I once had a couchsurfing guest not showing up. I could see that his plane had landed but he never arrived at my place. Of course, that was no real problem for me, this was not a sitter. But it was weird. Next day he had a stupid excuse, that he had not traveled. I just wrote a negative reference for being a no-show, without canceling.
Then later I saw that he had a reference that same weekend from a female host in my town. Ah well.
Some people may be habitually lying, even when it does not make any sense.
@Cawagi - That’s terrible. Sorry.
What I do as a sitter is once I’ve confirmed a sit with a HO and have flights or trains to book, I do so asap. I then send the HO a screenshot of my confirmed flight/train details. Many HO’s say they appreciate this as they know it’s locked down.
Obviously if it’s a local sit or they are driving the above doesn’t help unfortunately.
Yeah nah that’s horrible and preaumably, if they had an international flight booked they’d be out of pocket too so one has to wonder whether they ever booked something in the first place. If (and that’s a big if) someone was ever in that situation you’d think that at the very latest they would realise/accept they are not fit for travelling about an hour before their plane is supposed to depart and do what needs to be done eg cancel things, let people know etc
Very sorry you had to go through this. Besides dealing with THS now I guess steps you could take for future sitters is check whether they have international sitting experience or a longer history sitting (3 sits could be completely over a week or two and doesn’t necessarily mean they are a serious sitters). I know some people require proof of flights which might scare some sitters off but would give HOs some assurance. Require sitters to arrive a night early (and host them for that night) which gives you more of a window for implementing plan b if things don’t go to plan.
I was with THS as a HO for over 8 years - our first sitters were in August 2015 and we had many lovely sitters over the years. After our last sit, we have quit the site and are re-thinking what we will do if we want to go on holiday. We received a number of applicants that were not suitable (mostly local foreign workers looking for accomodation who would not be here to look after pets for most of the time). The sitter we did finally choose, did show up, but in very stressful circumstances. She was not on the plane that she had confirmed just 12 hours before she would be flying in on - she in fact was not even in the city she said she was coming from. She arrived with a friend (not on THS) who would be staying in our home for the first week or so. I’m not sure why she lied and everyone survived, but the experience put me off. Like others, I do feel like the site has changed and I am no longer confident that my house and pets will be well cared for.
I’m very glad that @Cawagi was able to find alternative arrangements, but it must have been very stressful.
This is awful, and I don’t have anything to add to what others have said regarding disputing, asking THS for a refund, writing a one star review detailing what happened to warn others, etc.
I would just like to tell you how it works when it works: . I have a combined membership. I’m going to a sit in in a week. I’ve had some back and forth WhatsApp conversations with the host. Recently got the Welcome Guide, so we’re meeting again virtually for a few more questions since we won’t meet in person. Meantime, I’ve also had a video chat with the sitter who is coming here, and some back and forth on WhatsApp, and she’s coming the day before the sit to pick up the keys and ask any last minute questions. I just got another sit in March. The host and I spent an hour just talking about our citiies and our cats! I know they’ll be more conversation before the actual sit.
I’m a sitter so I don’t know the opposite process that pet parents go through. I know if we book an international sit our flights are already booked or booked immediately after the sit is confirmed we tell the pet parent the flight is booked, when and where we are flying into the country. As I confirm sits six months in advance I then keep them up to date. I ask them questions, they ask me.
Now, if I didn’t hear anything from the pet parents on the week before I travel or they didn’t confirm the time I would be arriving at their home this would be a huge flag for me. I’d be messaging, calling, what’s app etc. your sitter obviously followed this to a point then “forgot” to get on the flight or told you lie after lie, which is more likely. The question has to be why? Why would they lead a person causing complete stress and havoc?
I am so sorry you went through this and I hope you reported the sitter and the company do something about it. This is not a casual arrangement. Each confirmation means we will do a mutual exchange. It’s not a contract or anything legal but i as well as 99% of the people on this site treat it as such. Most of us are reliable and people should not judge us because of the few rotten eggs.
I see that you gave your number but did you have hers?
It’s moot at this point, but I always collect multiple points of contact info just in case one fails.
@Maggie8K mentioned above not cancelling in order to be able to leave a review. Completely agree. it’s really important to call out this is a 1* no call no show. If you had needed to find another sitter, I would have asked TH to help you adjust the date range down to one day then set new dates for that sit or something in full conjunction and transparency with TH so that there is a clear trail for insurance, support, etc.
I have only been on for a few years but have never heard of this happening to someone before. Absolutely unacceptable especially given the follow up. So sorry you went through this.
OT, but this happened to me A LOT one summer when I was a CS host - people would just not show up, and I would have to chase them down only to find their plans had changed and it never occurred to them to let me know. In the big picture, it meant I had a very clean apartment and no stranger staying with me so: yay, but also it often meant I had turned someone else’s request down, and I was sitting at home for hours waiting for someone when I could have been doing something else. Not to even mention worrying that something had happened to the person!
@Cawagi I’m so sorry this happened. I’m glad you got to leave a review, and for sure there should be a member dispute.
You got further than i did with my first experience on this site!
I arranged for a sitter to come and meet me and my pets. The day and time came and they just didn’t turn up so I text them to find out where they were and eventually they text back “Oh we did drive by but it is too far outside the villiage” !!! I am a five minute walk from our villiage. I have a beautiful house over looking the sea so I don’t think the house would have put them off. How rude of the sitters not to at least text me rather than keep me hanging.
I had this happen. Sit was all confirmed and had been assigned. Good communication initially and I expected to hear from the sitter neared the time… I started to contact her and was getting nothing back. It was over new year. We had to cancel nearly £1000 of plans 5 days away in Scotland, hotels, restaurants, a show…. Family let down… and there is nothing that can be done. The sitter is free to do this again to he next unsuspecting advertiser… I’ve left a review… but that doesn’t seem enough….
I’m surprised THS posted some of these comments. I had a very unpleasant 2nd sit with THS, and they wouldn’t print my question to other members about whether they’d had a similar experience. Of 3 sits, one was okay, 8 months later I’m still upset about the 2nd, and the 3rd was absolutely wonderful. Do look for someone with all 5* and have a very detailed conversation before you make a final selection. So sorry that this happened to you.
As @cawosey mentions as well: please report this sitter to THS and ask them to ban the sitter! THS has full rights and ability to ban sitters that are in gross violation of the code of conduct, and for the sake of future sits/HOs, it’s important those sitters don’t stay on this website
Uff what a disappointing start to THS for you @Cawagi
Here are some tips for the future:
Always have a Plan B that can be activated immediately whether it’s friends or local pet sitting service
Confirm arrival day and time for both parties during initial call
Touch base with sitter/HO one week before
Touch base with sitter/ HO 48 hrs before
*Optional: Invite sitter to arrive the night before to get acquainted and hand over
In this case, contact THS member services again and ask that they launch an investigation. The sitter could be banned - and should be for this behaviour. This is not the type of person we want in this community; THS only works if people on both sides follow through with integrity.
You can however raise a member dispute . If you do this THS will then look into the complaint and investigate . Did member services not advise you about this process ?
Hi
I am new to the community - I am considering to look for a cat sitter for the first time around South London but reading this - it is scary to think the website is not longer reliable.
Is that the case? Does anyone recommend me to join and can I trust to look for a cat sitter in here?
Anyone in South London area who joined and recommend someone so if I join I can contact the person?!
Thanks
