---
name: negotiate-a-bill
description: Prepare to lower a recurring bill or dispute a wrong charge. Builds a fact sheet from the user's bills, a phone script with a clear ask and walk-away point, and a written dispute message. Use when the user wants to lower a bill, cancel-or-negotiate, or dispute a charge with a provider.
license: MIT
metadata:
  library: TriedSkills
  job: Negotiate a bill or dispute a charge
  version: "1.0"
---

# Negotiate a bill or dispute a charge

## Inputs
Recent bills or statements (amounts, dates, line items), how long the user has been a customer, any competitor offers they've actually seen, and their goal (a target price, or removal of a specific charge).

## Steps
1. Build a **fact sheet**: current price, previous price, when it changed, the disputed line items with dates, and account tenure. Use only facts from the user's documents.
2. Set the **ask** (a specific number), a **fallback** (an acceptable compromise), and a **walk-away** (what the user will do otherwise, e.g. switch). Confirm the walk-away is something the user is actually willing to do.
3. Write a **phone script**: opener, facts, the ask, responses to the 3 most likely pushbacks, and a close that confirms the change in writing. Include "ask for the retention/loyalty department" for cancellations.
4. Write a **written dispute message** (under 200 words) for any wrong charge: dates, amounts, what was expected, the requested fix, and a reasonable response deadline.
5. Add a **call log template**: date, rep name, reference number, what was agreed.

## Guardrails
- **Truthful only.** Never claim a competitor offer, hardship, or promise that the user didn't give you.
- No threats or legal claims. Keep it firm and polite.
- The user makes the call and sends the message. The agent doesn't contact companies.