Forex Complaints in Türkiye: Where and How to File
Last updated: 2026-08-06 · FXŞikayetvar
There is no single address for a forex complaint; the body you approach depends on whether the platform is SPK-authorised. A dispute with an authorised firm goes to the TSPB arbitration committee; an unauthorised platform is a criminal complaint. Reporting to SPK triggers a compliance review — it does not compensate your loss.
Risk warning. Leveraged forex trading carries high risk and, in Türkiye, is subject to SPK regulation (1:10 leverage cap, ~50,000 TRY margin). This content is not investment advice; user statements belong to their authors.
First establish whether the platform is SPK-authorised
This single question determines your route. Authorised firms are published in SPK’s official register; our own lists are split the same way.
Which body handles your complaint?
The split below follows SPK’s own “Where and how to file a complaint” page. Each channel lists what it cannot do as well as what it can — that is where victims most often go wrong.
Capital Markets Board of Türkiye (SPK)
Handles: Reporting unauthorised capital-markets activity and regulatory breaches, under Türkiye’s freedom-of-information and right-to-petition laws.
Does not: SPK states on its own page that these applications lead to a compliance review only — it does not award damages. An SPK complaint alone will not recover your money.
Official pageTSPB Customer Disputes Arbitration Committee
Handles: Loss and compensation claims arising from non-exchange transactions. Leveraged (forex) disputes fall into this group.
Does not: The committee sits within the Turkish Capital Markets Association and addresses SPK-authorised institutions. An unauthorised or offshore platform cannot be taken there.
Official pageBorsa İstanbul
Handles: Disputes arising from the routing and matching of orders in exchange-traded instruments.
Does not: Leveraged forex trades happen off-exchange, so typical forex disputes fall outside this scope.
Official pageCİMER (Presidency Communication Centre)
Handles: The general channel for petitions and reports to Turkish public bodies, including SPK.
Does not: CİMER routes your application to the competent authority; it does not resolve disputes itself.
Official pageICTA (BTK)
Handles: The authority that technically enforces access blocks on websites.
Does not: For unauthorised forex sites the blocking decision comes from SPK, not BTK; BTK executes it.
Official pageWill an SPK complaint get your money back?
No. SPK states on its own page that these applications lead only to a review of compliance with capital-markets legislation, and that awarding damages is not part of the process. Your complaint may lead to sanctions or an access block, but recovering your money is a separate legal route. If you paid by card, a chargeback claim with your bank is usually the fastest option.
What are forex complaints actually about?
We group incoming reports into six categories. The distribution is a more reliable signal than any single complaint:
- Withdrawals — requests refused, delayed or made conditional. This is the most serious signal.8
- Spread / cost — spreads differing from those advertised, unexpected commission or swap.2
- Position closing — orders not filled, slippage or unilateral closure.0
- Support — being unable to reach customer service, or receiving no reply.3
- Bonus — bonus terms blocking withdrawals. In Türkiye, a forex bonus offer is itself a warning sign.1
- Other — reports that do not fall under the headings above.6
The distribution below is based on the 20 reports published on this site. It is not an industry statistic: the sample is small, and complaint counts also rise with a broker’s popularity.
Has the site you paid been blocked?
When SPK identifies an unauthorised platform it has access blocked through BTK and publishes the addresses in its weekly bulletin. We keep a dated archive of those bulletins, so you can look up the domain you invested with.
Filing a report with FXŞikayetvar
Publishing your experience warns other investors. Reports are moderated and appear on the relevant broker’s complaints page; this does not replace an official application.
Verified official sources
- SPK — Unauthorised Capital Markets Activity
- SPK — Register of Authorised Intermediaries
- Investor Compensation Centre (YTM)
- e-Devlet Gateway
Frequently Asked Questions
If your dispute is with an SPK-authorised firm, write to the firm first; if that fails, take a compensation claim to the TSPB Customer Disputes Arbitration Committee and a regulatory-breach allegation to SPK. If the platform is not SPK-authorised, the route is a criminal complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
There is no guarantee. For card payments a chargeback claim with your bank is the fastest route. Recovery from unauthorised or offshore platforms is difficult; acting quickly and keeping every receipt, message and screenshot improves your odds.
No. Forex trading is not protected like a bank deposit. An SPK licence means the firm is supervised and client assets are segregated — it does not mean your trading losses are covered.
No fee is charged. Applications are made under Türkiye’s freedom-of-information and right-to-petition laws, and SPK expects the transaction date, the institution and instrument concerned, and any supporting documents.
SPK asks for the date of the transactions alleged to breach the legislation, which capital-markets instrument and investment firm they relate to, and which right or interest was harmed — with concrete information and documents.