Harassing Owner

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
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So I’m the woman who was looking after the meowing cats in Seattle. The lady has now returned and it’s turned from bad to worse.

One of the cats got out this morning so in my duty of care, I decided that I needed to stay there until the cat came back because we’re not allowed to leave the house if the cats aren’t in the house.

She called me from the airport and told me that she didn’t want me there when she came home. I’ve never met this woman before I took over from another Housesitter who bolted the next morning. She’s been incredibly rude to me the entire time and this was really quite horrible to experience this.

I left exactly 10 minutes before her Uber arrived and I definitely remember locking the door. And putting the key under the Poppy as she asked.

However, when she got there she told me the door was unlocked but I can now visually see myself locking that door. I know I did. It’s like when you know when you turn off a hairdryer I know I locked the door.

I scrubbed that house absolutely spotless, and she has gone through and told asked questions like had I even ever wiped down the bench? I knew that there was a possibility I’d get a bad review from this so I made sure that the entire apartment was absolutely spotless

There is a hole in one of the fly screens but He because you’re not allowed to have the windows open. I never had the windows open because I knew that you weren’t allowed to -apparently there is a hole in the screen. I’m just assuming it was a previous Housesitter.

The street cats that she got from Bali were a nightmare for those of you who don’t know.

I slept in my tent most nights. One of the cats had a scratch above her eye. I didn’t make a big deal about it because it was just a scratch. I put some antibiotic ointment on it that I found in the medicine cabinet and it was fine.

She’s now telling me that it’s a huge big gorge and she has to take it to the vet.

There are probably about 10 unread messages that I have seen pop-up so I’ve kind of read them on my phone but not responded.

It is total harassment and I’m sitting here at the airport in a complete state of anxiety. I called TrustedHousesitters To ask them to contact her and have Her stop contacting me and leave me alone and they said that it was me that needs to contact her and ask her not to respond.

I have 10 unread messages from this person. I’m just seeing them pop up on my phone. I’m too stressed and anxious to actually read any of them. I called TrustedHousesitters to ask them to contact her and stop racing me. But they said that I had to do that.

She is raising a complaint about me I just can’t believe that it’s got to this.

This is probably one of the worst experiences of my life. I’ve lived on three hours sleep every night since the beginning of July, I’m stressed as anything about not being able to work properly because I’ve been so tired, and I’m about to leave the country for a major 10 day hike in the wilderness. I don’t feel fit for that in any way shape or form.

Has anyone had any experience in disputes with TrustedHousesitters. I’ve got someone calling me tomorrow but my concern is, it just always seems The homeowner always gets the kudos.

I have 16 reviews five stars. This is just absolutely ridiculous.

Edited to meet Community Guidelines - Keep it kind - Community Rules

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I don’t have any words of advice as I don’t have any experience with raising a dispute with THS, but I just want to express my sympathy for what you’re going through. :disappointed:
As for the lady’s messages: would you feel comfortable blocking her on your phone?

Best of luck with solving this. :hibiscus:

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I would probably not block the HO.
Because all the messages she sends could also be a sort of evidence for later.

I don’t know if I would also would answer the messages. Because it is off course polite to do that and shows that you are willing to solve it.
On the other hand, if it is so worse and she bombed you with messages, I wouldn’t know if I would answer all the time.

And please, do mention the sitter before you leaving that soon…

Good luck

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I would read the messages even if you don’t respond, that won’t give her the excuse that you didn’t communicate with her. Send her a message saying to stop harassing you. Sounds like a nightmare sit. Leave a factual, unemotional review.

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I always take before and after pictures. If an owner is this way from the start, I’d take pictures and videos constantly of everything, including the animals before and after. I’d take a video of putting the key in the lock, locking the door and putting the key under the poppy.

It sounds like you have had a really awful experience. File a formal complaint right away. Try to avoid feeling powerless. Use the truth to keep yourself strong. Getting some good rest right away will help. Know this will pass eventually, but it will require some effort on your part to ride the wave through.

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I think most people who read your other thread were astonished that you remained at this sit, given the circumstances you related. Now this, sounds terrible!

I’d suggest you raise a member dispute about this pet parent, and don’t delay. Don’t just go through the usual communications channels with THS, or it won’t get investigated and you could find yourself suspended pending their investigation of YOU, if this PP does indeed raise a dispute herself.

Good luck!

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Really sorry about this - you have plenty of evidence that will back you up in the complaint against you as you were in touch with member services throughout the week last week .

You will have to raise a member dispute against the lady - but hopefully you already have done this as recommended last week ?

That is the only way that THS will investigate this lady . You provide the evidence and they investigate. Start with the
unliveable conditions , noise /screenshots of messages where hosts says that not allowed to open window - screenshots of the temperature of the location during your stay ( from a weather app )
undisclosed pet pehaviour your recordings of the noise etc etc .
Add this harassment from the lady to the member dispute - with screenshots of the messages to your phone ( showing how many and how frequently she is sending them ) .

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Yes, screenshot EVERYTHING before your account is locked.

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This is when it would be good to have all the messages going through the THS messaging system so there is no dispute of who said what, when.
Looking back and seeing what should have been done is so easy after the event. She has been a nightmare from the beginning, a video of the place when you arrived, pointing out all the home defects would have been good but, really, it definitely should not be needed. A picture of you locking the door and putting the key in the safe place also.
Please review this sit and warn potential sitters what it entails and the harassment you are getting now. Enjoy your wilderness hike. It’s probably what you need after all the agro.

And block her for your own sanity. Tell her all contact must be done through the THS site now.

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Oh man, I’m so sorry this happened to you.
Remember, it is this person who has the problem. It’s not your fault that she is like this.
I would block her. You’re not obliged to keep communicating. (I have had similar happen and I did block them.)
THS do not provide any emotional support whatsoever (I had a bad sit in the past - they just asked me to talk to the owner who was exploiting me). If you feel up to it, raise a complaint, but it might cause you more stress rather than help - up to you if you’re willing to try.
Best of luck, and I hope the hike will help you leave this behind you.

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Just writing to express my sympathy for all that you’ve been going through. You’ve been given great advice and I can only agree with what has been said. The lady clearly has mental health issues and please make sure you review this sit honestly so that no one else applies in the future. Hopefully THS will remove her from the site so important you raise a dispute even though it will be difficult. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
And definitely go on that hike, it will really help

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@Soultreader What a truly dreadful experience- I feel awful for you. I’ve just read your whole thread starting 12 days ago. What a complete nightmare.

We are in a similar situation except that we did not proceed with the sit- we left the same day with the owner still there. We got THS to cancel the sit officially (no reviews) & release our dates. We were invited to raise a dispute- which at the time- we declined- too much stress. The host has since raised her own dispute against us and we are currently suspended. Its not a nice position to be in. We’ve responded in full to the complaint and after encouragement by @Silversitters and others we are trying to raise our own dispute (which I encourage you to do too). Its very stressful trying to get through to the right people to get this actioned. I was on the chat line again yesterday requesting an update on our case and again on raising a dispute. The chat lady reassured me the case manager was on the case but still no update and now its the weekend…no action.
But we are not giving up till we get our profile live again and the case resolved in our favour.
I also understand your reluctance to leave the sit (high costs, fear of fall out etc) but you were very brave to stick it out especially as you were alone- that was all very damaging for your mental health. I hope you can recover quickly from it. No sit is worth that level of suffering.
We would still be on our sit now and I’m so glad we left- even though its a high cost on accom in high season (no other sits where we are).

Please don’t ever put yourself through this kind of abuse again- though I’m sure you won’t- this has been such a big experience for you. :pray: I hope your hiking trip will help clear your head, refresh you and start the mental healing process.
I wish you all the best :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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I agree sometimes it’s easier to get over things just to let it go and turn the page but in this case and given @Lokstar experience, I would raise a dispute as soon as I possibly could. She won’t be able to put this behind her if the owner is raising the dispute anyway so I see no reason not to go ahead with the dispute.
@Soultreader just get as much evidence as you can and be prepared to answer all the owners complaints. They will probably ask if you took due diligence in preventing the cats from escaping. That is only possible weak point that I can see. I think all your contacts with customers service should help you prove your point but it seems they are not connected with the dispute section so you take screenshots of everything before they suspend you if the owner goes ahead with her dispute.
I’m really sorry you’re going through all this and it’s so unfair, after all the effort you put staying till the end in such horrible conditions. I hope you enjoy your hiking experience and get fully over this nightmare soon.
Best of luck

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It just occured to me…if you have other sits scheduled and your account is locked…is that interfering with accessing host info?

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I’ve asked her not to contact me anymore and advised I’ve made a formal complaint. :woman_shrugging:t2:

I have someone from THS calling me at 2pm today to go over everything. So hopefully that’s a good sign.

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Thanks. Yes have call in with THS today.

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I’m so sorry this is happening. It really is unfair and I think TrustedHousesitters needs to be made aware of how skewed this all seems to be.

This is what really concerns me is. The housesitters seem to be taking a second priority over all of this. Our services are free and we get free accommodation. However they get their pets looked after in the comfort of their homes. Which is a huge savings financially plus security for their pet.

I think something has to be done to support us more.

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Thanks, I had a call with someone this afternoon. I’ll update everyone how it Worked out

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Keep track of who you spoke with and when and the call content. It is bound to get muddled when you consider:

  1. your THS contact during the sit
  2. your contact re HO complaint
  3. your contact re your own complaint

AND don’t think for a minute that all these are being stitched together behind the scenes by THS. More likely that it will all be handled in separate ‘silos’

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@HelloOutThere Good question!