Give every expense a paper trail.
Make towing, storage, and administrative charges easier to review.
Build a simple expense index.
For each charge, record the date, vendor, purpose, amount, payment status, and the name of the supporting file. An index helps explain the claim without replacing the original invoice.
Separate an estimate from a final charge and an unpaid invoice from a receipt. These documents answer different questions.
Keep the itemization.
A total alone can hide the reason for a dispute. Preserve the pages showing service dates, daily storage rates, towing details, or the work behind an administrative charge.
If a charge was reduced or denied, save the explanation alongside the invoice.
Reconcile what has already been paid.
Identify any payment by you, your insurer, or another party. Mark which balance is still open and preserve proof of payment.
Bill can review the organized expense file with the rest of the claim. A documented expense is a starting point for review, not a promise of reimbursement.
General preparation information, not legal advice. Bill Cook is a consultant, not an attorney.
