One last question, if I add £500 to the account now, can I withdraw that at any time (I’m sure there are fees involved even with that?) (and given whatever I invest in holds that value at least)?
Yeah with HL you can withdraw it at any time at no cost as long as you sell the shares etc. (Unless you’re just holding cash).
However, once you pull the £500 out it reduces your £20k allowance for the year by that amount.
So you have an annual £20k allowance. If you take out the £500 you’re allowance for the year will now be £19,500 instead.
So better to just leave the money in there until I know I’m completely done with what I’ve invested on then, thanks man!
Yeah pretty much!
Unless you desperately need it for something.
But you really should try and have a couple months salary in a current account to cover any rainy day emergencies before you start investing in shares. That’s up to you though!
Oh yeah don’t worry I’m fine there, this isn’t my last pennies going in!
Sorry man one last question, my bad.
It says Investing in US/Canadian stocks I need to complete a W8BEN form apparently?
Yeah that’s dead easy, it basically should just do it for you or at least give you a link to questionnaire that you fill out.
W8-BEN forms basically just allow you to avoid withholding tax on us equities as a non-US citizen living abroad, but the brokerage has to file it with the IRS in America.
Don’t ever trade contracts for difference! It’s how all these brokers make money, by making the gullible broke!
Jesus that’s steep
DEGIRO is 0.50 cents per transaction 
