Recently I’ve been invited to a sitting where the PP offered to pay for the service and for the travels.
I forwarded the message to the Support team and I also highlighted some practice that they do.
While I won’t be accepting the invitation as I don’t want to get money involved (it also breaches the THS rules), I feel quite concerned about this practice.
From the reply I got from Support, it seems though that the main issue is about the money involved.
I raised the point that despite I won’t accept the invitation, I am still concerned for any possible other applicants.
I got the answer that “they cannot open an investigation based upon any member’s personal practices.
In regards to members applying for the sit, they will have access to all of the sit information and will be able to make an informed choice whether or not the sit would fit their needs and preferences.”
I still think that this could be a possible risk as some people might be naive or think that there is nothing wrong with that.
THS do vetting on both sitters and Pet parents, but I think that there should be some further investigation in case something sounds a bit dodgy.
Technically I think it is within terms, as a host can offer but a sitter could not ask for money?
I would see it as somewhat of a red flag and wonder why they can’t get a sitter in an ordinary way. So I would look at listing and reviews really closely and for sure have a video-call if I considered it. But sometimes also a good host might really struggle, so I guess it isn’t totally unthinkable that it could be a nice host and a nice sit. But as you highlighted some practice there might be other breaches. When I see suggestions of money it is for instance often involvement in some kind of business (AirBnB and other) which is breach of terms in its own right.
Have they used THS before @Mokina? If so, what were reviews like from both them and the sitters? Perhaps they don’t understand the equal exchange and no money changes hands. For a sitter to accept their money, it really means they are then “working” for them and are beholden to them. They may have very little freedom. Where you have been invited by the owner and not applied for their sit, you could simply ask why they have offered payment where it is a free, equal exchange. I’m sure we’d be interested to know what they say.
It would not be a red flag for me. They may think you are traveling a long way and have expenses and they feel grateful and this is their way of thanking you. I would ask them why they are offering money on this type of platform. I think they would be wiser to just leave a generous gift card to the nearest grocery store or a nice restaurant.
@Mokina, an unusual situation. The ballpark financial values are unclear, as travel costs vary a whole lot.
I’d agree with suggestion by @Garfield to increase due diligence to ascertain the reason for the offered payment. Perhaps there’s a material concern. Perhaps they’re just being kind.
We’ve never asked for payment. On two occasions, prior to sit confirmation then a Pet Parent has kindly offered to pay the cost of a car rental during the housesit (we perceived as thoughtful incentive to accept sit). Several other Pet Parents have, at end of housesit, voluntarily provided us with a financial or non-financial gift as an expression of gratitude. And for context, we’ve also left basic foods and/or gifts for Pet Parents as a welcome-home gesture or to recognize an enjoyable sit experience.
Provided everything is voluntary and modest then we don’t see any issue.
Did they say why they be offering? Are they new? Do they know how THS works? Does anything else seem off? Why did they choose you?
With the repeat sit I just wrapped, my hosts offered to cover my airfare if I’d return a month after my first sit with them. They loved how well I got along with their skittish indoor / outdoor cats, who don’t typically bond with strangers. They volunteered the airfare, which is allowed under THS terms — hosts can offer, but sitters can’t ask.
It worked out, because my hosts could completely relax during their travels, as they mentioned in their review. And as hosts, they’re welcoming, gracious and easy to communicate with. I enjoyed my repeat sit and love their cats, home, neighborhood and city, but I wouldn’t have returned so soon at my expense. I also rarely accept repeats, preferring variety, but I happen to have plenty of friends in their city.
They were happy — gave me another rave review and said they’d like to have me back. Said their cats miss me.
What you’re describing sounds like a pretty common scam often attempted against petsitters, nannies, private tutors, and other people offering services. It might seem as an “unpaid” site, THS would be immune from this, but I could also see how scammers would think it was perfect.
Here’s how it works:
A sitter/tutor/nanny/eldercare giver gets offered a too good to be true deal. Some wealthy person who is VERY busy and often just moving to an area desperately needs your services and is thrilled to have found you. They offer you more than your going rate for something that sounds much easier than what you usually do. They even send you a big check in advance! You deposit the check. But then something has gone wrong and it’s going to be for a shorter time or something so they ask you to please return X amount of dollars in the form of a check to them. And you do! And then the check you sent them is bad and you are out all the money. And I know this sounds like something you’d never fall for, but enough do I guess to keep the scammers in business.
Many places that sell leads for jobs or match people to paying jobs regularly warn people about such scams and may have “report” buttons to help people avoid such scams. THS doesn’t.
There are probably other ways dishonest indivudals could probably figure out ways to make money from a “free” sitting/accomodation site.
@Garfield According to Support team, it is a breach. To be honest I haven’t searched further in the T&Cs, but it is ok as I won’t apply for it anyway.
This is a first sitting, there are no previous reviews.
The pets look adorable and the setting seems to be in a beautiful location, though isolated and there’s no mention of car that can be used. I live 3000 km from the place and have been invited one week before the start. I would have a few doubts just on this.
The pair do some spirituality. I do practise meditation myself, but from the description it sounds a bit weird to me, like it was a sect or who knows what.
Hosts CAN give a tip or a small gift, as a sign of gratitude. It’s sitters that can’t ask for anything. There’s nothing wrong with it at all. I have no no idea why you think it’s a scam, we’ve had a couple of hosts offer us money and we just kindly refuse, because we love sitting… but we happily accept gifts of any sort.
Perhaps you didn’t word things clearly when you spoke to THS, or perhaps you didn’t fully understand their answer, because if it had breached their rules, they’d be able to look into it. There is no breach here, a tip is allowed, with no boundaries on what that means, it’s up to the host.
@Maggie8K They didn’t say why, yes they are new, I don’t know why they chose me, how would I know?! They probably sent the same invitation to other sitters.
@HappyDeb “Perhaps you didn’t word things clearly when you spoke to THS” THS looked directly at the message that was sent by the HO on to me, I think it was clear enough.
“or perhaps you didn’t fully understand their answer” what does make you think that I am not able to understand? I can copy and paste the answer in here: “I’ve taken a look at the messages and can see that they did offer to pay you for the sit, as this BREACHES our policies I will be reaching out to this member to educate them on exactly how the platform works.”
Regarding their practice, activity or business however you want to call it, I sent another email to Support team and highlight it again as a possible concern for other sitters. Support team came back to me “I do appreciate the potential concerns regarding this situation and I have reached out to the Pet parent to gather more information.” Based on this comment, I guess it is not just about my feelings, perhaps it is worth it to have this sitting checked.
Maybe it is just me being too alert, but I think it is better to be on the safe side.
Well, you’re free to ask. And if whatever info they offer and any answers you might get weren’t to your liking, you could decide whether it was a legit opportunity.
A number of people — hosts and sitters — know little, if anything, about how THS works. They often stumble.
@Mokina
Alerting member services about your concerns is the best you can do . If other sitters also have concerns and they report it too, then perhaps THS will take it more seriously.
Some people moan about listings or sitters or sitters that seriously breach the T&Cs but then don’t follow through by reporting their concerns to THS .
So I think you did the right thing if this sit seemed “dodgy”. So many times on the forum we read about members who have regrets that they didn’t listen to their “gut” instinct about a listing or a sitter.
I also understand THS standpoint that there is little action that they can take about a listing or member without firm “evidence “ of a breach .
@Maggie8K It could be because I practise meditation and because I am a woman (they prefer female applicants). Other than that, as I won’t accept the invitation, I’m not going to invest more time in trying to find out. I left it with the Support team who, hopefully, they’ll try to get some more information.
Who knows? Maybe I’m here worrying about some potential risk and one day we’ll read a review of a very happy sitter
In the meantime, thank you all for the attention and for your very much appreciated sharing.
They probably sent the same invitation to other sitters.