I’ve learned the lesson and your last statement/question is so very true. 
I accidentally clicked forward before I’d finished the write up for a sit I did recently. There was no back button or ‘warning’ that this would save as my final review.
I contacted THS immediately but they refused to allow me to amend it either myself or by dictating to them because they have to maintain integrity. I understand that but it was obvious that it I’d sent in half way through typing as it made no sense. The best they could do was add a full stop which just made me look illiterate.
I’m sure it’s not the case with all of the mismatched reviews but it could account for a fair number.
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@SheenaM that’s ridiculous , it was an obvious error and should have been fixed by THS. I would email them again explaining further and letting them know how stupid it reads, or doesn’t read and for them to read into what was an obvious slip of the finger error, which is SO easy to do on the terrible review section. Sometimes common sense needs to override such issues. I’m actually surprised you didn’t get an “are you sure” or something, can’t remember, before submitting.
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I don’t know how recent that is but I would try with another agent, there seem to be some agents who are a few chips short of a Happy Meal.
Alternatively, you can write the complete review and explanation as a reply to the other party’s review.
I am always afraid that this could happen so I type the review on my notebook and then copy and paste.
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It was only in November last year so pretty recent.
I did explain on the review that was left for me and they were fine but applying logic wasn’t an option.
I was using the app so typing into notes to copy and paste hadn’t occurred to me but I might do that in future.
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If a star is docked for cleanliness, I think it is easy to assume it wasn’t a sty but could have been cleaner. It would read as petty to write, “Floors and counters were given the once over but all the window sills and corners were dirty.”
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No, but you could write “There were some minor issues around cleanliness” which isn’t petty and gives info. The trouble is that one person’s one-star-off problem might be someone else’s three-stars-off. How do we know from a simple docked star, that the place wasn’t a sty - But the sitter was going down the “Don’t want to seem mean” route?
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Maybe if it reads as petty, it’s because it is petty? As others have said unless there is some indication of why it’s completely unhelpful. Some people may be grossed out by dirty windowsills, others may not care or be willing to wipe them down themselves if the rest of the sit suits them.
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I like to think that if a star has been docked for either a Home Owner or a Sitter that they would do all that they could to address this for their next listing / pet sit.
A marking of less than 5* might not mean that there is an ongoing problem area or issue, as there may have been great effort in putting it right for the next time.
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I’ve also been angry with those comments, that gave less than five stars, so I’ve asked the support team, if they could add a field next to the star rating field, so that text could be added, explaining why starts were deducted, but as usual, I was ignored. This addition, sure would clarify, why stars were deducted, and maybe they wouldn’t have been deducted so easily, if they had to explain why it was done, in the first place.
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I docked a star in Hospitality last year for hosts who have had many sitters but gave an overall 5*. Their reviews varied from many 5* to no review. The reason I took the star off was the husband’s poor manners in not speaking to us during the 45 minute handover, despite us introducing ourselves to him. The wife gave a very poor excuse for her husband’s rudeness. I did not say in the review why the star had been deducted but I’m sure the wife would know why. It will have no impact on them getting future sitters.
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I had the same issue for a sit I did in Petersfield last year. Extremely rude husband but his wife couldn’t have been nicer. He even told me to be quiet because he wanted some peace. I was only asking questions relating to the sit.
It was tricky when it came to the review but I chose to say S…… couldn’t have been kinder and more welcoming. Unfortunately I couldn’t say the same for her husband.
I was very tempted to get up and leave with the way he treated me but she was so lovely I felt I didn’t want to spoil things for her. Oh and he also demanded that I waited in for a parcel that was due to be delivered. I didn’t!!! 
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I agree this whole star system is outdated. As what I would deem clean, hospitable , communicative for example others may not.
I’d the questions asked were
Did the host provide you with enough information for your liking ?
Did the sitter leave your home as clean as you expected ?
Did host provide a meal or enough supplies to make one on your first day ?
Did they (Sitter or host) meet or exceed your expectations ?
Think this is more revealing than a star system
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Reviews should not be based on expectations but on what was agreed by both parties.
Also, hosts are not required to provide meals and shouldn’t be penalized for not doing so. It’s, of course, highly appreciated when some starting suppliers are provided, especially If the time arrival is inconvenient and/or there are no stores easily accessible. This situation can be addressed by sitters in advance so that there are no frustrating surprises.
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8 posts were split to a new topic: A dilemma on our current sit
A classic example: There are threads on these boards raising questions around HOs/Sitters who smoke and the resultant smell. Now, I happen to dislike the smell of cigarette smoke …… But the mere fact that HOs smoke wouldn’t put me off a sit. But I know there are plenty of sitters for whom it would be a no-no.
So, you’re a sitter whose HOs are smokers and you loathe the smell of smoke. Nothing was said in the pre-sit chats.. But the house reeks of cigarettes. But you Don’t Want to Seem Mean. So: Either you give the whole shebang 5 stars. Or you dock one star for Cleanliness or Hospitality…
But you say nothing in your review, hoping we’ll Read Between the Lines.
How is that helping anyone?
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I thought we were all here to inform and support one another, not deliver jabs.
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That isn’t a jab, for heavens sake. If you yourself have to pause when giving feedback because you think it may read as petty, maybe you should listen to that inner voice.