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Scope Creep Boundary Reply

Draft a reply about an additional request: Customer message: {customer_message} Agreed scope and relevant agreement wording: {agreed_scope} Work completed or committed: {work_status} Requested change: {requested_change} Confirmed impact on cost, timing or deliverables, or unknown: {impact} Authorized options and approval process: {options_and_approval} Tone, channel and length: {tone_channel_length} Compare the request with the supplied agreement. If clearly outside scope, acknowledge it, explain the boundary without blame and offer authorized next steps. If ambiguous, clarify first instead of asserting the customer is wrong. Distinguish existing commitments from proposals. Never invent charges, deadlines, clauses, free extras or a right to stop agreed work. Do not imply additions are approved or started. Return an internal scope assessment citing supplied wording or noting ambiguity, a ready-to-send reply ending with one approval or clarification request, and details to confirm. Check that existing commitments are preserved and unapproved estimates are not presented as final.

Tip: fill in the {brackets}

Swap every highlighted bit for your real details before you paste. The more specific you are, the less generic the answer.

What it does

Helps explain scope boundaries without inventing fees or escalating the conversation.

When to use it

When a customer requests work that may go beyond an existing agreement.

FAQ

What if the agreement is unclear?

The prompt asks for clarification rather than declaring the request outside scope.

Will it price the extra work?

Only when you supply an authorized price or estimate and its status; otherwise pricing needs confirmation.

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