If it happens to you

Most people never find out AI decided against them.

The steps below are available to you because the law already gives you a foothold. They are sorted by situation and followed by a tool that drafts a request that uses those rights. This is general information, not legal advice, and the details depend on where you live. The guide is written around U.S. law and covers the European Union and the United Kingdom; the request letter tool also covers Illinois, Canada, Quebec, Australia and Brazil, and offers a general request for any other country, because the six questions it asks are the ones every automated decision law so far has answered in some form.

My loan or credit card was refused
In the United States you are entitled to the specific reasons within thirty days, and the regulator has said there is no exemption for AI models.
  1. Keep the adverse action notice. If it gives vague categories, ask in writing for the specific principal reasons.
  2. Pull your credit reports and dispute anything wrong with the bureau; the lender must reconsider corrected data.
  3. Ask the lender whether a person can review the application with additional information.
  4. If you get no specific reasons, file a complaint with the CFPB; the narrative becomes public evidence.
My insurance claim was denied
Insurers must give written reasons under state law, and every state insurance department accepts complaints.
  1. Ask for the denial in writing with the policy provision relied on.
  2. Ask whether the decision was made or recommended by an automated system, and request review by a licensed adjuster.
  3. Send additional evidence and ask for a written response.
  4. Complain to your state insurance department; for Medicare Advantage, use the formal appeal, which reaches an independent reviewer.
My job application was rejected by software
In New York City employers must tell you when an automated tool is used; Illinois and Colorado add duties in 2026 and 2027.
  1. Ask the employer whether an automated screening tool scored or ranked your application.
  2. Ask for the job-related criteria the tool used.
  3. If you are over forty or suspect discrimination, you can file with the EEOC without a lawyer.
  4. Keep the rejection with its timestamp; it is evidence of automation.
My rental application was denied on a score
Tenant screening reports are consumer reports. You have the right to see them and to dispute errors.
  1. Ask the landlord which screening company was used and request a copy of the report.
  2. Dispute inaccurate items with the screening company; they must investigate within thirty days.
  3. If you use a housing voucher, some companies may no longer show a score for you; ask.
  4. Fair housing agencies take complaints about algorithmic screening.
My platform account was deactivated
Gig platforms increasingly promise a human review before deactivation, and in Europe automated deactivation without a person is unlawful.
  1. Request the reason in writing and ask whether a person reviewed the decision.
  2. Request access to the data used, including ratings and fraud flags.
  3. Use the platform's appeal, then the labor or data protection regulator.
  4. Document lost income from the date of deactivation.
My money was frozen by a payment service
Account limitations are governed by the user agreement, and complaints to the CFPB are public.
  1. Read the limitation notice and the resolution center instructions carefully; upload what is asked.
  2. Ask in writing for the specific reason and the expected release date for held funds.
  3. If funds are held for months without explanation, file a CFPB complaint.
  4. Keep records of every message; arbitration clauses do not prevent regulator complaints.
A hospital used AI on my scan or file
You are entitled to your medical records, and a growing number of laws require notice when AI is used in care.
  1. Request your full record, including any AI-generated flags or reports.
  2. Ask your clinician whether a triage or decision tool was used and what it found.
  3. Ask for a second opinion by a specialist if the finding matters.
  4. Hospital patient advocates and state health departments take complaints.
My health coverage was denied by an algorithm
Medicare Advantage plans may not base a coverage decision on an algorithm alone; individual circumstances must be considered.
  1. Appeal in writing within the deadline on the notice; most denials that are appealed are reversed.
  2. Ask your doctor to write a letter of medical necessity.
  3. Ask the plan whether a predictive tool informed the decision.
  4. Escalate to the independent review entity and, if needed, an administrative law judge.
I was flagged by surveillance technology
Plate readers and facial recognition rarely notify the person. Public records law is usually the only door.
  1. Ask the agency, through a public records request, for any searches or alerts on your plate or image.
  2. Check the agency's transparency page for retention and sharing policies.
  3. Ask whether a person verified the alert before action was taken.
  4. Civil liberties organizations take these cases; several are in court now.

Write your request

Choose your situation and where you live, and we will draft a letter you can send to the company or agency. The letter is based on the questions our index scores: was AI involved? What data was used? What are the reasons for the decision? Who can review it? How can you correct or contest it? Edit it, sign it, keep a copy.

This tool gives general information and a template. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored; the letter is drafted in your browser.

Support the project.

We are funding the first two editions of the index, the methodology paper, the tools and the Not Final campaign. Foundations, newsrooms, researchers and companies willing to open their decision paths are welcome.

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or email info@humanoption.org