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Non-Tech : Datek Brokerage $9.95 a trade -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jon Normile who wrote (7686)	4/2/1998 2:43:00 PM
From: Len	Respond to of 16892

How would looking at old statements help? There is just one charge for interest. No method of calculation, nothing. I have been waiting three months for you to provide me with a report, detailing for me how you calculated an interest charge, and which days you felt I had a balance on which interest should be charged. All I get is promises that I will get the answer as soon as possible. I have resorted to printing my portfolio after the close each day to have a record to show you when and if someone ever responds to me. And speaking of your statements, how does a closing balance on January 31 become a different number on February 1? I'm still waiting for an answer on that also. Again, "we're working on it" is the Datek mantra. Can't wait to see what awaits me on the March statement.

To: Jon Normile who wrote (7686)	4/2/1998 2:53:00 PM
From: Gorak Shep	Respond to of 16892

Jon Normile, thanks for listening to your customers and modifying your stance on short sale interest calculations. Would you please give an example of the new calculation so that we can have a precise understanding. My first thought was that you would do what many other brokerages do and that is adjust Real Cash Balance by the difference between marked-to-market value and the original short value. On rereading your post, it seems more like you will deduct the full marked-to-market value of the short position which is better than before but not what many others do. An example would clarify this. Thanks.

To: Jon Normile who wrote (7686)	4/2/1998 3:13:00 PM
From: dumbmoney	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16892

While it is according to industry standards to calculate interest by deducting 200% of the short stock value from the real cash... Just so everyone knows, this is not true. Obviously Datek is aware of this or they wouldn't have changed the policy. Anyway, I'm happy to see that sanity prevailed.

To: Jon Normile who wrote (7686)	4/2/1998 4:10:00 PM
From: WallStBum	Respond to of 16892

Jon, I'm a very happy Datek customer. However, today I tryed to change my original password with Datek to something shorter and simple to speed my trading online. The system stated I had successfully changed the password and everything seemed great until I later went to access my account. Problem is passwords must apparently be at least 6 characters. I used 4. Now I can't access my account AT ALL with EITHER password. I called Datek and a rather breezy individual there told me there is a glitch in the system that accepted my new 4 character password, even when it shouldn't have and won't accept it later. He stated the best he could do was to have Datek MAIL me a new one becuase they can't change passwords over the phone. Needless to say, I was not pleased to be casually told that it was as simple as being frozen from my main trading account for a minium of two days (on a good US Postal day). I had to literally insist that something more be done. After 5 minutes on hold, I was informed that Datek will overnight my password, and your rep. allowed as how that was pretty special treatment just for me. Wait a minute, this is a self-admitted glitch - and that's it? I've still been frozen out this afternoon and for at least some portion of tommorrow morning on arguably one of the biggest trading days of this month. I really and truly enjoy the service Datek provides. But in clear-cut cases where a customer is wronged, we in the service industry must right a wrong and WITHOUT customers literally having to beg for injunctive relief. Thanks. Dax Stoner daxs@beancounter.com

To: Jon Normile who wrote (7686)	4/3/1998 9:22:00 AM
From: Bill Edwards	Respond to of 16892

I keep reading that Datek may have an IPO soon herring.com Are any of these rumours true?

To: Jon Normile who wrote (7686)	4/6/1998 5:14:00 PM
From: WallStBum	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16892

Jon- It's now Monday afternoon, another full trading day has passed and I'M STILL FROZEN OUT OF MY ACCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your people told me they would overnight my password and refused to give it over the phone. I just got off the phone with one of your representatives, who informed me that my definition of "overnight" is apparently incorrect. Apparently "overnight" means you'll send it certified DHL mail and it may or may not get there overnight, the next morning, the next afternoon, the following (2nd day), the following (3rd day) or the following day (4th day). I've been unable to trade or access my account now since last Thursday morning and your representative will STILL NOT GIVE ME MY DAMN PASSWORD. I've been told to just sit and wait and HOPE that DHL follows through tommorrow. I had to ask for a trace, but apparently that person is not around today. If I could suggest the use of FedEx, it may cost a dollar more, but my feeling is you retain customers better. If I could also, suggest that you warn people in BIG BOLD letters NOT to try to change their password to anything less than 6 letters, because the system will accept it then but then freeze you out of your damn account. God this is nuts. I feel like I've been locked out my house for days and the locksmith is inside telling me to remain calm and wait on the front steps for awhile longer. dax daxs@beancounter.com