what happens in a margin call 
a margin call can occur when the customer s account falls below the brokerage firm s minimum maintenance requirement when they receive a margin call the customer must deposit additional cash or securities into the account to bring it up to a level where it satisfies the requirement if they fail to do so within a prescribed period often two to five days the broker will sell enough of the securities already in the account to make up the difference 5however as the u s securities and exchange commission notes brokers are not required to issue a margin call and may be able to sell your securities at any time without consulting you first under most margin agreements even if your firm offers to give you time to increase the equity in your account it can sell your securities without waiting for you to meet the margin call 2