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Demand Letter
You're owed something — a refund for a service that was canceled, payment on an invoice that's gone unpaid, the return of property someone is holding, or completion of work you already paid for. Calls and emails haven't worked. A written demand creates a dated record and, more often than people expect, gets the matter resolved before anyone goes to court. LetterLotus helps you put together a firm, factual letter that lays out the facts and asks for what you're owed by a specific date.
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Writing assistance tool · Not legal advice. LetterLotus is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by using this tool.
Your letter
- paid Sunset Pool $8,500 in January
- work stopped in March, never finished
- called three times — nothing
written into
I paid Sunset Pool Builders $8,500 under our contract of January 12 for resurfacing work that was abandoned in March. I have called three times since.
I am demanding a full refund of $8,500 by June 15, and I have listed the contract, the payments and the photographs I hold.
Balanced & Thorough
How It Works
Pick your favorite draft
We generate 4 different versions of your letter, each with a different tone. You pick the one that sounds most like you.
Edit, download & use
Make any edits you want, then download a print-ready PDF or Word document. It's your letter.
Important: LetterLotus is a writing tool, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. You write and send the letter yourself; for legal guidance, consult a licensed attorney.
What Your Demand Letter Covers
- Four sub-types in one tool: unpaid invoice, refund, return of personal property, or completion of paid work
- A clear, factual statement of the underlying transaction (what was paid, what was promised, what went wrong)
- A specific remedy — refund amount, invoice amount owed, named property to be returned, or named deliverables to be completed
- A specific deadline (typically 14 days from the date of the letter) and documentation of prior informal attempts
- A neutral mention of small-claims court as the next step if the deadline is missed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a demand letter?
A demand letter is a written request from one party to another asking for a specific remedy — a refund, a payment owed, the return of property, or completion of work — by a specific date. It is a private letter, not a court filing. Demand letters create a dated paper trail, demonstrate good-faith effort to resolve the matter informally, and often produce a resolution without further action.
Which of your demand letter tools should I pick?
Use the security deposit demand letter tool if your demand is for the return of a residential security deposit from a landlord. Use the debt validation letter tool if you're trying to make a debt collector verify a debt before they continue collecting from you. Use this generic demand letter for everything else: refunds for canceled services, refunds for defective products, payment of an invoice someone owes you, return of personal property someone is holding, or completion of contracted work you already paid for.
When does it make sense to send a demand letter?
After you've tried to resolve the matter informally and gotten nowhere. A demand letter is the step between a phone call that didn't work and a small-claims filing. If you haven't yet tried to resolve the matter directly with the other side, start there. If you have and it didn't work, a written demand is the natural next step.
How long should I give the recipient to respond?
Fourteen days from the date of the letter is the standard recommended floor. Shorter than seven days can read as unreasonable and may hurt you if the matter ends up in court. Longer deadlines (21 or 30 days) are reasonable when the request is complex or when the recipient may need time to coordinate a response. The questionnaire asks you to choose a specific deadline date.
Should the letter threaten to sue?
No. The letter mentions small-claims court only as a neutral next step you are prepared to consider if the matter is not resolved by the deadline. Threats beyond that (specific causes of action, attorney involvement, complaints to the attorney general or the Better Business Bureau, social media campaigns, press) weaken the letter and can expose you to claims of harassment or extortion. The most effective demand letters are firm and factual, not hostile.
What if they ignore the letter?
Small-claims court is the most common next step for amounts within the court's limit, which is typically $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the state. Small-claims is designed for people without lawyers, the filing fees are modest, and your demand letter (with the certified-mail receipt) becomes a useful piece of evidence that you tried to resolve the matter first. For amounts above the small-claims limit, complex contract disputes, or cases involving business torts, real estate, employment, or personal injury, the next step is a consultation with an attorney rather than a court filing.
Will the letter cite specific laws or statutes?
No. Citing statutes, code sections, or specific causes of action in a demand letter is legal-strategy work that requires an attorney's judgment to do correctly. A poorly chosen citation can damage your position. This tool generates a factual demand grounded in what you paid, what you were promised, and what you are owed — without statutory citations or legal-conclusion language. If your situation calls for a statute-grounded demand, hire an attorney to write it.
What should I include as enclosures?
Copies (never originals) of anything that supports your version of the facts: receipts, the invoice, the written agreement or contract, dated emails or texts, photos, screenshots, the order confirmation, the cancellation confirmation. The letter references the enclosures factually so the reader knows what they are looking at.
Is this legal advice?
No. This tool helps you write a clear, businesslike demand letter using facts you provide. It does not evaluate your case, calculate damages, choose a cause of action, or tell you whether to sue. For collection lawsuits, judgments, threatened litigation, contract disputes above small-claims-court limits, or any matter where the other side has involved an attorney, consult a licensed attorney or your local legal aid office before sending this letter.
How much does this cost?
$39, one time. No subscription, no hidden fees. You get PDF, Word, and clipboard formats, plus inline editing and unlimited re-downloads.
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Ready to Write Your Letter?
Phone calls leave no record. A written demand starts the clock and puts the matter in writing.
Writing assistance tool. Not a law firm. Not legal advice.