IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown

IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown in Detail

The IronFX online trading platform gives traders from all over the world access to over 500 financial instruments, Hargreaves Lansdown include over 12,000 available instruments. There are over 1,500,000+ registered customers that have taken advantage of the IronFX platform.

IronFX are regulated by CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) (125/10) NOTESCO UK LIMITED, FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (585561), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) (417482), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa) (45276).

Hargreaves Lansdown is a renowned UK financial trading brokerage established in 1981.

Hargreaves Lansdown serves customers globally and are regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (115248). Depending on the country you are trading from IronFX may serve you from a different business entity to comply with its financial regulators.

Hargreaves Lansdown is not listed on any stock market, does not disclose its yearly report on its website. This is not terribly unusual for a broker, but you will want to check all of this out before you continue. Financial regulation is the most important thing to consider. IronFX is not listed as a PLC.

Hargreaves Lansdown is a popular well known financial trading platform serving over 1,700,000 customers.

Benefits of IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown Compared

Below, we will give you a summary of the benefits IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown offer side by side.

IronFX offers a minimum deposit of 100 while Hargreaves Lansdown have a 1 minimum deposit.

Why smaller trading deposits are good and how IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown compare

One primary and self-evident factor to remember is that you must only deposit an amount that fits your financial capacity with either IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown. If you have limited financial resources, the broker with the most affordable deposit option will be more appealing. IronFX requires a minimum deposit of 100, whereas Hargreaves Lansdown mandates a minimum deposit of 1. One additional factor to consider while venturing into more precarious yet potentially lucrative financial instruments is to limit your speculation to a modest proportion of your designated trading funds. It's advisable not to be deterred by a broker's higher minimum deposit, whether it's IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown, and instead focus on the comprehensive trading features offered by their platform. Frequently, a higher minimum deposit provides access to a wider range of financial assets and research tools on the trading platform.

IronFX allows traders to trade up to 500 financial instruments while Hargreaves Lansdown have around 12,000 on their trading platform.

The more instruments available on IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown trading platforms the more potential financial instruments you can buy or sell for your portfolio. It is good to have a diverse portfolio and the options available to a user will always vary. Trading is all about grasping potential opportunities and you seriously do not want to miss out on a trading opportunity due to the limitations of IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown.

The IronFX trading platform has 101 stocks listed while Hargreaves Lansdown has 0 stocks listed.

IronFX allows retail traders to trade the following assets Forex, CFDs, Social Trading on the IronFX MT4, IronFX MT4 WebTrader, IronFX TradeCopier, Mobile Apps, Apple App, Android Google Play trading platforms.

Alternatively Hargreaves Lansdown allows retail traders to trade Forex, CFDs, Spread Betting on the Hargreaves Lansdown WebTrade, Mobile Apps, Apple App, iPhone, Android Google Play trading platforms.

Compare IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown in more detail below.

Drawbacks of IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown Compared

Below we compare what drawbacks IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown have side by side.

Various potential downsides can be associated with certain brokers, including IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown. One primary drawback is the potential restrictions that may be imposed. Generally, the more diverse investment options available, the more favourable the situation. Another critical aspect to consider is the trading fees and commissions charged by IronFX compared to Hargreaves Lansdown. High trading fees and commissions must be factored into your profit loss of each live trade. Additionally, essential factors to consider are the quality of trading research tools, educational resources, and the overall user-friendliness of IronFX versus Hargreaves Lansdown.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Available Financial Markets

The saying 'Variety is the spice of life' holds for financial markets. It is always advisable to have a diversified investment portfolio whether trading with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown. A diversified portfolio with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown can safeguard your investments from significant downturns in any particular market. For instance, when one stock rises, others may follow suit.

Conversely, when the market takes a downturn, it can be disastrous for your investments. The most effective investment portfolios cover potential risks and encompass many businesses and stocks. When creating a diverse investment portfolio with brokers like IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown, it is recommended to have access to a variety of tradable assets, commodities, and securities on different trading platforms such as IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Cryptocurrency Trading

Since the creation of Bitcoin, the world of cryptocurrencies has been booming, including on trading platforms like Both IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown, and it's not difficult to see why. Cryptocurrencies have the potential to turn modest investments into millions, although this is a rare occurrence. This feat is hard to achieve compared to other financial instruments like stocks and shares. Both IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown offer some form of cryptocurrency trading.

Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency, but thousands of altcoins could experience a similar rise. Altcoins follow the same trajectory as Bitcoin, similar to how stocks rise and fall with the market.

Investing in cryptocurrencies with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown is considered a high-risk venture. The prices of cryptocurrencies can experience extreme highs and lows. If you choose to invest in cryptocurrencies, allocating only a fraction of your portfolio or trading budget to it is essential. Crypto trading with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown could lead to one of the most exciting trades you've ever made, depending on the market. Please remember that cryptocurrency availability on IronFX, Hargreaves Lansdown, and all brokers are subject to regulation.

We compare IronFX vs Hargreaves Lansdown Crypto options below side by side.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Commission and Fees

knowing your trading and commission fees with IronFX vs Hargreaves Lansdown is extremely important. For the majority of the IronFX 500 financial instruments and Hargreaves Lansdown 12,000 available financial instruments .

The price you are being presented with will factor in the fee the broker takes. For example, if a financial asset is at 79.6. You might have to pay 79 to enter. Therefore, you will start with a small loss with IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown. The bigger the fee, the bigger the issue is. Most alarmingly, some financial assets charge you to hold on to the asset overnight or over the weekend. Some commodities and stocks you are using leverage on may have overnight charges. Please check your fees with IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown before you invest because you must know what you are paying.

You ideally want to choose a broker like IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown that does not charge too much for withdrawal fees. High trading fees and commissions must be taken into your profit loss calculations. The fees will be noticeable if you have a low budget and do not intend to invest so much with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown. You want the withdrawal fee to be less than one per cent of what you are withdrawing but, more ideally, $5 to $10.

Your location or residence will have an impact on your potential IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown fees, of course. Make sure you do your research and check the commission and fees with both IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown before you invest anything.

Some brokers will charge inactivity fees. As the name suggests, this occurs when you have been inactive on your account for a certain period. Also, with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown be aware of or 3rd party payment provider fees and currency conversion fees.

IronFX does charge inactivity fees, while Hargreaves Lansdown does not charge inactivity fees.

Numerous notifications are usually sent to you as a reminder of dormant IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown accounts, giving you sufficient time to decide on the appropriate course of action. You can opt to continue using your IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown account, or choose to close it.

Usually, the associated fees for dormant IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown accounts are quite minimal, and there is no need to panic, particularly when the issue can be easily resolved. It's always advisable to keep track of your live IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown trading account activity to avoid any unnecessary fees or charges.

When you deposit money to a broker like IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown you might need to pay deposit fees. The lower, the better. Most preferably, you would have to pay IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown nothing for this. If this is the case, it can be a big problem. Constant deposit fees can potentially add up, so this will take some consideration before you sign up.

Let's see how IronFX vs Hargreaves Lansdown compare side by side for commissions and fees.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Trading Platforms

We live in an accessible world these days. Therefore, your trading platform has to consider this. The ability to trade with the click of a button is essential and allows you to make trading decisions on the IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown platforms when convenient. Without this, you cannot take advantage of every situation that may or may not occur in the financial markets.

Some brokers offer bespoke trading platforms, so if a particular broker does not offer the trading software you are looking for, their proprietary trading platform may be better. You must test this yourself with an IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown demo account.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Mobile Trading

Trading on your mobile with IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown can be very useful. Why is this? Well, the stock market sees market movement every second. If you are not near your desktop computer, you will probably be near and have access to your phone and IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown mobile trading apps. This way, you can take advantage of all potential trading opportunities mobile trading with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown. For example, a stock might move to an all-time low when you are out. In this instance, having access to mobile trading with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown can help limit your risk and trade on the move.

If you own an iPhone, having an IOS Apple mobile trading app with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown is essential. Likewise, if you have an android phone, it's crucial to verify if IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown broker provides an app compatible with Android devices. If you use Microsoft Windows tablets or phones, you must also check if IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown have trading apps compatible with your device.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Trading Account Types Offered

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Demo Account

A demo account with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown is extremely useful for people without trading experience. This way, you risk none of your money and test your trading skills in a safe environment. For people with next to no knowledge of trading, we recommend fully signing up with an IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown demo account.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Micro Account

Micro accounts are trading accounts used by Forex traders that allow them to trade with smaller amounts of capital than standard trading accounts. Micro accounts require a smaller minimum deposit, usually ranging from $1 to $500, and offer smaller trade sizes than standard accounts, allowing traders to manage their risk more effectively.

If you need a micro account check if IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown offer micro trading accounts in your region.

Overall, micro accounts provide a flexible and cost-effective way for Forex traders to enter the market and gain valuable trading experience while minimizing risks. However, traders need to remember that Forex trading carries significant risks, and they should always approach trading with caution and sound risk management strategies.

IronFX does offer clients Micro accounts, while Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer clients Micro accounts.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Standard Account

A standard account is available on IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown to more experienced traders. This account allows users to trade on stocks, commodities, crypto etc. To open one of these retail investor accounts, users must trade with at least $100. Standard trading accounts are what the majority of people will seek to use.

IronFX does offer clients Standard accounts, while Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer clients Standard accounts.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown MAM Account

A MAM (Multi-Account Manager) account is typically used by professional traders. It allows a trader to manage multiple individual trading accounts from a single master account, making it easier to execute trades and manage risk across multiple clients. MAM accounts can help streamline the trading process and improve efficiency for trader and their clients. If you need a MAM account check if MAM accounts are available with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown or alternative.

IronFX does offer clients MAM accounts, while Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer clients MAM accounts.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown ECN Account

The primary purpose of ECN accounts is to provide traders with faster execution speeds and better pricing by connecting them directly to the market. ECN accounts allow traders to exploit the tightest spreads and access the deepest liquidity pools.

ECN accounts are used for fast and efficient trading, with lower transaction costs and greater transparency. While they may not be suitable for all traders, those with the necessary experience and expertise can benefit greatly from using an ECN account.

If you need a ECN account check they are available with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown or alternative.

IronFX does offer clients ECN accounts, while Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer clients ECN accounts.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Islamic Account

An Islamic account is for people who respect the Quran and want to invest in the Islamic stock market. Islamic trading accounts might seem very niche, but it is essential for those concerned as it follows certain ethics concerning the principles of Islam. They are also referred to as swap-free accounts.

If you need a Islamic account check they are available with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown or alternative.

IronFX does offer clients Islamic accounts, while Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer clients Islamic accounts.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown STP Account

Straight Through Processing or STP is where a requested client's trade orders are sent directly to the markets. STP brokers aim to reduce all conflicts of interest. STP is a non-dealing desk trading method aimed mainly at Forex traders.

If you need a STP account check they are available with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown or alternative.

IronFX does offer clients STP accounts, while Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer clients STP accounts.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Managed Account

A managed account is a type of investment account where a professional manager or investment firm is responsible for making investment decisions on behalf of the account owner. The account owner typically retains ownership of the underlying assets but delegates responsibility for managing those assets to the manager.

While some managed accounts require significant investment minimums to access the services of a professional manager, many brokers now offer variations of managed accounts that can be accessed with smaller investment amounts. It's important to note that the fees associated with managed accounts can vary widely depending on the level of service the manager provides and the investment strategy employed. Investors should carefully evaluate the costs and benefits of managed accounts before making an investment decision.

IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown do not offer clients Managed accounts.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Withdrawal and Funding Methods

IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown have multiple deposit and withdrawal options. Funding and withdrawing from your IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown accounts to your chosen payment method should be straightforward. Lets see how IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown compare with each other. Be aware that depending on your payment method, there may be additional processing fees from your payment provider or bank for processing and converting your funds. Not all potential fees will come from IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Customer Support Compared

Customer support is essential when trading. Even professional traders will eventually need the help of IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown support. Customer support is especially important for traders starting with little knowledge. If you are starting out, you will want to ensure the IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown support is always available when needed. IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown customer support is not just useful. broker customer support is crucial to your trading success!

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Live Chat

Live chat is important for several reasons. When you encounter a problem with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown trading platforms, it is nice to know that the problem has the potential to be sorted out then and there. Also, speaking to someone live is much less frustrating than speaking to someone through several emails.

IronFX do offer livechat support. On the other hand Hargreaves Lansdown do not offer livechat support.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Email Support

When trading CFDs, stocks, commodities, currencies, cryptocurrencies or any other financial instruments with either IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown you will find Email support is also very useful. Sometimes you might have a more complex question requiring a specific part of the IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown support team to answer satisfactorily. Email support with IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown will be needed.

Both IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown offer email support.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Phone Support

Although most queries can be resolved with the need of a phone call, it is nice when we can explain ourselves with a live human being at either IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown. We can get straight to the point, saving us time and frustration.

IronFX do offer phone support. On the other hand Hargreaves Lansdown do not offer phone support.

Lets see how IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown customer support compare side by side.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Regulation and Licensing

Never trade on a market that is not sufficiently regulated. Only submit your bank card information or invest money on financially regulated websites. It would help if you made sure with certainty that your money is held with a regulated brokerage. Checking whether IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown are regulated is not a hard task. The more reputable and mainstream brokers will proudly display their regulation certificates on their site, and if you cannot see that IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown have these in place, please be extremely cautious before you proceed with them.

We compare IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown financial regulation and licensing side by side below.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Education Resources Compared

We compare IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown educational resources below.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Risk Management Features

When trading with either IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown you will want to understand and make full use of all the risk management features on your IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown trading platforms.

We compare side by side the trading risk management features offered by IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown below.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Hedging

What is hedging? Have you ever heard of the expression 'to hedge ones bets'? Hedging means not speculating solely on the outcome of one event, as holding all your assets in one place could be risky. Hedging in finance means being able to trade to protect yourself from huge risks by limiting risk using diversification. Hedging can be done, for example, by speculating on a stock to rise and against it to rise by using different amounts or different amounts of leverage.

Both IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown do offer clients hedging.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Stop Loss

Stop loss orders are very useful for more volatile investments, especially when speculating on a stock or Forex currency pair. In a normal trade, you cannot lose more than what you invested, but this is not the case when you are using leverage. Under these terms, it is always good to set a stop loss to protect yourself from any vicious results.

Both IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown do offer clients stop losses. Stop Loss and Take Profit are not guaranteed on IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown. You must still monitor any live trades and your financial exposure and financial risk.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Limit Orders

Every broker should allow users to place a limit order. Limit orders are when you have the order to buy a financial instrument at a specific price. Your trade will be executed when the financial asset hits a set price. Limit orders are extremely useful as they allow you to buy stock at a better price! It would be very time-consuming to wait for a stock to fall to a price you would ultimately be satisfied by. Therefore, you can already imagine what helping limit orders can be in your trading career.

Both IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown do offer clients limit orders.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Negative Balance Protection

Negative balance protection is there to protect its customers. Customers need protection as trading can be volatile, and not everybody who invests knows the full consequences of their trade.

Negative balance protection works like this: Say you invest $50, but your trade can lose $125 because you have used leverage. You will need $125 available in your account to do this trade. Negative balance protection is essential, as it would be unfortunate if you received an unexpected bill from a broker one day.

Both IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown do offer clients negative balance protection.

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Verdict

We hope this IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown guide has helped you decide who is best to trade with out of IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown.

When choosing a broker like IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown for trading, it's important to ensure your money is held in a segregated bank account. Your live trading funds with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown are kept separate from the broker's funds and can be returned to you if the broker faces financial difficulties or insolvency when signing up with brokers such as IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown, it's crucial to verify that they offer this safeguard. By doing so, you can have greater peace of mind and confidence in the safety of your funds as you engage in trading activities with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown.

Also, before you sign up with online brokers like IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown, make sure you know what you are doing. Simple advice, we admit, but we know from experience how many people decide to start trading and then ask questions later. Please know what you are doing with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown before investing money into something.

Beware of the risks that come with trading with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown. The financial markets can be volatile, and investments can go down and up. Educate yourself, and use all IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown educational resources and financial research tools. If you are new to trading, sign up for a demo account with IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown to find which suits you and your trading style.

Some of you might be thinking about what we mean when we say 'trading style'. Here are a few examples. A day trader using IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown will look to open positions and close them on the same day. Day trading in this way will require a broker that specialises in this. To do this with some brokers would be a bad idea because of the commission and fees involved. Check if IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown fees match your trading requirements.

Alternatively, you could be on the end of this scale and decide to wait years before you close your investments with IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown if your investment strategy is more long-term.

IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown Alternatives

If IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown are not what you are not quite what you are looking for we list some of the best IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown alternatives below.

Other IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown Vs Comparisons

If you are still looking for an alternative to IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown and want to see how IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown compares Vs other brokers check out the IronFX Vs and Hargreaves Lansdown Vs list below.

IronFX Vs Alternatives

Still not happy have a look at some of our alternative IronFX Vs side by side comparisons below

• IronFX vs IC Markets
• IronFX vs Roboforex
• IronFX vs eToro
• IronFX vs XTB
• IronFX vs XM
• IronFX vs Pepperstone
• IronFX vs AvaTrade
• IronFX vs FP Markets
• IronFX vs easyMarkets
• IronFX vs SpreadEx

Hargreaves Lansdown Vs Alternatives

Still not happy have a look at some of our alternative IronFX Vs side by side comparisons below

• Hargreaves Lansdown vs IC Markets
• Hargreaves Lansdown vs Roboforex
• Hargreaves Lansdown vs eToro
• Hargreaves Lansdown vs XTB
• Hargreaves Lansdown vs XM
• Hargreaves Lansdown vs Pepperstone
• Hargreaves Lansdown vs AvaTrade
• Hargreaves Lansdown vs FP Markets
• Hargreaves Lansdown vs easyMarkets
• Hargreaves Lansdown vs SpreadEx

IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown Frequently Asked Questions

We answer some of the most frequently asked IronFX Vs Hargreaves Lansdown questions below.

Is IronFX any Good?

Knowing that a broker is legit is the first thing you should check before signing up with a broker. Is IronFX legit? - IronFX are regulated by CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) (125/10) NOTESCO UK LIMITED, FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (585561), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) (417482), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa) (45276) and have been in business since 2010

Is Hargreaves Lansdown any Good?

Hargreaves Lansdown are regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (115248) and have been in business since 1981.

Which is better IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown?

IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown do not have a high rating, so we recommend trading with a more reputable alternative broker.

Is IronFX a con?

IronFX is regulated by CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) (125/10) NOTESCO UK LIMITED, FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (585561), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) (417482), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa) (45276) and have been in business since 2010. We recommend looking at a IronFX alternative that has more financial regulation.

Is Hargreaves Lansdown a con?

Hargreaves Lansdown is regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (115248) and have been in business since 1981. We recommend looking at a Hargreaves Lansdown alternative that has more financial regulation.

What happens if IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown go bust?

IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown are regulated, which means that as part of their regulatory obligations IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown have to offer a certain level of financial protection to their clients. IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown should by law keep client funds separate from IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown funds. If either IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown goes bankrupt, they should not have access to your money. Customer accounts should be segregated. A financial services compensation scheme differs from country to country, so check this on the IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown websites and regulators.

Are IronFX or Hargreaves Lansdown good for beginners?

IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown offer low deposits and access to a selection of market insights and news resources. Both IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown offer demo accounts. Demo trading accounts are a big plus for IronFX and Hargreaves Lansdown as it shows they are interested in their customers.