C
Chamber
Back to docs

Telegram Bot

Telegram Bot

Chamber's Telegram bot lets you add expenses on the go using text messages or receipt photos. The AI automatically parses your messages and extracts expense details.

Table of Contents

What is the Telegram Bot?

The Telegram bot provides a convenient way to track expenses from your phone:

Features:

  • Add expenses by sending text messages
  • Upload receipt photos for AI parsing
  • Send PDF receipts
  • Works from anywhere with internet
  • Faster than opening the web app
  • Great for capturing expenses immediately

How It Works:

  1. Link your Telegram account to Chamber
  2. Send messages or photos to the bot
  3. AI extracts expense details
  4. Expenses appear in your Chamber account

Linking Your Account

Step 1: Find Your Linking Code

  1. Log in to Chamber web app
  2. Go to Telegram in the sidebar
  3. Your 6-digit linking code is displayed
  4. Code expires in 30 minutes

Step 2: Start the Bot

  1. Open Telegram on your phone
  2. Search for @ChamberBot (or the bot username shown in Chamber)
  3. Tap "Start" or send /start

Step 3: Link Your Account

  1. Send the linking code to the bot:

    /start 123456

    (Replace 123456 with your actual code)

  2. Bot confirms:

    ✅ Account linked successfully!
You can now send expenses to Chamber.

Connection Status

In the Chamber web app, the Telegram page shows:

  • ✅ Linked - Your account is connected
  • ❌ Not Linked - Link your account to use the bot

Refresh: Click "Refresh" to check current status

Generate New Code: Click "Generate Code" if your code expired

Supported Commands

/start

Starts the bot and links your account.

Usage:

/start 123456

/unlink

Disconnects your Telegram account from Chamber.

Usage:

/unlink

Note: This stops the bot from creating expenses. You can relink anytime.

/help

Shows help message with available commands.

Usage:

/help

Adding Expenses via Text

Simply send a message describing your expense. The AI extracts:

  • Amount
  • Category
  • Description
  • Merchant (if mentioned)

Text Message Examples

Simple Expense:

Spent $50 on groceries

→ Amount: $50, Category: Food, Description: Groceries

Detailed Expense:

Paid $120 for electricity bill at State Power Company

→ Amount: $120, Category: Bills, Description: Electricity bill, Merchant: State Power Company

Restaurant:

Lunch at Subway $15.50

→ Amount: $15.50, Category: Food, Description: Lunch, Merchant: Subway

Transportation:

Uber ride to airport $35

→ Amount: $35, Category: Travel, Description: Uber ride to airport, Merchant: Uber

Shopping:

Bought a new phone case on Amazon for $12.99

→ Amount: $12.99, Category: Shopping, Description: Phone case, Merchant: Amazon

Tips for Text Messages

  1. Include amount - Always mention the amount
  2. Be specific - "Starbucks coffee $5" vs "coffee $5"
  3. Mention merchant - Helps with tracking
  4. Use currency - $, ₹, €, £ are recognized
  5. Natural language - Write as you'd tell a friend

Confirmation Messages

After parsing, the bot sends:

✅ Expense added successfully!

Amount: $50.00
Category: Food
Description: Groceries
Merchant: Whole Foods

From account: Bank Account

Adding Expenses via Receipt Photos

Take a photo of a receipt and send it to the bot. The AI extracts details from the image.

Supported Receipts

  • Restaurant bills
  • Store receipts
  • Invoices
  • Gas station receipts
  • Any printed receipt

How to Send Receipts

  1. Tap the attachment icon in Telegram
  2. Choose "Photo"
  3. Take or select a receipt photo
  4. Send to the bot

Tip: Take clear, well-lit photos for best results.

What the AI Extracts

From receipt images, the AI extracts:

  • Total amount - The final amount paid
  • Merchant name - Store or restaurant name
  • Date - Transaction date
  • Items - Sometimes individual items (if readable)
  • Category - Based on merchant type

Confirmation

✅ Expense added from receipt!

Amount: $47.23
Category: Food
Description: Dinner
Merchant: Olive Garden
Date: March 15, 2024

Receipt saved successfully.

Photo Quality Tips

Good Photos:

  • ✅ Well-lit
  • ✅ Flat, no wrinkles
  • ✅ Entire receipt visible
  • ✅ Text is readable

Avoid:

  • ❌ Blurry images
  • ❌ Shadows covering text
  • ❌ Folded/crumpled receipts
  • ❌ Angled photos

Adding Expenses via PDF

Send PDF receipts or invoices to the bot.

How to Send PDFs

  1. Tap the attachment icon
  2. Choose "File"
  3. Select a PDF
  4. Send to the bot

Note: The bot extracts text from the PDF and parses it like a receipt photo.

Duplicate Detection

Chamber prevents duplicate expenses from Telegram.

How It Works

When you send an expense, Chamber checks:

  • Same amount
  • Same or similar description
  • Within 5 minutes of a previous entry

If a duplicate is detected:

⚠️ Possible duplicate detected

Similar expense already added:
- Amount: $50.00
- Description: Groceries
- Time: 2 minutes ago

This expense was not added. If this is different, try again with more details.

Why Duplicates Happen

  • Sending the same message twice
  • Receipt photo + text description
  • Network issues causing resends

Avoiding Duplicates

  1. Wait for confirmation before sending again
  2. If adding details, edit the original message
  3. Check expense list if unsure

Unlinking Your Account

To disconnect Telegram:

Method 1 - Via Telegram:

/unlink

Method 2 - Via Chamber:

  1. Go to Telegram page
  2. Click "Unlink Account"

What Happens:

  • Bot stops creating expenses
  • Past expenses remain
  • You can relink anytime
  • Your data is not deleted

Troubleshooting

Bot Not Responding

Check:

  1. Is your account still linked? Check Chamber web app
  2. Try sending /start again
  3. Check if the bot is online

Expenses Not Appearing

Check:

  1. Wait a few seconds - there's a small delay
  2. Refresh the Chamber web app
  3. Check your internet connection
  4. Check if AI parsing failed (see error messages)

Wrong Category/Amount

The AI isn't perfect. If parsing is wrong:

  1. Edit the expense in the web app
  2. When texting, be more specific
  3. For receipts, ensure photo quality is good

Linking Code Expired

Solution:

  1. Go to Chamber → Telegram
  2. Click "Generate New Code"
  3. Use the new code within 30 minutes

"Account Already Linked" Error

Solution:

  • Your Telegram is already linked to another Chamber account
  • Unlink first, then relink

Receipt Not Parsing

Try:

  1. Better lighting
  2. Flatten the receipt
  3. Closer photo (but not blurry)
  4. Manual entry via web app

Privacy & Security

  • Receipts are stored securely in Cloudflare R2
  • Only you can access your expenses
  • Telegram messages are processed by AI and not stored
  • Your data is never shared with third parties

Best Practices

  1. Link Telegram - Makes expense tracking much faster
  2. Send immediately - Don't wait, capture expenses while fresh
  3. Use natural language - No need for special formats
  4. Keep receipts - Upload photos for important purchases
  5. Check confirmations - Verify AI parsed correctly
  6. Edit if needed - Fix any mistakes in web app
  7. Keep bot handy - Add to Telegram favorites

Supported Currencies

The bot recognizes:

  • $ (USD)
  • ₹ (INR)
  • € (EUR)
  • £ (GBP)

Expenses are stored in your preferred currency from settings.

Related Features

Questions? See the FAQ or Troubleshooting Guide.