I am considering leaving a sit

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
1

I started a 3-week sit last week. Upon arrival, the HO casually mentioned that the indoor-only pet had recently been treated for fleas but “seemed okay” now. I assumed that part of that treatment would have included treating the house, but as I learned later, it did not. I foolishly and naively proceeded with the sit, assuming the best of this person.

I have about 50 flea bites and am getting more each day, of course. I have laundered the bedding and vacuum every day, avoid sitting on anything but hard furniture, and so on but the fleas are around and they get me, despite my efforts.

I reached out to the HO on Friday. They responded on Saturday and admitted that the flea problem was only a week before I got there, that they did not treat the house, and that they also suspect they have mice. They said they have a contract with a pest control company and that the company will call me on Monday.

As a side note, the house is one of the top three dirtiest I have ever sat in. For example, I vacuumed after I got here and had to empty the canister twice before I was done.

I contacted TH support. They said I was obligated to stay and that I needed to work things out with the HO.

I have done over 40 sits and while some homes have certainly been dirtier than others, I have never encountered a situation even remotely close to this. If it needs to be said, I have received nothing but five-star reviews as a sitter and have done multiple repeat sits. I’m a good and conscientious sitter.

The HO has a friend very close by and family close by who can take care of the pet if I leave. While the HO did respond and will bring pest control in, I was lied to from the start about what I was walking into and I can’t help but feel that this shouldn’t be on me anymore, despite the HO’s efforts to belatedly resolve things they could have resolved before I got here.

I want to leave. Would you leave? Am I overreacting? I don’t feel like I’m overreacting, but TH’s response has left me feeling like I am somehow the bad person here.

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2

You can go back to THS on the Urgent Support Phone Line and say that as the conditions “unliveable “ ( 50 flea bites - photo evidence ) you are giving the owner , the emergency contact and THS 24 hours notice that you are leaving and quote this from their sit cancellation plan

“Unliveable” means a pet parents premise that fails to meet the requirements outlined in Our Terms of Service. These requirements include but are not limited to, a clean and hygienic living space”

State that the pets will not be abandoned since you have also informed the emergency contact so that they can take care of the pets until the owner makes other arrangements.

Be prepared for a dispute to be raised against you , take photos of the flea bites, keep copies of all messages ( where owner said they knew about the issue before you arrived ) etc .

Make sure you have contact details of your future sits as your a/c might be suspended whilst THS investigate.

Another solution would be to ask the owner if they will book and pay for alternative accommodation for you nearby until the flea problem is dealt with so that you can stay there and drop in and feed the pets.

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Oh @meow I really feel for you- what a nightmare. And the uncaring dismissive response from THS is appalling!
Great advice from @Silversitters - I would suggest exactly the same.
We were very recently in a similar situation in that we arrived at a sit to find previously undisclosed issues and we left the sit the same day. We informed THS immediately and they cancelled the sit for us but the hosts raised a dispute against us and we were suspended for a while while they investigated. Very stressful at the time but all OK now except for being on a watch list…:woozy_face: Its horrible to be badly misled and its important to stand up for yourself. If I was in your shoes I would absolutely leave.

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Great advice from @Silversitters and @Lokstar

It is important to screenshot your messages on THS and perhaps also the listing. If the owners raise a member dispute against you your account will not be available to you (and the HO might also try to alter the profile text).

I wouldn’t stay. You have done far more than could be expected already. Got some good input on alternatives from the others!

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5

I think in the circumstances you have to put yourself first - it sounds like you’ve been badly bitten. THS don’t know you personally- you could react badly to the bites or they could become infected. The odd bite maybe you could suck up but this sounds more extreme. Don’t let your great record put you off leaving if you feel you can’t stay. What’s the worst that can happen.

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Great advice from @Silversitters. I find the advice from support very inconsistent. You could quite as easily have received a different response from another member of the team. Contact them again and ask to speak to a Manager.
As advised, take lots of photos and screenshots of messages just in case a dispute arises.

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7

It is good that you tell us how THS responds.

I wonder what previous reviews this HO had. Were there missing reviews? (you can only see that in the app)

Edited in line with posting guidelines

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8

Thank you for all the responses.

The HO is new.

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You’re not overreacting at all. The only thing is to weigh the situation and see what will take more energy.
You have been given excellent advice, now it’s up to you. If you are a full time sitter and the owner raises a dispute, things can get a bit difficult for a while.
I have no idea if the treatment they are going to do on Monday has instant effect or not. If it has, then the problem might be solved at about the same time that you could leave after the 24 hour period, plus this could be used as an argument against you, considering the unlivable conditions had been solved.
I understand that after all you’ve been through, you just want to leave and if that is what you decide, it will certainly not be unreasonable but be prepared to face a tough fight.
Best luck to you

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If you agree to the solution that the HO is suggesting- pest control -
you may need to move furniture in readiness and leave the home for a period of time ( depending on the chemicals used ) also be clear on who will be paying the bill for that service. ( Homeowner not you )

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11

I agree. Come on THS! The home owner knew there was a problem, made a half-hearted attempt to mitigate it by only treating the pet, informed the sitter at the very last minute and then swanned off on holiday. That’s completely selfish and irresponsible behaviour, and as a sitter, @meow, you shouldn’t feel obliged to hang around to help sort out a problem of someone else’s making.

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You see this is even odder @meow - you’re a super experienced sitter, they’re brand new HOs & yet you should put up with this rubbish treatment and lack of assistance?! Agree with @Twitcher in tackling support again, asking for a manager and pushing for real, useful, relevant advice. Totally fair to give notice and quit in these circumstances. #gogetemtiger

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@meow , this has been passed to Membership Services. We’re hopeful that you will hear from them soon.

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@meow
You’ve had some great advice from forum members and a terrible response from THS.
Follow Slversitters advice, no-one should be sitting under those conditions.

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15

You’ve got over 50 flea bites and you have to ask this?

I think you’ve received standard response rather than appropriate advice regarding an unhygienic home. @Silversitters has given excellent advice: take photos of the bites, screenshot messages between you and the pet parent confirming her prior knowledge of the flea problem, and let both THS and the pet parent know that you’re leaving the sit. I would also go a step further and raise a dispute against this pet parent; you should never have been put into this intolerable position.

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I would have left before now. I also wouldn’t want to stay after any treatment of the house given potential nasty residues. And be careful to treat all your own belongings for fleas! There was a post about fleas not too long ago that talked about this. Sorry you’re dealing with an awful situation and you are definitely not over-reacting.

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17

That the Trusted Housesitter support left you alone with it is terrible. They should have advised you what Silversitters wrote in this discussion.

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18

Thank you again for all your responses. I have advised the HO that I am leaving the sit tomorrow. TH support has been ignoring me since our last contact on Friday, and I assume they will continue to ignore me, but I have notified them as well for the record.

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19

@meow
Very surprised that THS support has been ignoring you but I , and countless others on here, believe you have made the correct decision.
Well done for following the advice by seasoned members and hope you have better luck with future sits.

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20

+1 from me to what @Hallt64 said.

You have done more than what could be expected, I fully support you. As @DeeMcC I would have left before and as @kaliom says I really think THS should have had your back on this one.

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