My money in limbo?

I am writing in despair and not a little anger at the treatment I have received at the hands of Citibank Inc.

Twice, now, Citibank has "lost" telex transfers that I have sent to the United Kingdom. And on one occasion, denied that the account did exist in the UK, where I set it up six years ago.

This time, I sent some money to the UK on July 16 for my mother who, naturally enough, was very worried when it did not arrive. I took time off work to speak to a Citibank representative, who promised that he would carry out a full investigation and call me at home when he had the results. He didn't call. And my mother is now extremely concerned about the money that is in limbo. It is certainly out of my account and definitely not in hers. This, to my mind, is theft, as I did not even hear from the bank as regard to where the money was.

Now I have worked in many countries around the world, and Citibank is the first bank to have these problems as I have never experienced them before anywhere else I have worked. It seems that Citibank hides behind the small print that abrogates its responsibility to carry out fast and efficient service, which is, after all, what I pay its exorbitant charges for.

I do not want to send the money by draft as that costs me time and money. I simply want Citibank to do the job I am paying it to do. If Citibank wishes to keep my account, it should provide the service it promises and not hide behind legalities or its obviously wayward procedures.

I have sent no less than six faxes telling Citibank of my change of address (which occurred in March of this year) and I have still not seen any kind of acknowledgement. Is Citibank even aware that I have an account with them?

MARTIN BOOTHBY

Jakarta