Complaints in the FCA’s combined FX, CFD and spread-betting category rose to 2,043 in the first half of 2026, up 53.5% from the preceding six months. The 22 October data release also shows a 72.6% increase from the first half of 2025.[1]
Reported complaints in the combined product category
| Period | Complaints | Comparison with H1 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| H2 2024 | 1,052 | Earlier historical period |
| H1 2025 | 1,184 | +859; +72.6% year on year |
| H2 2025 | 1,331 | +712; +53.5% sequentially |
| H1 2026 | 2,043 | Latest reported half-year |
Across the full publication, firms reported about 1.85 million complaints, up 6.3% from H2 2025. The FCA also reports 54.8% of closed complaints upheld and £240 million in redress. Those overall outcomes cannot be assigned to FX, CFD and spread-betting customers without the corresponding category-level data.[2]
What the count can establish
The publication combines reports from more than 3,000 regulated firms. Aggregate totals include firms below the threshold for separate firm-level publication, and some groups report jointly. The data can include retail customers, professional clients and other eligible complainants.[2]
The sharp increase warrants attention, but the table supplies no matching count of active accounts or trades for this product category. It therefore cannot establish a per-customer complaint rate, identify a responsible firm or determine whether a particular market event caused the rise. Those questions require different denominators or case-level evidence.[1][2]
Sources & further reading
- Aggregate-level complaints data sortable tables: 2026 H1 UK Financial Conduct Authority · 22 Oct 2026 · Accessed 26 Oct 2026
- Complaints data: 2026 H1 UK Financial Conduct Authority · 22 Oct 2026 · Accessed 26 Oct 2026