Consumer complaint received 2025-09-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened to sue you for very old debt
Company: M&T BANK CORPORATION
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Letter of Explanation Regarding Camper Purchase and Loan Dispute To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally explain a long-standing and unresolved issue concerning a camper we purchased through a dealership, XXXX XXXX, where my husband was employed at the time of purchase. This issue has deeply affected us financially and emotionally, and we are seeking guidance and assistance in addressing what we believe has been an unfair and mishandled process involving the manufacturer, the dealership, and our lender, M & T Bank. 
Background In XXXX, we purchased a camper from XXXX XXXX. Shortly after the purchase, the camper suffered an internal electrical fire. At the same time, my husband was let go from his position at the dealership. Once he was no longer employed there, we received no support or follow-up from the dealership regarding the fire damage or how to proceed. 
M & T Bank, the lienholder on the camper, was the only party that initially attempted to help us find a resolution. Eventually, the manufacturer became involved, and we filed a claim through our XXXX insurance. The camper was declared a total loss, and the manufacturer arranged to retrieve it from our property. 
We clearly communicated to the manufacturer that we did not want the camper returned under any circumstances and that we only wanted reimbursement or a final resolution. They assured us that if they returned the unit, it would be in tip-top shape. However, despite our refusal, they returned the camper later without our consent, and did so when we were not present. 
Soon after the unit was returned, it experienced another electrical failure, including a loud popping sound, and it completely lost functionality. We immediately notified M & T Bank and allowed them to come inspect and photograph the camper on our land. During this time, the claim had been processed, and M & T reportedly received funds from the insurance company though we were not informed of the amount or how it was applied. 
By late XXXX, the outstanding debt was charged off on our credit. At that point, we had suffered significant financial hardship due to this ordeal and were ultimately forced to sell our land. 
Additional Concerns We remained in communication with M & T Bank throughout and discussed various options, including the potential for a salvage title or for them to recover the unit until the insurance or manufacturer resolved the issue. However, without our knowledge or approval, M & T Bank proceeded to sell the camper at auction for {$18000.00}. 
We have only recently learned about this sale, which we did not authorize. Now, M & T Bank is pursuing us for an outstanding balance of {$37000.00} and has initiated wage garnishment efforts despite all that has occurred being out of our control and heavily impacted by the negligence of the dealership and manufacturer. 
We are currently seeking legal advice to understand our rights and options, but the burden of this unresolved situation has been devastating. We feel we have been treated unfairly and misled throughout this process, despite our best efforts to communicate and cooperate. 
Request for Help We respectfully request that the Federal Reserve Consumer Department review this matter and provide any assistance, investigation, or direction as to how we can seek justice and relief. We have tried for years to resolve this issue in good faith and have only been met with obstacles, miscommunication, and now legal and financial consequences that we believe are unjust. 
Thank you for your time, consideration, and for any help you can provide.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation