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List customer credit balances by age and flag the old ones

  • For Accountants
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're reviewing customer credit balances (negative receivables) at Nov 6, 2026. Write a prompt for a markdown table with columns Credit | Customer | Amount | Days old | Flag, oldest first, then a line starting "Over 90 days:" with the addition. Flag is "Over 90 days" when older than 90 days. Don't suggest refunding, applying or writing off any credit. No commentary. Under 90 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Suggesting a write-off. The AI follows the supervisor and says to write off the old credits. Try: Add: "Do not suggest refunding, applying or writing off any credit."
  • Wrong day counts. The AI counts from the wrong date. Try: Say: "Days old = Nov 6 minus the created date."
  • Losing the minus signs. The AI totals +$1,340. Try: Add: "Keep the minus signs."
  • Not sorted. The AI keeps the listing order. Try: Say: "Oldest first."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each line short.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the columns
  • Sorts oldest first
  • Asks for the over-90 line
  • Bans handling suggestions
  • Limits output

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