Hi all, just wondering if anyone else has come across this? I’ve previously experienced one of my own reviews being altered..half of it is now gone, and just noticed that a specific review another member left for a host appears to have been edited and shortened as well.
It seems to be the part clarifying the dodging of stars that’s being removed, even though the wording is neutral and informational. As a result, these reviews and ratings now don’t make much sense to the reader. Obviously, it doesn’t reflect well on the person trying to give an honest review either (especially since so many fail to do so).
Has anyone else seen or experienced this? Thanks 
The only thing I noticed recently was looking back at previous sits to see which homeowners were still members.
My reviews have been 5 stars across the board but looking back some of the older reviews now show 4 stars. I assumed it was something to do with not having different categories to score back in the day.
My overall rating still shows as 5 stars so I am not too worried but if this happened to newer members with less reviews it could be an issue.
Are you saying that once a review is given, a homeowner can change it at any time? That makes no sense. How can that be.
@Seniorsitter Hosts don’t have that kind of access, but yes, my own original published review was later altered and edited.
As a homeowner I once had a review by a sitter edited. It was for a sitter that had sat for me multiple times and I think in trying to leave a longer substantial review (it was a glowing review), they left very pertinent info as to the location of my house leaving it very identifiable. I asked support services to remove this info and they did so for privacy reasons.
I have never noticed this but have never looked for it, either.
That seems ridiculous, to alter reviews, unless there is a safety issue similar to what @Manunited states.
Members are always begging everyone to leave honest reviews— just the facts, unemotional. THS should not alter reviews. Sitters and owners are able to respond to reviews, which is a good thing.
The readers should be able to read all of this and make their own assessment.
Unless your review included inappropriate details (anything allowing the reader to idenify the home , etc.) used defamatory language or stepped into areas legally questionable this is wrong on every level.
If you have the patience, I’d definitely encourage you to take it up with THS because this sets a scary and dangerous standard if they took part in this.
@toreishi The original review contained none of that; given the situation, it was perhaps even too diplomatic. The host’s retaliatory response did include defamatory language, which I have the right to report and request removed through broader channels and search engines.
THS’s stance and response is that they own the content and therefore have the right and authority to edit or remove it.
Wow…members beware! I guess we are “on our own” for real. That is really scary!
Hi @Twitcher
Having read your thread I have just looked at my reviews over the past 15 years. None of the ratings have changed.
Are you saying that ratings on some categories have changed to 4 but the overall rating is 5
Or that the overall ratings have reduced from 5 to 4?
In any event, this is quite disturbing!
I agree, and yes, people urge leaving honest reviews, contacting member services, and filing disputes. After posting about this particular housesit - which was a horrible experience- I did all of the above only to help prevent it from happening to others.
Even knowing, as many others do, that filing a dispute would likely only make things worse, I never in a million years expected my review to be altered on top of everything else.
Adjusting the truth and people’s words is the very opposite of Trusted
Wasn’t a member during the old review system or aware of this, so it’s good to know
Removing such information for privacy reasons absolutely makes sense, especially since all member profiles are publicly accessible. I never imagined any other type of editing took place until recently.
On the public site, it states: ‘Every review is written by a verified member after a sit is completed.’ …They might want to consider editing or removing that too
It’s a strange one @Itchyfeet. When I look at past sits on my dashboard some star ratings are missing altogether. Some are former members and some are current.
If I go to my profile (as a homeowner would see it) a couple show four stars where previously it was 5. One sit had no pets so presumably they left that category at 0. It didn’t affect the 5 star rating then but it does now.
No obvious reason for the other anomaly.
I’m not too concerned but definitely something to keep an eye on in the future.
@Mark_B @Jenny
is THS support looking into this concerning issue raised on this thread ?
The guidelines say reviews can’t be amended after they are posted . If there is a reason why THS edit a review , shouldn’t the person who wrote the review be informed of the reason by THS ?
Also concerning that sitters are being docked stars for pet care because they have done a house sit without any pets ( see post by @Smiley ) . This must be a programming error since hosts are not given a pet category to rate when there are no pets . That shouldn’t impact the overall rating of the house sitter .
Altered and edited, by whom? If THS, surely they should have informed you and given some explanation?
Can you share with us the detail of how it was amended?
Exactly my first thoughts, @Silversitters.
I suppose no answer is also an answer…
At no point was I informed of any intent to alter my review. When asked why, the explanation I received was that THS owns the content and therefore can edit or remove it at will.
I know now that if I ever find myself in a place where, for instance, the shower doesn’t work, and I send documentation and videos to THS, proof will make no difference. Writing about it in a review will make no difference either. It’s a poor look that listings lacking basic amenities remain accessible…it’s bad business to expel paying members/hosts too.
The solution, therefore, is delightfully simple: Remove the content. Problem solved.