Do pet sitters have a background and credit check done before they sit? Also do you know if the house owner needs one as well . Thanks!
Hi there,
All sitters are ID verified via the site, and U.S sitters only are criminal background checked. There are no other checks done via THS and no credit checks. Owners do not require any checks. Hope that helps 
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Why a credit check?
THS does not do credit checks. Not sure where you are, but in the US these are commonly done by landlords or if you are applying for a loan. THS does do a third party criminal background check for sitters. However, I can’t find any clear informaiton on what “passing” this check means or whether or not for instance a person with a revealed criminal history would be allowed to use the site. Therefore, to me this is a form of security theater. Maybe it keeps some people with extensive police records from applying but I don’t think it’s helpful. There are no criminal background checks for hosts. I do remember having to produce a drivers license or some ID when I applied initially as a host. I must’ve had something as when I combined my membership I just paid more and didn’t have to supply additional information.
For both sitters and homeowners there aren’t a lot of safety checks and THS is a matching site so if your sitter turns out to be a criminal, don’t expect much help from THS. Also if your host has a dungeon and you are never heard from again, your survivors won’t be able to sue THS. This is why both sides need to use common sense and vet carefully. It’s also why honest reviews are important.
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thank you!
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well, it gives you an idea how responsible someone is.
so I guess you don’t use this site anymore?
I use the site frequently as both a sitter and a homeowner. However, I don’t think of the site as a “service” that is going to ensure that sitters and homes are safe. I understand it as what it is: a matching site. This is why I am careful and do my best to vet the sitters I invite to my home and the sits I apply to and accept.
It’s no more or less safe than using other means to have a sitter in your home or to sit in homes. Let me put it another way: If I go to booking dot com to get a hotel, and the hotel is not as described and is really awful and scary, I can write a review about my terrible experience. I can also complain to booking and maybe they’ll take it off the site maybe they won’t, but I don’t expect booking.com to protect me from staying at a terrible hotel.
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@Grace1215 Do keep in mind this is a mutually free exchange. We are not professional sitters being paid for our services. We largely do it for the love of animals and to experience a different location to where we normally reside. Our reviews are our currency, for both owner and sitter.
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@Grace1215 If you put into the spyglass at top right corner ID and Credit Check, there is a post from Dec '23 on what you are asking about.
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A credit check can show how responsible someone is, but the question is whether they think it worthwhile when so many other hosts don’t ask for such.
And personally, even though I have strong credit, I think it’s over the top to ask a voluntary sitter for one. In a heartbeat, I’d skip any host who asked for such. And I bet so would most sitters.
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We’re with @Maggie8K on not giving an HO a credit check. This is a platform of mutual exchange - free pet care for free accomm - references, reviews, a nice application, a strong profile and a video call should more than suffice @Grace1215. Especially as you’re a new host so the sitter would be taking a risk on your listing & background info. #allabouttrust
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Thank you for your input!