Direct quote from the listing ‘ For added peace of mind, the property is secured with both external and internal security cameras.”
Just a quick question for the forum. Why are HO listing not screened or removed or at least contacted about these blatant violations THS policy?
edit/addendum - the mod removed the link to the listing in this post per the T&C, but THS allows the HO listing to remain on the site despite the blatant violation of the T&C. Oh, the irony
Update: I have reported this to THS via email and Frankie. The listing persists, and this is the level of care and response we’ve come to expect from THS.
Just wondering: I read somewhere that this is allowed, as long as the HO is telling this upfront. It might be interesting to ask at which level the camera’s inside the property are. Bedroom? Bathroom? What do they with the video’s? Even when the HO is of good intention and use it as a security against burglars, how is the privacy of the pet sitters protected against the use of video for hackers maybe using AI, with purposes to get more online ‘drama-clicks’ for their internet platform.
It is today a different time compared to the past…
Thanks for confirming. So, my original question is why does THS not screen for these blatant violations of the T&C.
AND, when listings are reported (twice today) for violations, specifically for indoor cameras, THS does nothing about it.
We are expected to police our own community, with very little help or support from THS
My guess is this is the resolution - the homeowner will remove the reference to indoor cameras. The cameras will still be there and the sitter’s privacy and safety will be violated and come last. Thanks, THS.
I love the spin the owners have put on this - ‘for added peace of mind’! Noooo!!! Indoor cameras, as well as being against THS Ts and Cs, are decidedly creepy when used when anyone other than the owners are in residence.
Ok. That is remarkable!!! Then I have this from the Airbnb I assume. When I read the posts it sometimes appears to me that it might be a challenge, marketing wise, to attract more house and pet owners to this platform, when TH is stretching the rules. This is not an excuse or so, just something I ask myself.
Up till now we only have had excellent experiences, but the video call or meeting in person is important. Letting go of ‘ideal sits’ when someone ask - which happened to us - How long we sleep? 8-0 - It is not always about the question itself, but about the tone and context. Some contexts are … not for us…
Stay safe and keep your heart warm and head cool. Thank you for putting time and effort to warn us!
The listings are there because THS don’t read them. They take the money of whoever signs up, especially owners, and don’t check what they put on their profile.
My sarcastic/not sarastic response as to why THS doesn’t police this blatantly abusive and potentially illegal practise ( What do HO’s do with captured videos and pics !?!) is that they -THS- have no incentive to do so.
It doesn’t affect their bottom line; it takes time and effort; and, there will always be sitters who are ok with having their privacy invaded.
@SitFeesDestroyCommunity, it is not clear whether you observed this listing on THS platform or are actively sitting a property with internal cameras.
If you observed a listing - THS Forum members have repeatedly encouraged THS to launch a ‘report’ button to aid their team to identify, educate or remove pet parents or housesitters that clearly breach THS policies. Without such a facility then there is probably nothing that you - or anyone can do.
If you are on a related housesit - raise a THS Member Dispute. This protocol seems to be how THS formally investigates, assesses and resolves significant breaches of THS terms & conditions.
For context, below is url to another Forum Thread re ‘listings getting through the net’ - over 370 posts on related topics. THS level of enforcement of its policies seems unclear, but evidently a steady stream of non-compliant listings continue to be made.
@SitFeesDestroyCommunity I’ve always had fast and good outcomes when reporting listings. Also the mods on this forum have no authority to do anything about reported listings, they can only refer it to “the team” if it is, in fact, reported on the forum. Things like this listing slip through often unfortunately and the reasons for that are not always as it seems. All we can do is report and hope it is resolved.
I think it’s across the board that non compliant listings get through- these include but are not exclusive to the following:
3rd parties on site (a husband in one case whilst the wife was away)
Animals with known history for biting/fighting
Dirty and unsafe homes
No photos of the inside of the home
Cameras
If I’m feeling ‘bothered’ I’ll report it but this can lead to multiple automated THS emails, which is even more admin…. often I simply haven’t got the Bandwidth to deal with the process of reporting, so I skip past those listings. A few come to the Forum mystified by why they’re not getting any applications.
Just this quote does not necessarily mean that they are breaking THS T&Cs. What these terms require is
Any internal cameras or recording devices must be disabled for the entire duration of the sit.
Sometimes there’s a system of cameras with an alarm that is set up when you leave the property. The fact that they mention “added peace of mind” might mean that.
Exactly THIS . Security cameras (in and out) are so common these days it would be ludricrous for THS to exclude homes that have them inside. We have them in and out for security. If you live in a big city, small city, tourist town, ghost town - break ins happen, petty theft happens. We choose to go the extra mile and have the deterrent with signs. If a sitter sees a listing with cameras / security system they do not like, move along. Period.
We disable the inside camera as needed, and we disclose that we have a security system and cameras in our listing. One time we forgot to unplug it before we left (this was a private sitter), not a problem - we remembered, told her, she unplugged it. I am now a sitter with Dual Membership, I simply asked the homeowner we just sat for if she had ANY cameras, the answer was no. If the answer was yes, I would have asked her to disable any inside cameras.
Here is a clip re cameras from THS as it is TODAY for those who are not sure what it actully says.
. Security cameras (in and out) are so common these days it would be ludricrous for THS to exclude homes that have them inside. We have them in and out for security. If you live in a big city, small city, tourist town, ghost town - break ins happen, petty theft happens. We choose to go the extra mile and have the deterrent with signs. If a sitter sees a listing with cameras / security system they do not like, move along. Period.