We were confirmed by a HO a while ago now for a sit in 10 weeks time. I’ve sent THS messages also WhatsApp but with no reply and no Welcome Guide either. Am I expecting too much though, all my other confirmed sits between now and January have replied to my message of ‘Hope all is well and thank you for the Guide which is very helpful.’ (which all bar this one and one other (special reasons)have now sent to me after I nudged them with a reminder message.
I have a similar situation @BonnyinBrighton but as I am now in the UK where the sit will be, I can easily text or phone them. I know they hadn’t used WhatsApp before our video chat and doubt they check emails regularly to notice one from THS. Why not do the same as I assume it’s still in the UK where you are?
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I was in a similar situation up to just yesterday evening. I needed the HO to respond to a message with a particular query. I messaged the THS chat box and spoke to a real person. Within 30 minutes they had messaged the owner to prompt them to send me the welcome guide which in turn prompted the HO to also reply to my message. You should do that too. Hope it gets handled as quickly for you!
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@BonnyinBrighton Are you able to see if the HO has ‘read’ your messages on THS? If the HO has read your messages and is not responding, one has to ask “Why isn’t the HO responding?” Maybe the HO does not have his/her Welcome Guide completed yet?
Out of over 30 sits, I have had to ask only two HOs to unconfirm me because they had not sent me a Welcome Guide after repeatedly sending them messages asking them to. From those experiences is why I now have a disclaimer that I won’t accept any sits without a Welcome Guide being completed.
If the HO has read your messages and is not communicating, you would be well within your rights to ask to be unconfirmed from that sit.
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I diverge from others (whilst respecting their POV) about the whole ‘Welcome Guide in Advance’ thing. In my 22 sits (several of which I’ve returned to) I’ve never received a Welcome Guide more than a few days in advance. However, I have always had a thorough video chat with the HO prior to the sit.
To me, the Welcome Guide is not really a big deal. I’m happy with a printed out document when I arrive. I know others say ‘I need to know the responsibilities’ etc but TBH the THS WG doesn’t really cover that anyway. Much more important to cover everything in a call.
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This happened to me a while ago. The sit was confirmed but they kept making excuses not to publish the Welcome Guide and didn’t reply to my messages which I sent every few weeks. I had a bad feeling about it so told them I was not going to sit for them after all and within seconds they unconfirmed me. It was more their attitude than the lack of the guide that concerned me.
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Yes already tried all mobile based methods as it’s a local sit.
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We had a longish video chat at the time and all seemed well but since then just silence…
Thank you I’ve emailed THS support asking if they could nudge the HO to at least send the Welcome Guide.
This HO stands out compared to the other 7 who I’m in brief regular contact with (a simple all’s well/have a nice summer) type of message plus the WGs.
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I also had a bad feeling about the two sits that I had unconfirmed. The HO had been so responsive to my messages prior to my mentioning the Welcome Guide, but went silent at the very mention of the WG.
How dare I ask for a Welcome guide that would help me help them take care of their pets? And really, it didn’t have to be the THS Welcome Guide template, it could have been a word document detailing all the essential information I look for regarding the pet(s), contact information, and home.
Whether the HO provides a Welcome Guide or word document, it helps sitters help HOs in taking care of their pets.
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Update- I contacted THS and within an hour got a message from the HO! They’ve promised to create the Welcome Guide, there’s been illness in the family to deal with … let’s see what happens next. Fingers crossed all will be well.
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Im just experiencing the same thing. HO confirmed sit. I told her i would keep her posted. I sent her 3 messages and one telling her i booked airfare. She has read my messages, but not 1 response. My sit is for June 29 for 2 weeks. How long do I wait to hear from her? If they take the time to look at their messages why cant they take the time to just say “Ok”?
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Hello @Jackievw Communication is so imperative between HOs and sitters of keeping each other informed and building a positive rapport. If HOs are not communicating prior to the sit, it makes one wonder how the communication will be during the sit?
Your sending 3 messages and one indicating that you have booked your airline should definitely be acknowledged. It does not have to be a lengthy message for HO—just to say, “ok, thank you”; “great, look forward to meeting you?”; etc. Paying airfare to go look after pet(s) / homes should not be taken for granted–especiallly at airline rates.
I have sent this to HOs who were slow to responding to my messages:
Hello xx,
I am big on communication to keep each other informed.
Could you please let me know when you receive my texts?
Within a few minutes, they respond. Try it, and see if that works for you.
If they are not communicating, that will be grounds to deduct a star when it is time for their review.
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Had you asked a question?
In some cultures, people would not usually respond to something that is formulated as information.
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