Frequently Asked Questions

No. Full stop. We are not lawyers. We are not pretending to be lawyers. Using our tool does not create an attorney-client relationship.

We built a tool. A good one. But it is still just a tool. For complex legal situations or disputes involving serious money, get an actual attorney. That is what they are there for.

Yes. Actually free. No credit card. No "premium tier" nonsense. No bait and switch.

We run on donations from people we have helped and some minimal advertising. If you recover your money and want to throw us a few bucks, great. If not, that is fine too. The tool works either way.

14 countries. 270+ jurisdictions. 4,635 US counties.

• United States: All 50 states, DC, and territories
• Canada: All provinces and territories
• United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
• Australia: All states and territories
• New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, India, Mexico

Each location includes the relevant legal citations, small claims limits, and consumer protection agencies. We did the homework so you do not have to.

A demand letter is a formal "pay up or else" document. It puts the other party on notice that you are serious, you know your rights, and you will escalate if they do not act.

It can create a clear record of your claim, the evidence supporting it, and the action you requested before you decide whether to pursue another remedy.

It is used for security deposits, unpaid wages, refunds, contractor disputes, insurance claims. Basically any situation where someone owes you money and is pretending they do not.

A demand letter can be a useful documentation and communication step, but no result is guaranteed.

A clear letter shows three things:

1. You know what you are owed and why
2. You are organized and documented
3. You are willing to escalate

The recipient may pay, negotiate, dispute the claim, request more information, or not respond. The facts, evidence, applicable law, and recipient all affect what happens next.

Usually no.

For straightforward disputes under a few thousand dollars, lawyers are overkill. The legal fees would eat your recovery. That is exactly why small claims court exists. Regular people, no lawyers required.

Consider a lawyer when:

• The amount is substantial (over 10k)
• The legal issues are genuinely complex
• The other side already has counsel
• You are unsure of your rights

For lower-risk matters, a self-help letter may be a reasonable starting point, but you remain responsible for checking the facts, citations, deadlines, and available remedies.

Short version: Facts, law, deadline, consequences.

Long version:

1. Your information so they know who is coming for their money
2. Their information so they know this is really about them
3. What happened laid out clearly with dates and amounts
4. Why you are entitled with relevant law cited
5. Exactly what you want in dollars, not vague language
6. A deadline because open-ended requests get ignored
7. What happens next if they do not comply

Our tool handles all of this. You just answer the questions.

Four steps. Maybe three minutes.

1. Tell us what happened. Who owes you, how much, why.
2. We generate a draft. AI uses your facts and may suggest location-specific citations that you must verify.
3. Review and edit. Make any changes you want.
4. Download and send. Certified mail for the win.

That is it. No account needed. No hoops to jump through.

We cover 18 categories. The greatest hits of "someone screwed me over":

• Security deposits that landlords "forgot" to return
• Unpaid wages your employer owes you
• Consumer refunds for products and services that failed
• Contractor work that was never finished or done wrong
• Insurance claims that got wrongly denied
• Medical bills with errors or overcharges
• Auto accidents where someone owes damages
• Plus: HOA disputes, property damage, debt collection, personal injury, small business, education, telecom, utilities, neighbor disputes, fraud

USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt. This is not optional.

Why? Because you need proof. Proof they got it. Proof of when they got it. That green card that comes back is your evidence that they cannot claim they never received anything.

Costs about 8 to 10 bucks. Worth every penny if this ends up in court.

Send a backup copy by email too. Belt and suspenders.

10 to 30 days depending on the situation.

• 10 to 14 days: When you have already been going back and forth, or for urgent matters
• 14 to 21 days: Standard for most situations
• 21 to 30 days: Larger amounts, or dealing with slow-moving bureaucracies

Pro tip: Use a specific date, not "within 14 days." January 15, 2025 is clear. "14 days" invites arguments about when the clock started.

One of five things happens:

1. They pay in full. Best case. Celebrate.
2. They offer less. Now you negotiate.
3. They dispute it. They disagree with your version. You may need to prove your case.
4. They ask for time. Payment plan situation. Get it in writing.
5. Radio silence. They ignore you. That is their choice. Now you escalate.

The key is to follow through on whatever you said you would do. Empty threats teach them to ignore future demands.

Then you do what you said you would do. Options:

• Small claims court. For amounts under your state limit (usually 5k to 25k). No lawyer needed. Your demand letter becomes evidence of your good faith effort.
• Regulatory complaints. State Attorney General, consumer protection agencies, licensing boards. Companies hate these.
• BBB complaint. Creates a public record.
• Final notice. Sometimes a second letter with "this is your last chance" gets movement.

The point is: do something. Silence after a demand letter means you were bluffing. And now they know it.

Small claims court is the people's court. Designed for regular folks to sue without lawyers.

Here is the deal:

• Simple rules. No legal training required.
• Low filing fees. Usually 30 to 150 bucks.
• Fast resolution. Usually 2 to 3 months.
• Lawyers often not allowed. Even playing field.

Limits vary by state from 2,500 to 25,000 dollars. Our letters tell you what your state allows.

This is the natural next step when a demand letter fails. And judges love seeing you tried to resolve it first.

No. Not if you are being honest.

Demand letters are a normal, legal, expected part of civil dispute resolution. People send them every day. Companies have entire departments that do nothing but.

What you should avoid:

• Lying. Do not make up facts.
• Threatening things you cannot do. "I'll have you arrested" for a civil debt is not how it works.
• Pretending to be a lawyer. Just do not.
• Harassment. One or two letters is fine. Fifty is not.

Stick to the facts. State your demand. Explain your options. That is all you need.

There is no deadline for demand letters specifically. But there are statutes of limitations on claims.

Rough guidelines:

• Written contracts: 4 to 6 years
• Oral agreements: 2 to 4 years
• Personal injury: 2 to 3 years
• Property damage: 2 to 6 years

But here is the real advice: act sooner rather than later. Evidence gets lost. Memories fade. The longer you wait, the weaker your position.

Sometimes yes. And you should when the law allows it.

Examples:

• Security deposits: Many states allow 2x or 3x if the landlord acted in bad faith
• Consumer protection: Various statutes include penalty damages
• Wage theft: Often includes waiting time penalties plus attorney fees

Our tool knows these rules for your location and includes them when applicable. Free money on top of what you are owed.

This is the question everyone asks. The answer is usually yes.

Think about it. Creating a demand letter takes 3 minutes. Sending certified mail costs 10 bucks. Total investment: 15 minutes and a Hamilton.

For a small dispute, weigh the postage and time involved against the amount and evidence. A letter creates a record, but it does not guarantee a response or payment.

Plus there is principle. Letting people steal small amounts teaches them to keep doing it. Sometimes you fight on principle.

Yes.

• Everything encrypted via HTTPS
• We do not store your data longer than needed
• We do not sell your information. Ever. To anyone.
• Documents you upload are processed in memory and immediately deleted

We built this tool to help people, not to harvest data. Check the Privacy Policy for the full details.

Minimal retention. Here is the breakdown:

• Your dispute details are kept 30 days so you can come back and edit if needed
• After 30 days, deleted
• Documents you upload are never stored. Memory only, then gone.
• Basic analytics to improve the service. Nothing personally identifiable sold.

Want your data deleted now? Email [email protected]. Done.

If you find the free tool useful, you can help us keep it available:

• Donate. Any amount helps. Check the Support page.
• Share. Know someone getting screwed over? Send them here.
• Send feedback. Email [email protected] with corrections or suggestions.

Or do nothing. That is fine too. The tool stays free either way.