Guides › Money
Make sense of a confusing bill or letter
A plain-English summary of any bill, bank letter or official money letter, what it's asking of you, the deadline and a suggested reply.
When to use it
When a letter or bill doesn't make sense
Step by step
Photograph the letter
Take a clear photo of each page, or copy the text if it came by email.
Hide personal details
Cover account numbers, reference numbers, your address and date of birth before sharing.
Ask what it means
Attach the photos to your AI assistant and use this prompt.
Prompt to copyExplain this letter in plain English. Tell me: 1) who it's from and what it's about, 2) what they are asking me to do, 3) any deadline, 4) how much money is involved and why, 5) what happens if I do nothing, and 6) anything that looks unusual or worth questioning. If it might be a scam, say what signs to check. Then draft a short, polite reply or list of questions I could send. Don't give legal or financial advice.Decide and act
Use the summary to decide your next step. For anything with serious consequences, such as debt collection or tax demands, speak to the organisation directly or a free advice service.
What you get
From: your energy supplier. About: your annual statement. Ask: nothing, your direct debit rises from £85 to £97 from January because you used more than estimated. Deadline: none, but you can query it within 28 days. Worth asking: was this based on a real meter reading?
Tips
- If a letter asks you to pay urgently by an unusual method, contact the company using the number on their official website, not the one in the letter.
- For debt or legal letters, a free advice charity can help you respond.