Most users type into credit-hire.ai the way they would type into Google — a couple of keywords, no context, no question. The model can usually still produce something, but the answer is unfocused, generic, and often not the argument you actually need. The four habits below transform the quality of the response without requiring any extra time.
1. Don’t search like Google. Ask like a colleague.
A bare keyword tells the model nothing about what you actually need. Type a sentence: who, what, the issue in dispute, and the question you want answered. Treat the prompt as if you were briefing a junior colleague who hasn’t seen the file before.
2. Paste the actual challenge.
If you have had a letter, defence, Part 36 offer, expert report, skeleton or counsel’s note that triggered your question, copy and paste the relevant paragraph or two into the prompt. Then ask your question underneath.
This single habit is the most powerful one on the page. It anchors the question in the defendant’s own terminology — which is exactly what the retrieval system needs to find the right authorities — and it forces you to be specific about what is in dispute.
3. Tell us what you need.
The same fact pattern produces different answers depending on what you ask for. Be explicit. A short phrase at the end of the prompt is enough.
Useful framings
“What authorities should I cite?” — produces a focused list of cases with citations and key paragraphs.
“Draft me a paragraph for the reply.” — produces drafting in the right register.
“Is the defendant right?” — produces a critique of the defendant’s argument.
“What evidence do I need?” — produces a checklist of disclosure or witness evidence.
“Summarise the law.” — produces a concise statement of principles.
4. Be specific about facts.
You don’t need to keep saying “I act for the CHO” — the system already knows you’re acting on the claimant side and treats every question as a request for help defeating a defendant’s point unless you say otherwise. But the more concrete facts you give, the sharper the answer.
Facts that nearly always sharpen the answer
Hire period (start and end dates), daily rate, vehicle group, ACRISS or GTA code, claimant’s occupation, accident date, repair completion date or date of total loss notification, location, and the head of loss in dispute (need / period / rate / type / impecuniosity).
The relevant facts are [hire period, vehicle, claimant’s occupation, dates of repair / PAV, location, head of loss in dispute].
[What authorities should I cite? / Draft a paragraph for my reply / Is the defendant right? / What evidence do I need?]
5. One more thing.
The system answers every question through the claimant’s lens by default. If you genuinely want a defendant’s perspective on a point — for example to anticipate how an opposing argument will be framed — say so explicitly in the prompt. Otherwise the model will assume you want the claimant’s rebuttal.