Help center/Money and paperwork Works today

Understand a bill or letter

You send a photo of a bill or a letter, and your assistant tells you in plain words what it says.

Suggested tools

You can set these up yourself. Get the app, follow the steps, then copy the prompt.

• Notes document scanner (built into iPhone)

  Free

  It turns a paper page into a clear scan with your iPhone camera.

  Download for iPhone

  1. Cover any account number, card number or Social Security number with a sticky note.
  2. Open Notes and start a new note. Tap the Attachment button, then tap Scan Documents.
  3. Hold the phone over the page. It scans by itself. Tap Done.
  4. Tap the scan, tap the share button and send it to your assistant in Messages.

  Copy this prompt and give it to your assistant

  • I got a letter and I want to scan it with the Notes app on my iPhone. Walk me through it one step at a time and wait for me after each step: I cover any account or Social Security number, open a new note, tap the Attachment button, Scan Documents, tap Done, then share the scan to you in Messages. Then tell me in plain words what it says, what I need to do, and if there is a deadline.

    Copy

  It only makes the scan. It does not hide numbers for you, so cover them before you scan.

• Google Drive scanner

  Free

  It turns a paper page into a PDF with your Android phone camera.

  Download for iPhoneDownload for Android

  1. Cover any account number, card number or Social Security number with a sticky note.
  2. Open Google Drive and tap the camera button at the bottom right.
  3. Take the photo, tap Done, pick .pdf and tap Save.
  4. Share the PDF to your assistant, or upload it on your files page (text /home to your assistant).

  Copy this prompt and give it to your assistant

  • I got a bill and I want to scan it with Google Drive. Walk me through it one step at a time and wait for me after each step: I cover any account or card number, open Google Drive, tap the camera button, take the photo, save it as a PDF, then share it to you or upload it to my files page. Then tell me what it is for, how much it is and when it is due, and list questions to ask when I call them.

    Copy

  The scan is also saved in your Google Drive. It does not hide numbers for you, so cover them before you scan.

What to text

• Here is a photo of a letter. Tell me in plain words what it says.

  Copy

• Here is a photo of a bill. What is it for, how much, and when is it due?

  Copy

• What do I need to do after reading this letter? Is there a deadline?

  Copy

• List questions I should ask when I call them about this.

  Copy

• Explain this in Spanish.

  Copy

• Draft a short reply asking for more time to pay.

  Copy

Steps

1. Cover any account number, card number or Social Security number. A sticky note works.
2. Take a clear photo of the page. All the words should show.
3. Text the photo with your question.
4. Read the answer. Then ask: "Is there a deadline?" and "What do I need to do?"
5. Check dates and amounts against the paper yourself.
6. If you need to answer, ask for a draft. You send it yourself.

Example conversation

Make it stick

• Use it the day the mail comes. A letter you understand is easier to deal with.
• Always ask about the deadline. Then put the date where you will see it.