Which broker rule did you only discover after it cost you?

[Shadow Trader]

Every trader eventually discovers a rule that was technically published but never noticed. A minimum holding time on profitable scalps. A maximum number of orders per day. A restriction on trading during specific news windows. A clause allowing price adjustments in abnormal conditions.

Many of these appear in the client agreement or in the trading conditions page, in plain language but buried deep. Their effect on scalpers is usually larger than on swing traders, because a scalper touches the rules more often.

The cheapest protection is to read the order execution policy and the trading conditions once, with a highlighter, looking only for anything involving timing, frequency, or abnormal market conditions. It takes twenty minutes and can prevent an account closure or voided profits.

Some of the nastiest ones are not even about trading. Inactivity fees, withdrawal minimums, and conversion charges on deposits in a different currency can quietly take a bite out of a small account.

A shared list of overlooked rules would be useful for anyone choosing a new broker, so which one surprised you the most?