---
title: Explain This Letter
description: Photograph a bill, letter or form and get back what it says, what
  it wants, and what happens if you ignore it.
category: money
params: []
version: 1
tags:
  - summarizing
  - bills
  - content
license: cc-by
---

I am going to send you a photo of a letter, a bill, or a form I do not understand. Read it and tell me in plain words: who sent it, what they want from me, how much money is involved, and what happens if I do nothing.

Pull out any deadline and say how long I have. Flag anything that looks like a scam, or like pressure designed to make me act quickly.

Do not guess at numbers or names you cannot read clearly — say which bits are unreadable instead. Hand back a short summary, then a list of what I need to do, in the order to do it.