This is the reply I got from Peter at Sharewatch:
Many thanks for your note below. Yes Saxo HQ decided to introduce an Inactivity Fee but starting in Feb 2013. I must admit while I was disappointed to learn of their decision I was also not a bit surprised and leave me explain why.
Anybody I spoke to recently will verify I have expected all Brokers to introduce this type of fee because of new increased charges from the Compensation Scheme. Quoting Fundweb 'Advisers say funding the Financial Services Compensation Scheme has become “unsustainable” after it announced higher than expected compensation costs are set to push up adviser levies by £28m. In its Outlook newsletter, published last week, the FSCS forecast a £25m minimum levy on the investment intermediation class for 2012/13 due to claims relating to the collapse of Pritchard Stockbrokers and spread-betting firm Worldspreads. Investment advisers have already been levied £66m this year'.
If you click the links below it will give some more details and explains how some brokers Compensation Scheme fees have doubled.
http://www.moneymarketing.co.uk/aif...ipe-out-40-of-adviser-profits/1059736.article
http://www.fundweb.co.uk/home/fscs-levy-hikes-are-unsustainable-say-advisers/1062624.article
In addition there are new ongoing costs to monitor all accounts for risk and compliance on an annual basis. As a result the more accounts a stockbroker has the more staff they need to monitor them. So in other words Inactive Accounts are now costing the Stockbrokers.
So to answer your question are the days of low cost trading behind us I would have to say I expect the days of holding clients investments for long periods of time without any fees are over. One will have to look at the overall costs. For example brokers who are charging 1.65% plus Annual Fees may not charge an Inactivity Fee because they are covered by the Annual Fee.
While we do not have the proposed Saxo inactivity rate yet I still think they will offer incredible value at 0.1% with a min of £8 per trade. Only a few years ago we were charging €60 Annual Fee and 0.3% with a min of €30 per trade and were seen as great value.
Sorry if this was a bit long winded but these are the reasons for inactivity fees.
Have a good weekend.
Best Wishes,
peter
In fairness, I cannot complain really. I haven't bought a share since 2005, and I've had my portfolio with/moved from Goodbodys, Sharewatch, ODL and FXCM in that time. Free of charge.
Well, mostly free of charge. Despite closing my Goodbody account years ago they still bill me an annual charge!