Use whichever you like: ChatGPT (chatgpt.com or the ChatGPT app), Claude (claude.ai or the Claude app) or Grok (grok.com, the Grok app, or the Grok button in X). Sign in with a free account and start a new chat.
Before you take the photo, cover or crop out your NRIC/FIN or Emirates ID number, bank and card numbers, and anything you wouldn't post online. The AI doesn't need them to explain the document.
Lay the page flat in good light and photograph every page, including the small print. In the chat, tap the + or paperclip (attachment) button, or the camera icon, and pick your photo. Then paste the 'Read my photo' prompt below.
Compare the AI's typed-out version with the paper, especially prices, dates and percentages. If anything is wrong, tell it the correct figure before going on. AI can misread photos.
Paste the 'Explain it in plain words' prompt. You'll get who sent it, what they want, by when, and what any jargon means.
Paste the 'Red flags vs typical terms' prompt, and paste in the matching price range from the 'Market guides' table on this page. The AI points out unusual lines, like a big deposit, cash only or vague extras. It can't tell you the exact fair price, and nor can we.
Paste the 'Polite reply with questions' prompt. Read the draft, change anything that doesn't sound like you, and send it yourself. Asking questions in writing also gives you a record.
Paste the 'Checklist before paying' prompt and tick each line yourself: deposit %, licence checked, written scope, staged bank transfers, no cash, and no paying while your goods are held. Anything marked 'To check' means wait.
Don't pay. In Singapore call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799. In the UAE, contact Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) consumer protection on 600 545 555, Dubai Police on 901, or report online fraud at ecrime.ae. In an emergency, call the police.
I've attached a photo of a [letter / fine / quote / invoice] I received in [Singapore / Dubai, UAE]. First, type out exactly what the photo says, line by line, including every price, date, name, licence or registration number and any small print. If any part is blurry or cut off, tell me which part instead of guessing. Don't explain anything yet.💬 Explain it in plain words
Now explain this document in plain, simple English, as if to a friend who has never seen one before: 1. Who sent it, and what is it (a quote, an invoice, a fine, an official letter)? 2. What are they asking me to do or pay, and by when? 3. What happens if I do nothing? 4. Any words or terms I might not understand, explained in one line each. Keep it short. If you're not sure about something, say so rather than guessing. This is to help me understand it, not legal or financial advice.💬 Red flags vs typical terms
Compare this [quote / letter] with typical terms for [service, e.g. aircon chemical wash / 3-room HDB move / villa painting] in [Singapore / Dubai]. List anything unusual as a red flag, for example: - a deposit above [20% in Singapore / 30% in the UAE] - cash only, or payment to a personal account - payment demanded before the work is done, or while my things are held - missing line items or a vague scope - extras or surcharges that weren't explained up front - no company name, licence or registration number - pressure to decide today - promised or guaranteed returns For each red flag: quote the exact line, say why it matters, and say what a normal version usually looks like. Here are price ranges I found in market guides (not official): [paste the ranges from the USE CASy page, e.g. chemical wash S$80-150 per unit]. Tell me whether the quote is inside or outside them, but do NOT tell me an exact fair price: say clearly that you can't know the real cost without an inspection. Finish with a short list of things I should check myself.💬 Polite reply with questions
Draft a short, polite reply to [company or person's name] about this [quote / letter]. I'm not accusing them of anything. I want to: - thank them - ask [3-5] clear questions based on the red flags above (for example: an itemised breakdown, exactly what's included, their company registration and licence number, whether I can pay in stages by bank transfer to the company account, and what happens if extra work is needed) - say I'll decide once I have their answers. Tone: friendly and firm, British English, no threats, no legal language. Under 150 words, so I can send it by [WhatsApp / email].💬 Checklist before paying
Before I pay anything for [service] in [Singapore / Dubai], turn this into a yes/no checklist I can tick, based on the quote and our chat: - Deposit: what % is it? Is it [20% or less in Singapore (the CaseTrust renovation cap) / about 20-30% or less in the UAE (market practice, not law)]? - Licence: have I checked the company name and licence or registration number myself (for example HDB's renovation contractor directory, the CaseTrust list, or the UAE trade licence)? - Written scope: is every job, material and price written down, with extras agreed in writing before they're done? - Staged payments: am I paying in stages as the work is finished, with some held back until defects are fixed? - Bank transfer: am I paying the company's bank account, not cash and not a personal account? - Goods held: am I being asked to pay before my things are unloaded or handed back? If yes, flag it. - Second quote: have I got at least one other quote? Mark anything I can't answer yet as "To check". Don't make up answers for me.
From https://usecasy.com/use-case/snap-a-letter-or-quote/ · Guide checked 17 October 2026 · Prices are rough and shown in USD unless stated (MYR where relevant).