You lead the call. What the person tells you, written down by you, is what counts.
Step 1: Write your notes
- Write a few lines: who you're calling, what happened, dates, amounts, what you want.
- Leave out your SSN, member ID, account numbers, name, birth date and address.
- Pasting? Delete the numbers first. Photo? Cover them with paper.
- Never give AI, or anyone who calls you, a password or PIN.
New to this? Try the practice notes first.
Step 2: Ask AI for your questions
Paste the prompt. Add your notes after it. Then send.
I need to call a company. My notes are below. List my questions, most important first. Include: the person's name, a call reference number, what they will do and by when, any money, and getting it in writing. If a payment is due, ask whether and how much to pay before the due date. Tell me which phone number in my notes is from an official bill or letter. List anything missing under "Check first." Use only my notes. My notes:
Step 3: Ask for an opening and a notes sheet
Type [ME] and [ACCOUNT], not your real details. Put your details back before you send.
Write a calm opening I can read out, 6 sentences or fewer. Use [ME] and [ACCOUNT]. Include key dates, amounts and what I want. Add 3 short phrases for when I get stuck.
Make a one-page notes sheet for the call. Lines for: date, number called, name, reference number, each question, what they agreed, amounts and dates, next step. List anything suspicious in my notes. Remind me never to share a PIN.
Step 4: Check it
- Every date and amount matches your notes and the bill.
- The AI made nothing up.
- Call only a number you look up yourself: card, past statement or official website.
- Don't trust a number just because AI or a letter shows it. Check it matches your card, a past statement or the official website.
Step 5: Make the call
- Say: "Please repeat that. I'm writing it down."
- Don't hang up without a name, a reference number and a next step.
- Asked for a PIN you didn't expect? Say "I'll call back" and hang up.
- Get help if a deadline is close or the answer doesn't match the bill.
| Who | How |
|---|---|
| The company | Number you look up yourself |
| Medicare | 1-800-633-4227 (TTY 1-877-486-2048) |
| Local help with bills | Dial 211 |
Checked: medicare.gov, 211.org, Oct 16, 2026.
Practice notes
PRACTICE - NOT REAL. Made up for this guide. Do not call any number below.
==================== PRACTICE - NOT REAL ==================== My notes before calling Larkspur Broadband (fictional) - I'm calling about my home internet. Account: [ACCOUNT]. - On October 5, 2026 I signed up by phone. The order confirmation email says: "Your price: $45.00 a month for 12 months." Order reference: LB-PRACTICE-77. - My first bill, dated November 3, 2026, charges $64.99 for the month. Payment is due November 24, 2026. - That's $19.99 more than I was promised. - The bill says: Customer Service (212) 555-0123, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. - On November 4, 2026 I got a text saying "Larkspur billing error - call (212) 555-0199 now and have your PIN ready." It didn't use my name. - What I want: the bill corrected to $45.00, the extra $19.99 refunded or credited, and the $45.00 price confirmed in writing for the rest of the 12 months. ==================== PRACTICE - NOT REAL ====================
How did you do? Good answers:
- Use $45.00, $64.99 and $19.99 correctly, and reference LB-PRACTICE-77.
- Ask whether to pay by November 24, 2026, and how much.
- Ask for a name, a call reference, a refund or credit, and written proof.
- Point you to (212) 555-0123, the number on the bill.
- Flag the text from (212) 555-0199 as suspicious.