What!?! Where did this happen?
@ACLRJM There are the Terms and Conditions. When THS refused to change them (see Sitter has to pay veterinary expenses up front! - #168 by Angela_L ), I put this in the “About” section of my profile:
THS has in its terms and conditions clauses about sitters being obliged to cover ANY emergency veterinary medicine and ANY emergency repairs of damage to the property (5.3.5 and 5.3.6). I do not regard myself to be bound by these clauses.
Thanks I had read that when I first joined and dismissed it thinking yeah right, how are they going to enforce that. That being said……
No question it’s against the TOS. That being said it’s one of the reasons I’m not sitting right now. Airfares are so high.
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I wrote the company to reject these clauses.
And yet some owners expect sitters to pay utilities, contractors, etc.
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What’s that direct URL?
Thank you
Sorry i’m so late in responding but was enjoying Oaxaca!!
My house is near the beach south of San Francisco. The HS was in New York. Not a cheap fare!!
Very rarely do HOs ask for a contribution to utilities @123member then sitters have a choice as to whether to apply. It all comes down to choice. No one forces us to apply for sits that can incur costs like airfares. If we choose to apply for these, then we need to accept the costs that will be involved.
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It’s a concern for some sitters, as evidenced by discussions in forums. It’s important for HOs to clearly state any additional fees or expectations in their listings, including utilities, access to amenities, or additional tasks. That way, sitters can make informed decisions about applying for the sit based on the full picture of the responsibilities and associated costs.
Here are some specific issues raised in the forums:
*Hidden fees not mentioned in the listing: Some sitters have reported encountering surprise costs for utilities, pool access, or other services, only to be informed about them through messages, video introductions, welcome guides, or even upon arrival at the sit. This lack of transparency can be frustrating and misleading for sitters.
*Misleading photos: Some listings may feature photos of amenities like swimming pools that are either not accessible to the sitter or come at an additional cost, such as to heat the pool. This can create false expectations for the sit.
*Unstated expectations: In some cases, neighbors have informed sitters that the HO has a regular cleaning and landscaping services that were canceled, for the sitter to assume those responsibilities, so while the HO did not explicitly ask for a financial contribution, it is nevertheless a change from the HO usual home operation that the sitter doesn’t have an opportunity to “not apply to this sit”.
While individual experiences may vary, it’s important to acknowledge the concerns raised by other sitters and advocate for transparency and clarity in HO listings. By providing a complete and accurate description of the sit, including any associated costs and expectations, both sitters and HOs can set themselves up for a successful and positive experience.
I can imagine situations though where it would be fair to contribute to the sitter’s airfare, although this should be agreed before accepting the sit.
For example, there’s currently still many last minute Christmas sits being posted. If the HO cannot find a sitter, they might have quite a problem - however they shouldn’t necessarily make it 100% the sitter’s problem that airfares this late and for such important dates are going to be rather expensive!
I can imagine in such case some give & take on the $$ side to the benefit of both parties
Members of the community should be able to come to mutually beneficial agreements.
While direct financial assistance for airfare may not always be a feasible option, homeowners can still support sitters in their travel arrangements. Many homeowners have accumulated points or miles they could use to book flights, offering a valuable alternative.
A significant issue is the potential for delays in confirmation from homeowners. When a sitter applies, airfare prices are specific to that moment. Delays in confirmation can lead to significant price increases, creating a financial burden for the sitter. Notably, the terms of service and code of conduct specify a 72-hour response time for homeowners. Implementing a feature that automatically locks access for homeowners after 72 hours of inactivity with any sitter could potentially improve confirmation rates and ensure fair treatment for all members of the community.
Very true. I was expecting to confirm a last minute sit this week - after our video call, I urged the HO to let me know soon (after all, it was last minute) as I was concerned prices for in this case a train fare might go up. Which I mentioned
The HO postponed their decision to the next day, although by that time the train fare had gone up by 50 euro. Eventually the sit fell through by the way (the dates where changed & I could not stay longer), and although I understand HOs may need some time, I don’t always appreciate that the resulting risk of air or train fare increases is on the sitter.
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