{"id":"life-job-deposit-return-letter","audience":"job-seekers","category":"everyday-life","track":"life","technique":"context","title":"Ask a landlord to return your security deposit","free":false,"task":"You moved out for a new job, and your old landlord hasn't returned your deposit. Write an email under 110 words in plain text. The first sentence asks for the $1,200 deposit by a specific date: 30 days after move-out, as the lease says. Include your move-out date, that you left keys and photos, and your new mailing address. No threats or legal claims. End with \"Thanks, Sam Rivera\". Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.","materialLabel":"Your lease note and move-out details (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"LEASE: 22 Birch Court, Apt 2 (fictional) | Landlord: Gail Morrow\nSecurity deposit: $1,200\nLease clause 9: \"Deposit will be returned within 30 days of move-out, minus itemized deductions for damage beyond normal wear.\"\n\nMOVE-OUT\n- Moved out and returned both keys: October 20, 2026. Gail texted \"Got the keys, thanks!\"\n- Took 42 dated photos of every room that day. Apartment was clean.\n- Gail has my email but not my new address.\n\nNEW ADDRESS: 715 Willow Lane, Apt 4C, Denton, OH 44120 (fictional)\n\nNOTES\n- It's Nov 6 and nothing yet. Not late yet, but I want it on her radar.\n- Brother says to cite state law and threaten small claims.\n- I left a lamp there; Gail can keep it.\n- Her email: gail.morrow@example.com","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":110},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"No date in the ask","why":"The AI asks for the deposit \"soon\" or \"at your earliest convenience.\"","fix":"Add: \"First sentence: ask for the $1,200 by November 19, 30 days after move-out.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Missing the new address","why":"The AI forgets the one thing she needs to mail the check.","fix":"Add: \"Include my new address.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Picking up threats","why":"The AI follows your brother and cites laws or small claims.","fix":"Add: \"Friendly and firm, no legal talk. End with: Thanks, Sam Rivera\".","checks":["r2","plainText"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for \"under 110 words\" and it often lands well over.","fix":"Cap each part: \"4 short sentences under 20 words each, then the address and sign-off.\"","checks":["maxWords"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Puts the ask first","patterns":["first sentence","open with","start with"]},{"label":"Names the date","patterns":["nov(ember)? 19","30 days","by \\w+ \\d+"]},{"label":"Includes the address","patterns":["address","willow"]},{"label":"Rules out threats","patterns":["no (threats?|legal)","don'?t threaten","friendly"]},{"label":"Sets a word limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)"]}],"hint":"A clear ask with a date and the facts gets a faster check. Tell the AI the date math, the facts to include, the tone and the sign-off.","rubricLabels":["The first sentence asks for the $1,200 deposit by November 19, 2026 (30 days after the October 20 move-out)","Includes the October 20 move-out with keys returned, the dated photos, and the new address 715 Willow Lane, Apt 4C, Denton, OH 44120","Has no threats or legal claims (no state law, small claims, lawyer) and ends with the sign-off \"Thanks, Sam Rivera\" (on one line or two)"]}