Using this broker I cannot buy any shares in Experian (EXPN) online and find this utterly remarkable as Experian is a FTE100 company worth over 5 billion!!!
For this reason I nominate HoodlessBrennan as the worst stockbroker of 2007.


Anyone wishing to complain against Hoodless Brennan should contact the financial-ombudsman: here

I also use HB and as an investor with limited finances I find their service perfectly acceptable and as has already been mentioned they're cheap. If HB are charging stamp duty for exempt stocks I'm sure there would be no issue for reimbursement as this certainly isnt in their best interests and illegal.

Robert and Ian, you are both missing the point - which is, they are charging stamp duty for stocks that are stamp duty exempt.
"reimbursement"?? They admitted the contract note said stamp duty was taken but said they hadn't taken it really. I know for a fact that they did!

It could well be that they are also taking it from the accounts of people who may not even know it is being done (are you aware of all stocks that are stamp duty exempt??).

They may be cheap - and most other brokers are too these days - but this is a perfect example of getting what you pay for. No way would I ever have this broker again. Cheap in this case most certainly does equal nasty!

do you all want to know the tips they have given me in 2 years...everyone turned out trash losing up to 80% in value...some went to the wall like Langbar...latest tip was Ashtead buy at 160p,,, D1 oil buy at 235p

fuckin chimp could pick better stocks

but then again they know full well what they are doing while they short it on the other phone

you know ..i could destroy them...but i won't just yet

Harry, If they denied that they had taken the stamp duty (although its on the contract note) I don't think it would be too difficult to prove otherwise with your bank statement. Regardless of what they tell you??

How about this from SELFTRADE:letter received out of the blue saying"we are unable to confirm your details against an electronic database......... send copy driving licence/passport/Tax Notification.........we require a reply within 14 days."
Then some blurb abt products followed by "we look forward to receiving the documentation from you.In the event you do not send us the required documentation WE Will LOCK YOUR ACCOUNT BY FEB 2008"
Now I dont expect to see the words "we regret/please accept our apologies" and some explanation why they were checking my account (which they gained thro takeover of Comdirect),.No, my main concern is that they have mislaid my records and now want another go,this is the age of the cyber crook and Identity Theft !! Anyone else had this experience?

The "electronic database" would be the voters roll, for money laundering purposes they are required to check your identity and address.

I bought some iShares from Hoodless Brennan today and was charged stamp duty when they should have been exempt. Rang them to query it, they said they couldn't see my trade because of computer problems caused by too much activity on Northern Rock and said they would call me back (they never did) and also tried to sell me the advisory service - declined of course and will avoid using this broker again.

Thanks for that Kayak,Im sure you are right but Im looking around. Ive been where I live for many years, also first paper letter out of comdirect file is a confirmation of some of the mentioned details now required. If they were on file in may 2005 where are my details now and how many others have Selftrade lost.?? Feeling uneasy on that account and wishing my account was large enough to justify the fuss! Mainly in cash as I have this Henny Penny thing abt the sky is abt to fall in(pre dates Rock) so this may be why they are boverred, thanks again.Pericles

oh and dont forget medsea estates down from 12p to 6p...broker said it would rise 70% from 12p

and raven properties down from 7p to 4p

i guess i'm not de-hooded

I withdrew a small amount of money from my account over a week ago and while it shows that in my dealing history it shows that it is still in there in another list.
I phoned them up and they confirmed that the money was still in my account and that they would activate my request on Monday, no one could say why there was a difference!

Can't be trusted to do a simple task let alone anything else.

On my experience HoodlessBrennan are definitely the worst broker on the market. Service is attrocious too - I'm still waiting for replies to emails sent a month ago.

Anyone able to buy Experian (EXPN) online with HB?

I don't think any of the shares they have tipped me have done anything but bomb.
The last one was Jarlway and that has lost over 50%.
They have cost me thousands.
The get out is of course " shares can go up as well as down ".

Not wishing to suggest some PI's are naive but it is possible share recommendations can be made when the brokers and investment houses have shares to sell.I am not suggesting for a moment that this type of activity is dishonest as for every buyer there has to be a seller.