I have a message in my inbox that says the home/pet owner has unconfirmed the sit, but hasn’t said anything to me about it. Is it possible for the owner to reopen a listing for more applicants after we’ve already both agreed to a sit confirmation? That doesn’t seem fair. I’m currently waiting on a response to my friendly message asking them what’s up… Is this common? It makes me nervous to realize that HOs can easily revoke the agreement and start looking for someone else without communicating at all. Has this happened to anyone else?
Yes, I had an owner unconfirm a sit without any communication just a few days before it was to begin. I thought it was an error. I wrote them immediately and had no response. The next day I wrote again and reminded them of the terms and conditions that state a sit should not be canceled except in case of extraordinary circumstances and only with prior discussion. I had planned my travel and other sits with them in mind and their unilateral decision had downstream effects. With that they did respond and apologized, they had a flimsy excuse and eventually offered to let me stay at the home anyway. How awkward that might have been! I found a replacement sit so did not have to use the cancellation insurance coverage.
2 Likes
Welcome @8675309 to the forum, sorry to hear that the HO has cancelled your sit without the courtesy of informing you about it or explaining the reason.
You are correct a sit should not be cancelled by either HO or sitter unless there is an unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. It’s also impolite not to have also sent you a message about the cancellation.
Contact member services.
Support@trustedhousesitters.com
With regards to the HO still has a live listing for the same dates, I think that is what happens automatically when a sitter is unconfirmed. The HO may not realise that the dates are still live.
Definitely contact member services.
3 Likes
I never had any cancelled sits until recently, then 3 at short notice. I hadnt had a bad review or anything.
1 Like
That is really weird. No message from the Owner?
Maybe they cancelled their travel.
Did you see the listing advertising for a Sitter again?
1 Like
Thanks so much everyone for the feedback and support. Just a quick update, still no communication from the HO except that they read my message and then deleted the dates as in they no longer need a sitter. Honestly my feelings are a little hurt because we had such a nice rapport over text… and now she’s ghosted me. I am emailing support and considering upgrading to the sit insurance plan. I can’t have this happen while I’m traveling overseas! There should be a way to report this behavior and warn other users if it becomes a habit.
5 Likes
They have not reposted. I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, like if something terrible happened to their pet and they just can’t talk about it. But to say nothing to me and leave my message on “read” with no response… 
2 Likes
Actually that’s just not good manners nor is it showing any consideration for another person. Doesn’t matter the circumstances if they can read the message, they can respond.
2 Likes
That’s terrible behavior. Even if there were legit reasons to cancel, it’s rude to not tell you directly.
If I knew who the HOs were, I’d avoid their sits.
4 Likes
That’s horrendous behaviour. Definitely report this to THS.
I mean they won’t actually do anything as there are no sanctions for bad Owners but definitely report it.
3 Likes
This happened to me earlier this year. I contacted member services and I asked them what they were going to do about it and they emailed me and literally said they were not going to do anything and told me to just apply for replacement sits. THS giving the HOs the power to click a button to cancel a sit is truly unfair and not a mutual exchange. Either both parties should have that right or no one and all cancellations could go through member services. This one change would probably drastically reduce cancellations on both sides
5 Likes
They did not cancel the vacation and are again looking for a petsitter … I already paid 1.350€ fot flights and car rental.
1 Like
@Flor3jaar THS should not allow that!
1 Like
@Flor3jaar that happened to us this year. I even tried getting membership services involved. They did nothing about it.
1 Like
Wow, that’s shocking. I would expect THS to at least get in touch with the HO and firmly remind them of the Terms & Conditions they agreed to when becoming a member of this site. Even if they formally can’t do much, THS can at least give them a firm warning.
When I confirm a sit and book my travel, I expect that the sit is on except for Force Majeure and likewise circumstances. That’s the trust we should have on this website between sitters and owners. Otherwise it becomes too risky as a sitter to confirm dates and pay for usually non-refundable travel if we can be ghosted at any time by an HO for no reason.
1 Like
THS can terminate membership. That in itself would cost the HOs some money. But their real loss would be that they lost access to the pool of free sitters here.
2 Likes
Yes, @pietkuip, I wish that THS would threaten to terminate the HO’s membership in such cases although what I understand from previous posts it doesn’t. Then at the very least THS should send a firm warning to these HOs to discourage such behaviour. We can’t have a trust based exchange on this website if HOs think they can just cancel last minute and with no reason stated.
3 Likes
@Bluehorse I specifically asked member services if they would contact the homeowners and they said no. they recommended that I just find a replacement set which was nearly impossible because I had confirmed sits on the front and back end. It took me a couple months of constant looking and applying but I was finally able to replace most of the dates. I guess that’s the risk of a system like this. HOs who cancel and sitters who cancel. I really appreciate the HOs who kept their sit dates because when we pet sit back to back, disruptions are quite stressful
4 Likes
The reality is that homeowners can do whatever they want. There is no support for sitters. If an HO cancels, THS just tells the sitter to look for another sit. I just had a sit cancelled because the HO changed her plans, no emergency or anything.
3 Likes
This article maybe why HOs do not feel that they have to send a message to the sitter when cancelling a sit . There is no mention of the code of conduct that all members agree not to cancel confirmed sits (unless there is an extraordinary reasons) . It also doesn’t say that a HO should contact the sitter that they are cancelling!!!