I’m currently doing a sit with two lovely dogs. It’s been great, until just now the pet parents texted me a short notice and said “hate to cut your sit short, but we are coming home in 2 days” which is 10 days earlier than agreed listing dates. (They want to come back on the 12th, the end date is 22nd)
They did not offer for me to stay in their house until the end-date.
I quickly looked around and realized there’s basically zero last-minute sits that I can apply in the area during this 10 day period.
I’ve never been in this situation before.
I think this situation can be seem as the pet parents are “breaking the contract” with me by ending it earlier. My question is, as a sitter on this platform, do I have any protections or rights of compensation?
I do feel disappointed that the pet parents didn’t try to consider their change of plan’s impact on me. They didn’t at all try to address my accommodation. They did not even say sorry. It’s cold and snowy out there and I’m far from home.
That sounds really lousy. Bummer. Have you asked to stay beyond their return? They may be open to it. Or some major drama occurred with them during their trip. It’s hard to imagine a happy story that explains the early return. If the opposite of happy is in play, you want to carefully consider how close to the blast zone you want to find yourself.
At the very least, they owe you more than the fait accompli they’ve dropped in your lap.
You need to contact THS and ask them to alter the end date of the sit. Then you can apply for other sits and also you will be able to review. Sitters and owners always need a back up plan. For instance last week I had to stay a day longer on my sit as there was a train derailment and the pet owners couldn’t get home. You might be able to stay a bit longer but I think it might be awkward and uncomfortable for you. I would try to find out why things changed then you will know how to approach it. But I wouldn’t bank on them covering any expenses.
I am sorry to hear about this…not ideal for sure. That they didn’t seem apologetic about the situation would feel frustrating and disheartening.
As a standard member, you would not be eligible for the cancellation coverage–that would really be the only ‘protection’ available to you. It is important to remember that THS is strictly a matching site and it isn’t like us sitters are their employees towards whom they have certain responsibilities and obligations. So they can’t do anything for you.
While we can debate what we think hosts should offer in situations like this, what would be the ‘right’ thing or the ‘appropriate’ thing, the reality is that they are not obligated to do anything. When offering a sit, they are not taking on any sort of binding responsibility to provide the sitter housing for the time period for which they are having them come.
You are welcome to ask them if you can stay in the house until the agreed upon date or at least for a few days while you figure something out–though I imagine most sitters would not want to share space for the whole period–or at least partially contribute to accommodation costs.
But being that they didn’t offer any of this at the outset, they might not be amenable. But perhaps if asked directly, they may agree to some kind of arrangement. If you do not feel comfortable broaching this with them, that is understandable. But then it will be important to take ownership of that choice not to explore this potential avenue. That will help cut down on any resentment you may feel towards them for not proactively offering any assistance.
While I do think a situation like this is relatively rare, sits being cut short, sometimes very short, are always a possibility and sitters do need to think about what they would do in these circumstances. This is especially true if they are in an area where sits are not as plentiful, it is a more expensive area,etc…
Having the dates altered by THS is important so you are free to apply to other sits if any do come up.
I am so sorry, this sounds awful. I would ask them why they are returning early. If the answer sounds not like a major disaster or illness where staying a few extra days would be comfortable for you, I would ask for that grace period. Ask to stay on a few extra days to arrange new accommodations, change flights or do what you need to do. Two days is not enough time. Be sure to reflect your inconvenience in your review. Good luck.
Hi @Rainaire , sorry you are dealing with this . I know how stressful a situation this is - we’ve had sits cut short 3 times !
It would be helpful to know why the host are returning early - The T&Cs that we all sign up to neither sitters or hosts are permitted to cancel or curtail sits unless there are extraordinary circumstances.
THS can set rules and mediate disputes, but they can’t stop a homeowner from returning home early.
Unless you have Premium membership before the sit is cancelled there’s nothing you can claim from THS .
What you can do
Call the Urgent Support Phone line . It’s a 24/7 phone number
If you want THS remind the host that sits should not be cut short (unless there are extraordinary circumstances ) they will do this .
If you want THS to get the end date amended so that you can apply for other sits - they will do this .
You can also raise a member dispute - but that won’t sort your immediate issue .
Can you return home ? Do you have flights already booked ? Will the curtailment of the trip cost you money if you have to change flights ?
This is the thread I started when our sit was curtailed , I got lots of good advice
Don’t know if they are new to the site or what, but don’t assume they know how it works. In addition to reaching out to THS so they can change the dates and you can find another sit, don’t be shy about letting the homeowners know that you paid to travel to them and will incur a number of expenses due to their sudden change of plan. Think about what would be fair and reasonable and ask for it. It’s not going to be full fare to get a sit in another country, but it could be a change fee if you need to change a flight or a couple of days paid at a hotel to give you a head start at finding something else.
Oh wow! I seem to be in a minority here, among the “They may have good reasons… Try to work with them” brigade.. But I find your HO’s behaviour gob-smacking! You made an agreement and you arranged that sector of your life around their plans… Which then changed - dramatically. Even if they were to offer you accommodation in the home to cover the gap, not all sitters would be comfortable with such an arrangement. I know I would absolutely hate having to live with the HOs for ten days, at short notice - however nice they may be. As for finding another sit at short notice..WTF should you?! You thought you had a deal; the HOs have broken it, by a very large margin. In a fair world, they’d be finding alternative accommodation for you, since signing up for a sit is NOT the same as signing up to spend ten days with strangers..
But wiser respondents than I am have said there’s nothing you can do, other than hope the HO puts you up for a bit, while you either find another sit or book into a hotel/airBnB. i just want to say I sympathise hugely. To my mind, this kind of behaviour by the HOs is - or should be - unacceptable.
[Sorry - reply was intended to OP, not @Silversitters . But of course, we’re not allowed to make edits or changes to remedy such small errors. ]
@Rainaire You could respond that you’d be happy to assist by checking the availability of hotels etc. in the area and provide them an estimate of the costs their change of plans would involve. Unless they intend to make these arrangements themselves, such a gesture can be remarkably effective…at least it proved so in my case. It encouraged the hosts to stick with the original agreement.
You have a few options @Rainaire - did they give any reason? Are they new and might not realise the impact the change has or the Ts & Cs they have committed to? Do whatever suits you best including any of the following - ask THS to cancel the sit and return home and review them accordingly; ask THS to cancel the sit and see if you can find another sit close by; look for alternative accommodation nearby as @buttercup suggests and ping the hosts costs of those 10 nights to encourage action or response; ask hosts to stay for some/all of the cancelled 10 days as this is against Ts & Cs and gauge reaction; or if you can return home early then ask hosts to cover that cost as they’ve changed the plan. THS should also offer help and support. 10 days is significant and if it’s just on a whim then it would be nice if they helped with some solutions/costs for you. Hope it works out. #sendinghugs
Probably - premium THS member includes Sit Cancellation Insurance. Subject to coverage terms, this provides for cost of alternative accommodation (Airbnb, etc) up to US$1500 (max US$150/night). Policy has excess of US150, but given situation you could politely inquire if PP are willing to cover that cost.
Suggest discuss situation with THS Member Support. Note current standard member - perhaps THS will permit you to upgrade to Premium membership - increased cost would be small relative to alternative accommodation.
Agree with @Silversitters re Member Dispute - you could do this at a later stage but it will not achieve much and would not improve your situation. Stating facts in a review would be easier.
Those hosts are really a piece of work. How about telling them you’ve committed this tine as well as travel funds and intend to stay for the agreed duration. If they don’t want a roommate for 10 days they can cover the cost of a decent hotel for you.
They mentioned the reason they’re coming back early is because they have a tenant in their other house (probably near by their house) and the heater broke there also a bear has gotten into the dumpster, and they want to come back to fix it for the tenant.
When you call the Urgent Support Line - they will ask you if you want them to remind the hosts of the T&Cs that say sits should not be cancelled or curtailed .
@Rainaire Do follow @Silversitters’s advice and contact the Urgent Support Line. The host’s reason is not “extraordinary “ and they need this prompt from THS.
]
