Hi everyone, I am currently on a sit in which the HO was not honest about a few things that make it very hard to sleep well, and i have over a week and a half left. My main question, if i do ask HO to end the formal sit (I’d help her find someone else/care for the cats but perhaps not sleep here in the meantime), does that cancel out the possibility of reviews? I think i read that if sit ends early, reviews are not possible…which is fine with me. I’d hate to be poorly reviewed due to something that isn’t my fault! Thanks for any info.
Hi @Jcat33,
Welcome to the forum.
I think you can’t review or get reviewed if the sit is canceled but you can if it’s shortened.
I guess if you sleep somewhere else and come to look after the cats, the dates will still be the same.
I am afraid there’s no way to know if you will get a poor review. If the owners were not honest about the conditions of the house or pets they might feel you have to suck it up and not take very well any changes. If they are breaking THS T&Cs, you could talk to MS and ask them to end the sit for you, you would have to give at least 24 hours notice to the owners so that they can make alternative arrangements. I am afraid even in that case they still can write a review.
I am not 100% sure. Other members will be able to help.
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What @Newpetlover stated above is also my understanding.
I’m sorry to hear this has been a difficult sit for you and that you are uncomfortable in the home. I would suggest reaching out to member services in the first instance to ask for advice and support, they may be able to suggest a solution. In one of my previous sits, they contacted the HO directly and acted as a middleman in a difficult situation. You may prefer to contact the HO yourself, however. I believe, unless the home owner cancels the sit from their side, reviews are still possible. However, if (worst case scenario) they left you a poor review, you can respond publicly in a truthful manner and state that the conditions were not disclosed honestly to you upfront and you found it unliveable. Your comfort and safety is more important. Good luck!
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Thanks so much! This is very helpful!
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@Jcat33 THS have an urgent support phone line which is available 24/7 - the phone number is shown on your dashboard .
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Sorry you have this experience @Jcat33 .
You don’t have to disclose on forum what the problem is. I have seen several similar situations - from an undisclosed firestation next door to cats that need to sleep with owner without warning pre-sit. I think owners that do that either doesn’t realise others can find it troublesome, are ignorant to sitters needs or perhaps sometimes don’t disclose in order to get a sitter at all. It is not necessarily so that you will get «a bad review» for adressing something challenging, and I think how one does it will have impact on the probability of how it will influence a review.
A reasonable host will want good care for their pets, so that will often be the route to success. An example could be: «The pets are happy and doing well! I would like to bring to your attention that it is a challenge to get sleep because… (and maybe I wasn’t aware of this before accepting the sit). It is important for me to solve this so the pets will have care until you return. I suggest we solve this by (sleeping at?) and I will (come by, feed, clean, play or other). I think this will ensure that your pets will get good care. Let me know what you think».
Trying to get resolved your agreement with the host doesn’t exclude you from a more formal «complaint» but will Even then work in your favor, I think.
I would just to be sure screenshot the listing etc so I’d have documentation should the host rewrite it. Best of luck.
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If this is a case of the sitter being misled - with vital info omitted from the listing - then why on earth should he/she incur the expense of nearby accommodation in order to continue caring for the cats? If the situation - whatever it is - can’t be resolved, it’s surely on the pet parent to find alternative pet care? If the overnight accommodation part of the sit cannot be properly accommodated, I feel the reciprocal agreement is subsequently null and void.
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@Jcat33 It’s not so much about asking the HO to end the sit, but of making it clear you find it impossible to continue because of XYZ (and quote the T&Cs which have been violated / issues not previously disclosed) and so are requesting an alternative solution (at her expense) or giving 24 hours notice of your intention to leave; time enough for her to find alternative pet care. Sitters are not at the mercy of pet parents who have witheld important details about the sit!
I believe that, once a sit has commenced, reviews can indeed be submitted by both parties. This won’t damage you if you already have a good review history and if you respond in a factual, non-emotive fashion.
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I think it is quite common (also on THS) to jump to conclusions, and in general and particularly if one has a solution in mind (and the review-part is important) it can sometimes just as well be solved on a lower level of conflict should one wish to. I suggested a solution based on I don’t know for sure if one has been «misled»/ «vital info omitted» - if someone hasn’t been «honest» as OP says it can mean several different things - and because the OP seemed to have a solution in mind that the sitter would be happy with.
You can of course choose to suggest another solution, as you have.
@Garfield All we ever have to go on is what the OP has written, and my response was not to suggest conflict but fair play. I personally don’t think any sitter should have to self-fund solutions for pet parents, and moving into alternative accommodation in order to facilitate continuation of a problematic sit via daily visits to the pets should surely not be the financial responsibility of the sitter?
@Jcat33 I hope you manage to negotiate a satisfactory conclusion to whatever it is you’re experiencing on this sit. Please do update us on your predicament and leave a factual review.
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Thanks everyone so much…! I talked with the host and she hadn’t realized the situation wasn’t conducive to good sleep (for me, at least); fortunately I do have another place to sleep when I need to, and host is fine with my making daily house calls to the cats. I may also make a few modifications to bed/bedroom (with her approval) that will help things. And I’ve learned a bit about what NOT to accept in a sit, going forward! 
Thanks again, everyone… great community and thanks for taking the time to help. 
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Is there anything you can share that might help other sitters now that you’ve had this experience?
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Thanks for asking, Maggie!
I have significant sensitivity to noise and not-good beds, so I’m determined to ask the right questions in sits going forward… like, how is street/apartment noise and will I have a regular (NOT a sofa bed!) to sleep in…Things like that. Also, working things out with host can lead to unexpectedly desirable outcomes. 
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So happy that it seems to work out and that the host is understanding so you can resolve it in a friendly manner! Peace of mind. Best of luck!
It’s maybe also worth mentioning these dealbreakers in your profile, @Jcat33 (then it’s a belt and braces approach, which can save time for both you and pet parents).
Glad to hear you’ve found an acceptable compromise. Enjoy the rest of the sit!
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That is a GREAT idea, thank you!!
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