Just a question: how did the sitter make this offer — through a DM here, in response to your post in the Last Minute Sits category? Or did they submit an application on the official site/app, and include the offer there?
I see that the overwhelming response by forum members has been quite negative, and while I understand why (and in most cases would agree) — you do seem to have a particular need that would necessitate a financial investment from a sitter, with not a lot of incentive for them. (In other words — you’re asking a favor that will be a heavier cost than normal for someone to fulfill.)
If you’re not yet ready to look at paying to hire a ‘professional’ through Rover or what-not, that’s all good and entirely your choice…but I don’t know that I’d personally go so far as reporting the sitter under the circumstances. They may see their offer as trying to help you out in a tough situation, whereas some others might consider it taking advantage of a sitter to ask them to pay their way to help you out of a bind — so maybe a little leeway on both sides is called for in this case?
Regardless, I do wish you the best and hope you find a manageable solution; it’s definitely tough times right now for travel and I feel badly for everyone struggling through it.
I really just think most HO need to accept short sits will likely not fit with THS anymore. I posted a 4 day sit as a trial for May and pulled it 2 weeks later, it was crickets out there. I will use a paid sitter for that short trip.
OP, I do think you should report this sitter. It is kinda extortion-y and it’s clearly against the platform rules. I hope you find a solution, THS or otherwise.
My pets mean the world to me. If I couldn’t find a sitter, and a person on THS responded to my listing with an offer to do the sit as a paid sit – an obvious breach of the code of conduct for using this site – I wouldn’t pay them no matter how much of a bargain it seemed. They have proved themselves to be untrustworthy. If I’m going to pay, I’m going to pay someone I can trust, not bribe.
Wow, I didn’t expect this kind of thing to happen on THS. Personally, I wouldn’t trust someone who behaves like this on a house-sitting exchange platform, let alone invite them into my home and leave my pet in their care.
They’re clearly taking advantage of the situation. And what’s worse is that if they’re doing it, it’s probably because it’s working.
That’s exactly the reason why they should be reported. I completely agree with @Marion
If I had to pay, I would then choose whom I want to pay and I would search for them in an adequate place. I assume if someone is doing it professionally, then there’s some kind of insurance, no way THS would cover any mishaps when rules are being violated.
If you think that’s a reasonable price, I clearly need to adjust my demands as a pro sitter (something I do locally, alongside THS). I charge half that!
I took a look at the listing. It looks like you have successfully found sitters previously. The thing is your sit involves senior pets and medications. I could see why and how it might sometimes be difficult to find THS sitters for your dates. The thing is you might consider is a plan B when you are within two weeks of leaving and haven’t found a suitable person. Maybe look for local sitters – paid, you can rely on just in case as a backup so there is no pressure to take someone from THS who might not be quite right.
Report them where, for what? This forum is open to both members and non-members of the Trustedhousesitters platform. It’s quite possible that the person responding to you isn’t even a member of Trustedhousesitters.
They might not even be a member of Trustedhousesitters! This forum is open to both members and non-members. If they are a non-member, they are not breaking any rules.
I’m not sure what your point is here. Are you saying they shouldn’t bother because there is a chance they may not be members of THS? Seems an odd attitude to take.
Yes exactly. Unless they link a THS profile to their forum ID there is no way of knowing whether the respondent who wanted to charge is actually a member of Trustedhousesitters. If they are not a member then they are not breaking any rules.
It’s not an odd attitude to take. It’s just matter of fact.
THS probably didn’t foresee this unintended consequence of the introduction of booking fees. As booking fees have made short sits become less desirable to THS members and harder to fill, the “Last Minute” section of the forum could become a rich source of leads for paid sitters who are not THS members..
Thanks very much all your advice, it’s very much appreciated.
We still haven’t had a sitter confirm, though I did get very excited when we got an application, only to find it was for another date!!
I will be reporting them, which I think is the consensus from this post. I know times are tough, which is why we never charge our sitters for anything, in fact we encourage them to use the food in our fridge as much as they would like. I find it against the spirit of THS for either side to charge, as both sides get something from the sits.
Thanks again for all your comments.
