Hi, we agreed a sit 10 days ago after a video call but today homeowner requested we set up a telephone review from a previous homeowner (As per normal protocol) whilst we are sure we can organise it, its something we have not experienced, anyone else had this situation?
The previous host might not agree to be contacted they may feel it’s an inconvenience/ invasion of their privacy - certainly don’t pass on their contact details without permission.
If the sit has already been confirmed this seems unnecessary - are these new hosts who don’t understand how THs works ?
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seems strange to us, we have 22 5* reviews, have to mull over how to aproach it, we agree no details should be given yet
Very odd, I would not appreciate being contacted by a potential HO. I would just direct them to the review I left.
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No, that isn’t ‘normal protocol’ at all.
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Not normal. I’d pass on the sit. Let the hosts hire someone professionally. They don’t grasp THS.
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Thats what we were considering
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I’ve never heard of this happening. They’ve read your profile, your reviews and your references and they’ve had a video call with you and offered you the sit. So, what’s happened. What more do they hope to gain from speaking to a previous home owner that you sat for? As a sitter this would concern me and I would consider withdrawing my application. It’s a red flag!
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I would cancel. They don’t understand the ‘trust’ part of Trusted House Sitters.
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If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Trust your gut feeling. Luckily you have time to cancel.
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Thanks for all the responses, we do feel uneasy about it so are just deciding our course of action
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You’ve got 22 x 5* reviews, so do you feel there is something in that particular HO’s review that has played on their mind? While it’s definitely not normal, if that’s the case then you need to do whatever you feel is right for you.
Or are they new to THS? If so, I’d try to educate them about THS, and say how you’ve felt uncomfortable since they asked, it’s the whole purpose of the review system.
Back out of it if you want, I wouldn’t do a sit that kicked off with mistrust, it would make the sit feel lacklustre before even arriving, and I wouldn’t give up weeks of my time for a lacklustre feeling, nor would I want to sit for anyone that took away the fun teeheehee feeling of pet sitting.
Sitters and owners use a platform like THS for a good reason, it helps to takeaway the hassle of not knowing whether reviews are real or not. They need to trust the system.
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I can understand them perhaps wanting to do that before they confirmed, but even that is very unusual.
If it is a sit that really appeals then I would have a word with them to see if they have any concerns.
Both parties need to be happy with the arrangement and if there are any doubts on either side it may be best to cancel.
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I’m a host not a sitter. I would never ask for a telephone review with another host. What would be the point anyhow? If I were asked as a previous host, who had reviewed the sitter as per normal, I wouldn’t agree to do this. Why would what I say be any different to what I wrote in my review?
Also my relationship is with my prior sitter not with the new host. It all seems very odd to me and if I were a sitter I wouldn’t be happy with this request and would turn the sit down
As the host being asked to a video ‘review’ I certainly wouldn’t be happy as it sounds as if another host isn’t believing what I already wrote in my review, added to which if I got on really well with the sitter am I going to get blamed if they don’t happen to find the sitter as great as I did! 
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their tone is condescending, and a sense of superiority
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The hosts are definitely out of line. You’ve got a few options, other than outright canceling. You could go along with it, or you could just tell them that’s not how things work on THS and it’s not something you do. If they prefer to find another sitter who will go along with their request, they’re more than welcome to do so.
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@Twogreys Please don’t share previous HO contact info without their permission!
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I’m sure they would check with a previous host rather than having a new potential host call them out of the blue.
We wouldnt share any info at all, but think we may cancel it as we have asked if anything concerning them but no response yet
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Hi @Twogreys - I speak as a sitter and sense your uncertainty.
Out of interest are they new hosts?