Tell a customer you under-quoted the job

You've realised your quote was wrong and you'll lose money doing the job at that price. Get an honest message that finds a fair way forward.

Updated 17 Oct 2026

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The prompt · ChatGPT

Help me tell a customer I under-quoted their job.

The original quote: [amount and what it covered]
What I missed or what changed: [details]
The real cost: [amount]
What's been agreed or started: [details]
What I could absorb: [e.g. half the difference, nothing]

Ask me up to 2 short questions first. Wait for my answers.

Then:
1. Two or three fair ways forward, such as splitting the difference, reducing the scope or honouring the price.
2. An honest message explaining the mistake and offering the options.
3. A short face-to-face script.
4. Calm replies if they say "you quoted it, you stick to it".

Honest, no excuses. Not legal advice. UK English.

Stay in this ChatGPT chat. Do not turn on apps or connectors, and do not use memory from another chat.

A short example

Fill the blanks, then paste. amount and what it covered: a short note you already have. details: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.

The prompt · Claude

Help me tell a customer I under-quoted their job.

The original quote: [amount and what it covered]
What I missed or what changed: [details]
The real cost: [amount]
What's been agreed or started: [details]
What I could absorb: [e.g. half the difference, nothing]

Ask me up to 2 short questions first. Wait for my answers.

Then:
1. Two or three fair ways forward, such as splitting the difference, reducing the scope or honouring the price.
2. An honest message explaining the mistake and offering the options.
3. A short face-to-face script.
4. Calm replies if they say "you quoted it, you stick to it".

Honest, no excuses. Not legal advice. UK English.

Stay in this Claude chat. Do not use a connector, and do not open a project that already holds someone else's files.

A short example

Fill the blanks, then paste. amount and what it covered: a short note you already have. details: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.

You explain the original quote, what you missed and the real cost.

The assistant asks what's already been agreed and what you could absorb.

You get options, an honest message, a face-to-face script and replies to likely objections.

GkGrok ClClaude ChChatGPT GeGemini CoCopilot

What happens

Use Claude to tell a customer you under-quoted the job

You've realised your quote was wrong and you'll lose money doing the job at that price. Get an honest message that finds a fair way forward.

Tools

Paste the prompt, fill the blanks, copy the draft.

Claude — required. Drafts from the text you paste. Nothing is sent.

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