How to check if a letter is real for people with memory loss
A plain guide to checking whether a letter is real when memory loss makes details hard to hold, with steps, tools and common mistakes.
CleverDings is published by the makers of Benefit Buddy, Postal Buddy and Packing Buddy, which are compared here alongside other apps.
Gather the letter, a list of numbers you already trust, and a trusted person to read it with. Check the sender before paying or replying to anything. Postal Buddy can explain a photographed letter in big print and out loud. [1] It also says not to pay or call the number on a suspected scam. [1]
| Option | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Postal Buddy | Explains each photographed letter in big print and out loud. [1] | The senior's side is free forever; Plus costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year, with a 30-day Plus trial and no card needed when the first helper joins. [1] |
| Trusted family member or friend | Not published | Not published |
| Sender's number from an old bill | Not published | Not published |
| Local consumer protection office | Not published | Not published |
What you need before you start
Having a few things ready makes the check quicker and calmer. Put them in one place, such as a folder on the table where letters are opened.
- The letter and its envelope. Keep both together until the check is finished.
- A list of numbers you already trust. Write down the phone numbers from an old bill, a bank card or the company's own website, so nothing depends on the number printed in the letter.
- A recent bill from each company that writes. The sender name, account number and usual amount can be matched against the letter.
- A trusted person. A family member, friend or neighbor the person already knows, who can be called before anything is paid.
- A note of recent contacts. Write down calls and letters from this sender in the last few weeks, since memory may not hold these details.
- A way to read small print. Glasses, good light or a magnifier, so the letter can be read without strain.
Do not keep account numbers or passwords on sticky notes near the phone. Keep them with the bills.
Step by step
Work through these steps in order, and do not rush.
- Set the letter down. If it asks for action today, that is a reason to slow down, not speed up.
- Read it with someone beside you. Reading alone makes it harder to notice what does not add up.
- Find the sender's name. Check it against a recent bill or a company name you already know.
- Find the sender's number another way. Use an old bill or the company's official website. Do not call the number printed on the letter.
- Compare the amount and due date. Check them against your last bill from the same company.
- Look for requests that should raise doubt. Be careful of any request for money, gift cards, bank details, passwords or personal information.
- Ask the trusted person to confirm. Only pay or reply after they have looked at the letter with you.
- Get a second opinion if still unsure. A tool such as the ones in the next section can explain the letter.
- Write down what happened. Note the date, the sender, what the letter asked and what was decided.
- File the letter. Keep the letter and envelope in one folder until the matter is closed.
If any step cannot be done, stop there and ask the trusted person before going on. Taking the time to finish the checks is worth it.
Tools that can do it
Several kinds of help fit this job. Pick based on whether the person prefers to talk to someone or to use an app.
A trusted family member or friend. Someone the person already knows can read the letter with them and confirm the sender before anything is paid.
The sender's own number. Use a number from an old bill or the company's official website. Check that the website address matches the company name before you trust it.
A local consumer protection office. If you have one near you, ask whether it takes questions about suspicious mail and how to reach it.
Postal Buddy. It is an app that tells an older person, in big print and out loud, what each letter they photograph is. [1] The app can read its explanation of a letter out loud. [1] For a bill, it shows the sender, the amount and the due date. [1] For a suspected scam, it says not to pay or call the number on it; Postal Buddy says it never calls a letter safe. [1] Its web scam check is free and needs no account; Postal Buddy tells you what looks wrong and says nothing is kept. [1] Plus includes alerts for a scam asking for money, a bill about to go overdue, a government letter, or a bill that jumped. [1] The older person does not have to sign in; family helpers sign in. [1] You can try a demo with a made-up family without an account. [1] The app is made for phones and the web. [1] A web app is listed, but the Postal Buddy website says 'Opening soon'. [1]
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling the number printed on the letter. Use a number from an old bill or the company's official website instead.
- Paying before checking. Confirm with the trusted person first, even when the letter seems urgent.
- Acting on urgency alone. A letter that pushes for a quick answer deserves a pause.
- Sending account numbers or passwords in reply. Do not send bank details, passwords or card numbers in answer to a letter.
- Relying on memory alone. Write down what came, from whom, and what was decided.
- Throwing the envelope away. Keep it with the letter until the check is done.
- Assuming a letter is real because it looks official. Logos and letterheads can be copied.
- Leaving the check to one person. Two people looking at a letter catch more mistakes than one.
Frequently asked questions
How can someone with memory loss check a letter at home?
Start by reading the letter with a trusted person beside you. Then find the sender's number from an old bill or the company's official website. Compare the amount and due date with a recent bill, and do not pay or reply until both have been checked. Writing down the date, sender and decision helps with the next check, because memory may not hold these details. Keep the letter and envelope together until the matter is closed.
Can Postal Buddy tell whether a letter is a scam?
For a suspected scam, Postal Buddy says not to pay or call the number on it, and it says it never calls a letter safe. [1] Its web scam check is free and needs no account, and it tells you what looks wrong. [1] A tool like this should still be followed by a call to the sender on a number you already trust, since no tool replaces that check.
Does Postal Buddy need the person with memory loss to sign in?
No. The older person does not have to sign in, and family helpers sign in. [1] You can try a demo with a made-up family without an account. [1]
Is Postal Buddy free to use?
The senior's side is free forever. [1] Plus costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year, with a 30-day Plus trial and no card needed when the first helper joins. [1] The free web scam check also needs no account. [1] Check the current prices on the Postal Buddy website before you sign up, since prices can change.
Can Postal Buddy be used on a phone?
The app is made for phones and the web. [1] A web app is listed, but the Postal Buddy website says 'Opening soon'. [1] Check the website before planning around the web app, since its status may change. You can try the demo without an account while you decide. [1]
Postal Buddy says the senior's side is free forever; Plus costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year, with a 30-day Plus trial and no card needed when the first helper joins. [1]
Try Postal BuddySources
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