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Quicken auto-created share adjustments that are wrong, and can't be deleted

Migizi

(Windows 10, latest Quicken version, in fact the software just updated today)

This is a weird one. I opened Quicken today, and suddenly the value of one of our 401k accounts had changed dramatically before I even updated prices. I look and see that, for some strange reason, Quicken has given me negative positions (negative share value) in a handful of mutual funds that I haven't had a position in for years. I can see them in the Holdings window.

Even weirder, I discover that if I click on one of the products (security detail) with the fake/wrong position, I can see a "removed" transaction from a few days ago. This transaction is not a thing that actually occurred - I checked our account online. And here is the weirdest part. The Removed action appears in the mini transaction history window within Security Detail, but that same transaction DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE REGISTER FOR THE ACCOUNT. So I can't even delete it because it isn't in the register.

Anyone else ever encountered this? A ghost transaction, created by Quicken, which does not appear on the register? Or does anyone have any advice?

EDIT TO ADD: I tried to add an Add Shares transaction for the same amount on the same day, to cancel out the bad placeholder entry (like a buy to close). But when I went to add it, I got a pop-up warning me that this was on the same day as a placeholder transaction and that it would not effect my share balance. Sure enough when I saved it, it did nothing to change the situation. Which is really poor software logic by the way - you have a transaction the software added without me, and you won't even let me offset it, let alone edit it, or even see it.

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NotACPA

Have you tried contacting Q Support, via the link at the top of this page?

Have you tried Validating your Q data file. Because this is such a bizarre situation that I have to suspect file corruption.

Migizi

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20517416#Comment_20517416

I did a file validation yes, no joy. Still can't see the placeholder transactions in the register, but they do still show up in the mini-register for the security. And still shows the short positions in these mutual funds. So weird.

I will try Q support next. I just figured I would see if someone knew or had this situation before, first. Worth a shot.

NotACPA

Placeholder transactions are typically NOT visible, until you do EDIT, Preferences, Investments and check "Show Hidden Transactions"

Jim_Harman

The message you received indicates that there are Placeholders in the account. Sometimes, these are hidden so the are not visible in the account's Transaction List (register).

Go to Edit > Preferences > Investments and if the Show hidden transaction box in not checked, check it.

This will reveal any Placeholders, which you can review and if necessary delete.

Please let us know what you find.

Migizi

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20517419#Comment_20517419

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20517423#Comment_20517423

I appreciate the thought, but I had already checked that. I was already showing hidden transactions. Just to be safe I unchecked the box and saved out, then rechecked it and saved out too, in case toggling it would work. Same situation. No placeholder transactions showing on the register, but they ARE showing in the mini-register in the security detail.

File validation didn't work either.

Ugh. I do appreciate the suggestions so far though.

Migizi

Just in case someone ever finds this thread in a search in the future… Having not been able to find a solution to the issue so far, I had to enter offsetting Added (or Removed) transactions for the next day (wouldn't let me put them the same day as the bad placeholder records) to get the positions back to correct. Whatever data flaw is in there, is in there permanently it seems.

NotACPA

As previously suggested, contact Q Support. What you're reporting shouldn't be happening.