Frustration over cancelled sit and new booking fee

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
1

We’re housesitting in the UK later this year for three and a half months and have just had a three-week sit cancelled.

We went to the trouble of booking all of our sits prior to the new booking fee being introduced thinking that our plans were all organised.

Because there isn’t a comparable sit available to fill the three week timeframe, we now have to piece together three shorter sits to fill the gap in our itinerary — and therefore pay three separate booking fees.

It’s frustrating because the cancellation was completely outside our control. This is actually the second sit that’s been cancelled on this trip alone, which is definitely adding to the frustration. Not only have we been inconvenienced by the homeowner changing their plans, but we now end up paying more just to maintain the trip we had already organised.

I’m starting to get concerned about what else might be cancelled prior to our sits starting. Between the booking fee and the lack of planning security, I’m beginning to question whether I want to continue with Trusted Housesitters.

2

It sucks, and it does seem like the wheels are falling off. Travelling is becoming more problematic with the current world situation affecting on so many levels.

3

I just had an owner shorten a sit from 5 to 3 days. Since they changed the dates in the platform, I had to pay the booking fee again.

So because of the owner, I paid twice for a shorter sit. I’m sad.

4

You should be refunded for the cancelled dates and only charged once per T&Cs. Please update as to final billing outcome.

5

I would write to support. My understanding is that if a sit is canceled, which it has to be in order to change the date, the first fee should be returned. Not defending fees! Just saying you should be able to get a refund

6

Your situation may make upgrading to premium membership worthwhile as a hedge against last minute cancelations and rebooking fees. Last minute cancelations would then be covered by the sit cancelation benefit.

Based on the demand imbalance between sitters and hosts in the UK, I’d think you wouldn’t have much trouble finding replacement sits even last minute. It’d be great to hear from you in a few months whether that proved out or not.

7

We were on Premium but lowered the subscription level when we weren’t using the platform for a year. Being my first experience with the fees, it didn’t occur to me that this would be a problem.

8

If you are in the UK it might be hard to meet “the no suitable sits within 20 miles” criteria for insurance. In my short time on the forum it feels like there has been a shift from the worry that sitters might cancel to now more hosts are cancelling.:thinking:

9

It’s early days with the booking fees and it’s likely THS didn’t anticipate these kinds of problems. Have you contacted customer service? They seem to have some latitude in adjusting fees.