Question of the Week

Which of the following, under the NASD Conduct Rules, would constitute a complaint?

I. An angry telephone call from a customer to a registered
representative’s (RR) supervising principal, complaining about
the RR’s attitude.
II. A letter, written by a client’s attorney, to the compliance
office of a broker-dealer, which alleges impropriety in the
handling of the client’s discretionary account.
III. A telephone call to a principal in a broker-dealer firm, from
a principal in another firm, alleging that one of the firm’s
RRs has been “stealing” customers.
IV. A hand-written note, sent to a RR, by a customer who is
unhappy with the recommendations and performance of the RR.

a) I, II, III, IV
b) II, IV
c) I, III
d) II, III, IV


Answer:

The correct answer is b.

The NASD defines a “complaint” as adverse communications that are in writing. Choices I and III are matters that the appropriate principal would look into, but they are not technically complaints.



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