So! I have applied for sits both in the UK and a few in Europe, some applications going as far back as February (when I was still actively looking). I waited, then I waited, then I waited some more. Eventually I cancelled the applications as I needed to move forward for planning. So since I have decided to still travel, I have been applying once again. 95% of those applications went unread, as have the newest ones I applied to.
Fast forward to today. Out of interest, I went back over all those listings - all still in reviewing and my cancellation message all unread. I have never, in all the years Iāve been with THS, experienced this. Never ever had trouble picking up the sits I apply for. I actually got a message back from one HO who said sorry, been busy, send me your WhatsApp and Iāll get in touch. That was three weeks ago, nothing further, zilch zero and listing still in review
These are not all new homeowners though mind you, some have quite a few reviews so the reasoning canāt even be new HOās. It is becoming sooooo frustrating to spend so much time and effort and then play the waiting game before cancelling, every time with a message which still goes unread. WHAT IS HAPPENING!
Hi Ziggy, I am wondering if something not quite right with notifications etc. I have been looking each day at the moment, as was looking for specific dates to fill between a couple of sits. A couple of weeks back after looking every day, suddenly an interesting sit appeared. However it did not say ānewā even though not showing on previous days. It had nil applications. Over several days it remained unread. Then a message came through that owner had removed dates. My message was still showing as unread. Did they know they had at least one application? Surely owner should have read it and given a polite reply? But last year I also had a few that remained unread. I have recently applied for another sit with nil applications and it was two days before showing as read. Afer five days and still no reply though. Yet reviews all said excellent communication. JUst wondering if owners do know they have messages, or if never received? Also if possible owners have replied and messages not come through. Or are people just becoming more rude?
@ziggy, curious. Perhaps by chance we were recently contacted by pet parent in regards a listing to which we applied several days ago. We normally hear back within 24 hours. We noted that our application had not even been read so had given up and were exploring alternative listings. Pet Parent noted that they had not received a THS notification in regards our application. Perhaps coincidence.
@Visit@GotYourBack it sounds to me like there is definitely an issue then from what you have both said. It is just very strange that it is happening this time (past few months) as it has never happened in the past 7 years that I have been on THS.
Something has got to be wrong, there have been far too much of this happening for me to write it off as lack of enthusiasm or tardiness on the part of the HO. To not even read the cancellation messages, I just donāt know what to think. All I know is I seem to be beating my head against a brick wall and the two sits I have got I had to follow up on twice. I have one sit unread now and itās at the reviewing stage for 2 days but my application is unread. Are messages only getting through randomly???
@ziggy, should you have related concerns then suggest contact support@trustedhousesitters.com with details of listings. Perhaps THS staff can check notification settings on your specific listings and escalate as appropriate. Weāre almost entirely booked until end of November (yikes!) so expect to submit only very specific applications over coming whiles.
How bizarre and, yes, extremely frustrating. I canāt say this has happened to me recently although Iāve only, recently, applied for one with THS which was answered immediately. It has happened during my years with THS but not so many at a timeā¦.
Iāve also experienced this and Iām just as perplexed, unread applications or zero response to those that are read. I applied for one sit and the owners took days to reply, they then messed around trying to set up a WhatsApp call. Eventually we had a day and time set up, but at the appointed time they asked to put it back by 30 minutes. I couldnāt do that as I had something else planned. I then cancelled my application, only to receive a message asking why as they wanted to confirm the sit. They also claimed to have turned down other sitters. The sit is still open with only one applicant. Theyāve had sitters before so their behaviour seemed strange.
@Smiley and that is how it has always been for me since day dot. Maybe it really is just these particular HOās but @GotYourBack and @Visit have been having similar experiences. Hmmmm
@anon52083843 sounds bizarre! Whatās happening? Even the one who asked me for my WhatsApp number after two nudges from me, my reply with my number is STILL unread, and the listing is STILL in reviewing!
Home owners are clearly not keen fishermenā¦ itās as if they have forgotten completely about the skilled and courteous way of landing your sitter efficiently! All the effort appears to be very one sided so often!
If you have gaps to fill I have a home in UK you could use. No pets as I pet sit myself !
Iād like to help as I think you have been treated very shabbily. Is this just a British experience? Or should I say UK experience ?
Private message me for details, if you wish to follow up on this. Good luck. We feel your pain!
@Highfive you are just the sweetest forum member EVER! Such a lovely kind offer and so thoughtful It has been predominantly UK, yes. But I must say, there have been a couple in other European countries also which leads me to believe thereās a communication issue. Iāll see how the next few pan out before making any decisions, this is just mind boggling. Thank you again, you are a pleasure to have on this forum.
I think some (not all) owners are becoming ruder. The owner must be able to see (or at least check) open applications before deleting their dates, or the system must flag it as a reminder. Iāve seen some owners with listings when they havenāt confirmed their own holiday - their holiday is often a short break (where they are driving to visit family or staying in an Airbnb they havenāt booked yet or is refundable). They then decide not to take their short break and donāt care about updating removing their listing.
Iāve had a couple of instances similar to Ziggy and you where my application was left unread for 2 days. But the majority of my applications this year have been read, replied to, or auto-declined when the HO confirmed another sitter.
@Lil I think itās a great idea that a HO should receive a reminder. A house-sitting site I am also on in Oz has a āreplyā status against their listing from 1-5 so if you see only e.g. a 3, you kinda know it might be a struggle. Also, there are two sites that offer free listing for HO so if they find a sitter on one, they donāt remove the listing from the other. If no sitter found it just stays for all eternity!
This trip, for the first time ever, unlike yourself my applications are going unread and not once have they been read, replied to or auto declined, hence Iām stumped.
Iām not going to cancel anymore applications until I see what happens. Just checked again and all still unread
Iām not a HO but surely THS system must throw up a notification when the owner goes to delete dates asking if they want to write to the sitter(s)?!!! Like the notification that comes up when we sitters withdraw an application asking if we want to send the HO a message.
THS has many glitches with all the new introductions this year, but I think the HO in Visitās case was just being rude!
I wonder is hosts are concerned that your flights to the UK might be cancelled by the airline, because of the situation in the ME. Of course that would only apply if they have read your message. I emailed THS asking about reminders to hosts with unread applications. The reply was nothing more than a stock response āthank you bla, bla balā.
But youāre applying for sits in a few weeks time, right? I think some HOs list early and wonāt check until closer to the time, especially if they havenāt firmed up their plans.
I applied for a sit. It was New and Last Minute, so within 7 days. I was the 3rd applicant. It was left unread for 2 days, but now read. And the sit is still open. The sit starts Friday (in 2 days). Being last minute, the owner wouldnāt be waiting for notifications and would want to firm up their sitter asap I would thinkā¦ Unless theyāre using another site and not updating THS, or they havenāt firmed up their holiday and can easily cancel. Or they are going with one of the other 2 applicants but not confirming the sit on the THS system as they donāt want to pay the Ā£9 booking fee.
Hi Ziggy, I also think it would be a good idea if reminders of applications were sent out. Something along the lines of, you have an application from whoever, have you forgotten to reply?
I do know that notification do go missing though. Have recieved message when checking that had not received a notification. Also at least one owner I was in contact with I only knew messages were coming late as they sent a WhatsApp and a message Through TH at the same time. Due to WhatsApp we were in contact and sit all arranged. It was more than a day later that I recieved message via TH and the notification of that message came through after that. Not all messages from THS come thorugh to my inbox though, as some end up under promotions.
I just sometimes get the impression that home owners are unware that they have applications, when the message remain unread.
@Visit@Lil yes all good valid, and frustrating, points. But! They get an email notification that they have messages, or they mustnāt have email notification ticked. I think listings that have been listed for a certain time should get a message as you say, saying along the lines "have you checked your applications recently, we noticed you have received x amounts " Iāve brought this up before but I feel THS needs to do something more to ātrainā new homeowners how things work. You canāt just sign up, list, sit back and wait, you need to be proactive. There needs to be some kind of tutorial for both new homeowners and sitters but moreso HOās.
@Lil I do have two sits lined up because I pushed, nudged and harassed lol Iām looking now for June so itās still only April now, not too early.
You snooze you lose.
@anon52083843 I have considered the flight thing in depth but all applications are showing unread
It has been predominantly UK, yes. But I must say, there have been a couple in other European countries also which leads me to believe thereās a communication issue. Iāll see how the next few pan out before making any decisions, this is just mind boggling. Thank you again, you are a pleasure to have on this forum.