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To: LLCF who wrote (176821)	7/1/2002 9:09:22 PM
From: Jorj X Mckie	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 436258

LLCF, Don't know your trading style, but the Merrill Lynch unlimited trading account is no longer unlimited. I am a relatively active trader and met my limit a couple of weeks ago. As of one week ago, I have to pay $39.50 per trade. That is on top of the 1% for the "unlimited" trading fee. It is only unlimited if you have $1M+ in the account... I tried to negotiate with them on the flat fee. With my trading style, it makes sense for me to go up to about 3% of my account balance for a flat fee. No joy, they wouldn't even entertain negotiating the fee. Opened and Etrade account and negotiated my rates down to a flat $9.99/trade without going through the intermediate 19.95 and 14.95 rates (got Schwab to come down to 14.95 without the intermediate 29.95 and 19.95 rates). I was surprised that MER was unwilling to negotiate on the commission structure. From what my broker tells me, I am his only client who is making money in this market....the rest are following Merrill's LTBH strategy. As soon as we get a capitulation day, I am closing my shorts and transferring the account (as cash) to Etrade. Then again, if you don't trade like a crazed weasel, you probably won't have to worry about this stuff.