This is a separate matter from the sit fee, as the sit fee does not apply to current memberships - only from renewal.
Today THS has introduced new Ts&Cs, which everyone has to accept to be able to use the site functionally. I began to review these and they are long with no clear indication of what has changed.
In the interests of transparency, could someone from THS (@Jenny?) please provide an overview of what has been updated? Under UK law (which THS operates under), changes to Ts&Cs must clearly communicated. These were not, there was no communication as to what specifically has changed, except from the emails going out about the booking fee, which doesn’t apply to current contracts. So what else has changed, THS?
@Jenny I’ve just taken time to review the terms & conditions. My career was in the legal field in Canada, and I certainly would still miss areas that might affect me, given the changes are not highlighted. However, I have a sense that the changes might be extensive. I did notice the introductory section certainly tries to absolve TrustedHousesitters of so many areas of responsibility, including about being solely for tourism and not a paid job, which did not surprise me.
Many important documents at least have a check box at the end, to assure that someone has at least opened it and scrolled (although maybe not read) to the end. These terms did not. I believe they could have been accepted without even opening them (but I didn’t try that, so I can’t be sure).
Paragraph 2.1 states in part that the sit “is intended to be unpaid and of short duration.” What determines the definition of short? Are listings now screened for prior internal approval, based on a maximum duration of the sit? I didn’t notice that in the terms, if that’s the case.
Like many others, I am on auto-renewal, primarily to freeze the price of my membership. As a 10-year member, I’m not willing to pay the current membership fee and will only stay a member if my cost continues to be frozen. I didn’t see any way of confirming that this would be the case. I realize they would need to notify me in advance if the price changes. However, I recently booked a sit that’s after my renewal date. I certainly would not want to back out of my commitment, but I also don’t want to pay a significant increase for my membership. I’m not referring to the booking fee here.
Please pass these points along to the team that’s responsible for these changes.
I was actually unable to read the terms and conditions before accepting them. My only options were accept or log out, the link to read them didn’t work.
After emailing them, I have discovered that TH has now introduced an additional booking fee for every sit. So their app made it impossible to log in without accepting this UNREAD, and they were just going to slip a significant pricing change in there? Not to mention they decided to roll this out immediately after running a bunch of Black Friday deals where users could have upgraded their membership to a level where the new fees don’t apply? That was absolutely intentional.
The new fee speaks to pure greed, and the methodology here is extremely shady and disrespectful of their long term users. I have recommended them to so many people over the years, but I am really unimpressed by this, and am seriously considering not renewing my membership.
I too needed to accept the new terms & conditions prior to reading them. We had just received an out-of-the blue email advising of the new $12 “booking fee” in addition to an email approximately a week ago advising that our annual membership fee was SIGNIFICANTLY being raised. FWIW, we’ve been members for ~5 years & are on auto-renewal.
When I was able to read the new Terms & Conditions I was appalled to read about a “bolt-on” membership for sitters. As far as I can determine, couples & families must pay extra fees (new??) in addition to solo sitters. We prefer sitters who are couples for our large rural property. It is already hard enough to find a sitter. The “bolt-on” fee will only discourage more couples and make it even harder to find sitters.
I’ve got a lot to say but will defer it to another thread. Suffice it to say – we’re not happy and will be actively investigating non-THS options. Today was the last straw.
After seeing this post I also tried to log in and have the same problem. I only can Agree or Log Out. There is a thing that looks like a link to the T&C but it’s not click able.
And there ist “Got a question?” Link to contact the Membership Service team which opens my phone to call a number out of my country. No thank you, I’m not gonna pay that from my mobile phone.
How should one be able to know now what has changed? I am still paying for my membership but can’t search for new Sits now. That’s ridiculous!
Hi, this is a thread just about new Ts&Cs, of which the booking fee is included, but does not apply to current contracts. There’s a separate thread about the booking fee, I started this one to ask THS what else has been changed in current contracts
Hiya, this thread is thread just about new Ts&Cs- the booking fee is included in those, but the fee doesn’t apply to current contracts. There’s a separate thread about the booking fee, but I started this one to ask THS what else has been changed in current contracts
Same for me. I was unable to open up the new Terms and conditions before accepting them. I have no idea what has changed and I got the email about the booking fee and now am even more confused about what is happening.
@Jenny apologies, I saw the merging before your messaging, I have changed this reply….thank you for passing this on to the team, I’m sure you’ve had quite a day….
Thank you for this! Yes, I noticed a lot of the language used was designed to tighten THS’s realm of responsibility…which I can understand, clarity is important. But it’s not clear when it’s not properly and transparently communicated, both in terms of making paying users aware of changes to their contract, and with regard to wording (like, as you point out, what is a “short duration”?).
I can’t find the Ts&Cs I agreed to in my email from when I last renewed (only a receipt and invoice) - if anyone has a copy of the last set of Ts&Cs previous to today, I’d love to see them.
@Jenny I appreciate that you will be getting swamped with clarification requests right now. The T&Cs - Can THS legally change these and force us to accept them mid-subscription period? Like others - I have been locked out of my account until I accept them - but I could be signing up for anything. What has changed? And what if I chose not to accept - will THS refund the remainder of my subscription fee? Some may call the actions of THS deplorable - I couldn’t possibly comment.
I could be wrong but to me Clause 17 now reads like THS is contractually removing itself from any problem-solving or mediation. In the past where they might have helped in disputes now they are having nothing to do with them whatsoever. THS can you clarify if this is the intent?..so take with one hand (ÂŁ9) and get a slap in the face with the other.
