I’m currently on a rural housesit that I accepted with the understanding that a car would be available, this was stated in the listing and discussed with the host prior to my arrival. My top reason for accepting this housesit because I thought I’d have a car. However, on the day I arrived, the host told me the car had suddenly developed transmission issues. She said she’d stay longer to fix it, but that didn’t happen. Instead, she very casually told me I could still drive it under 30 mph and, if it broke down, to “just leave it and call a taxi.”
I made it clear to her that I don’t feel the car is safe to drive and that I’m not comfortable risking getting stranded on a rural road in another country. Before she left, I told her again that I was disappointed not to have access to a car and was worried about feeling confined. She did give me some money for taxis, which I appreciated, but it’s definitely not enough to cover transportation for the full sit. Unfortunately, she didn’t let me know the situation until the day she left, so I had no time to make other plans (like arranging a rental).
Another sitter suggested I post here and possibly reach out to THS. I’ve done several sits before that went really well, so this is disappointing. I wanted to stick it out, but I’m having second thoughts.
Has anyone dealt with something similar? What does THS typically do in these situations beyond contacting the host? I’d really appreciate any input or advice.
The best thing would really be to leave the sit when it happened, as at that point it was undisclosed facts of the sit. Since you have taken on the sit knowing it this would make it harder. If you want to leave you could say that you wanted to try but it isn’t possible.
I don’t know how long the sit is, but the choices are really to hang in there, to barter with host or to leave the sit. It isn’t really grounds to cancel re the terms at this point I would assume - but it is a voluntary service and no one can force you. ( It could also make it better if you stay knowing that you have chosen it and isn’t forced).
Could something be organized by the owner? Why can’t the vehicle be taken to a shop and fixed? What is the possibilities re. transport? Could you for instance get a lift to the grocery store once a week with a friend or neighbor, etc.
A car being provided is ctually a bonus. I know it is disappointinmg but equally it must have been frustrating for the owner. These things happen. It sounds like she has left you money to pay for taxi’s, so I assume you will be alright for getting food supplies, although there are usually home delivery services anyway. I don’t know how long the sit is but if only a couple of weeks then easy to just go with it for now. And yu can still use the car if going less than 30mph. Always take taxi numbers with you just in case.
I have been very direct with the host. So we have been trying to work it out. She offered to pay for a few days on a rental. Rentals here are extremely expensive. There are a few places in town I could take a taxi to and see how much it is. Thanks for your input.
She told me a few hours before she was leaving that she wasn’t getting the car fixed and for me to just drive under 30 mph. The sit if for 2 months. I told her I will see how this week goes and follow up with her. We have already discussed a plan B in case I depart. In this area there aren’t many car repair shops and the repairs seem to be costly as it is a transmission issue. So she doesn’t want to just do it quickly. She needs to be here to find the proper shop to do it. I won’t be able to take care of the car repairs while she is away. She did provide taxi money that I will be using to go to the grocery store. The money she provided won’t help with much else.
The car was part of the house sit and one of the top reasons I picked a rural sit. I knew I would be able to get around when needed. I told her this prior to my arrival. So it’s more than disappointing. There aren’t any delivery services in the area. So a car was a definite must have for me. She left enough money for a few grocery store runs. But this is a 2 month house sit. I will not be driving an unsafe car and get stuck on a rural highway in a foreign country. Thanks for your input.
I’m wondering how long the car has been a problem, I’ll bet a while. 2 months is a long time for the HO to expect you to be in this predicament. I can’t really offer any additional advice to what has already been suggested. I, like you, wouldn’t want to attempt driving her car. That would risk it breaking down somewhere, you having to leave it (as she suggests) and it possibly getting stolen or removed.
I think the car has not been in good shape for a while and she was hoping you would be OK with a car driving only 30 miles an hour which sounds very unsafe. She made no attempt to bring it to a mechanic. Two months is a long time to be isolated. I would tell her to have a rental car delivered or give her notice to leave. She sounds like a bit of a scammer.
This is a case of the host not seeing a major problem and the sitter does. The broken car is not a problem for her, she’s away on holiday but it leaves you isolated for two months. The host has three choices
Get the car fixed asap
Pay for a rental car for you (the car was a major influence for you to take the sit)
Or look for another sitter who has their own transport
Give her these three choices with a 48 hour deadline. I don’t think anyone would blame you for cutting short this sit.
Good luck and let us know how it ends.
I also believe the car has had issues for awhile and she assumed I would be ok with driving it because she drives it. I don’t think she was upfront and just really needed a sitter and used the car to encourage sitters to apply. 2 months is a long time without transportation in a rural area. The taxis will get expensive and isn’t an expense I expected to incur. Thanks for your input.
I could definitely understand your dilemma here. This is a major change in circumstances where you would not have accepted the sit in the first place had the car not been available, so I think that is reasonable grounds for leaving if she cannot provide you with a working vehicle.
It is not reasonable for her to think there isn’t any sort of issue because the car is technically able to be driven. I would not feel comfortable driving a car in need of such a major repair for two months. And even if she did offer to pay for taxi fare, that is not the same as having a vehicle that will allow you to come and go as you please.
We only rented a car for one international sit back in 2021 in Panama…being it was during Covid there wasn’t a whole lot of traveling going on and we were really itching to get out of the country for a bit. We found a decent deal and just splurged a bit.
But generally, we don’t do sits that require renting a car because I think in most cases, the extra expense is not worth it for us personally.
While we would probably explore a bit more if we had a means of getting around, generally we don’t mind just staying around the immediate area, and the car would probably mainly be used for food shopping.
Having traveled so much over the last 14 years, even the most interesting places are still just another place at the end of the day so we don’t feel compelled to visit any particular place if doing so would cost us large sums of money.
So if we booked a sit specifically because we were being provided a car, but then got there and found out it is no longer available, we would not be okay with taking on the expense of a rental.
@AbroadLife5
If I’d agreed a sit with the promise of a car and then found the car not available or not functioning safely- for a 2 month sit- I would feel seriously let down. It would spoil the whole experience to have the freedom of car use removed and for me this would be grounds to cancel. You are already experiencing inconvenience without a car and the anticipation of further inconvenience and costs if you stay. It sounds like the host has not been honest with you and I think you’ll grow very resentful if you continue the sit. In your circumstances I would give her notice to cancel. Inform THS of the situation too, and your reason for wishing to cancel, so that leaving the sit cannot be held against you. (I speak from experience ) You are not a slave, you are unpaid and did not sign up for 2 months of hassle, inconvenience and extra costs. I hope you can work things out satisfactorily- good luck!
) You are not a slave, you are unpaid and did not sign up for 2 months of hassle, inconvenience and extra costs. I hope you can work things out satisfactorily- good luck! 