How to explain a letter in plain English
Ask the AI for four things: what the letter is, what they want from you, the deadline, and what happens if you do nothing. Hide your name, address, account numbers, and ID numbers first. Use the answer to prepare questions, not as legal, medical, or financial advice.
· 5 min read
Official letters are written to protect the sender, not to be understood by you. AI is good at turning the formal language into a plain list of what they want and when they want it.
The four questions
- What is this letter, in one sentence?
- What are they asking me to do?
- What is the deadline, and what happens if I miss it?
- What should I check or ask a person about?
Ask for the answer in plain language, with the exact dates and amounts. Then ask for a short list of questions to ask the sender. The questions are often more valuable than the summary.
What to hide first
- Your full name, address, and phone number.
- Account, policy, and claim numbers.
- Your national ID, tax ID, or medical record number.
- Anything you would not email to a stranger.
Ask for a reply or a phone script
Once you understand the letter, ask for a short reply or a phone script. Say what you want to happen, keep it polite, and ask for the next step in writing. Read it before you send it.
When to call a professional
Legal, medical, tax, and debt letters can have consequences a chatbot cannot see. Use AI to prepare your questions, then call a lawyer, doctor, accountant, or a free advice service. The summary is not advice.
If the letter looks like a scam
Do not use the link or phone number in the letter. Open the official app or website yourself, or call the number on the back of your card. Urgency, requests for codes, and payment by gift card or crypto are the red flags.
Questions
Is this legal or medical advice?
No. It explains the letter in plain language and helps you prepare questions. For legal, medical, tax, or debt advice, talk to a qualified professional.
Can AI call the sender for me?
No. It can draft a reply or a phone script. You make the call and send the message.
Can it read a photo of a letter?
If the app accepts images, yes, but check the transcription. A blurry photo can turn a date or an amount into the wrong number.
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