I absolutely agree that sits should be listed transparently, as sitters need to know what they’re agreeing to. However, when the reality differs significantly from what was represented, I also believe we have agency to make decisions that protect our own wellbeing.
Some sitters choose the premium membership, which offers a degree of financial support towards alternative accommodation in certain circumstances. I understand why some sitters claim the amount available is insufficient, but in my opinion, we all know the potential figures when we confirm a sit, and it’s up to each of us to decide whether that level of support provides a sufficient safety net for our own circumstances - and taking the area into account - or whether we’d face significant financial and/or employment difficulties if we needed to leave a sit unexpectedly.
Ultimately, THS is a platform that brings hosts and sitters together. We have largely to work out the subsequent nitty-gritty ourselves, from asking the right questions before accepting a sit to deciding what we’re prepared to accept if things don’t turn out as expected.
Of course nobody should have to contend with the accumulation of problems described here by @KellyK and hosts should be held accountable for failing to disclose material information which negatively impact the sit. However, what happens next is ultimately a decision for the individual sitter. We all assess situations differently according to our own circumstances, priorities and tolerance for risk, so what one sitter finds intolerable, another might feel able to manage, so there isn’t necessarily one right answer for everyone.
I do wonder what THS can realistically do to prevent these situations or support sitters when they arise. Greater financial or emotional support would inevitably have costs, and we’d all have to consider whether we were willing to pay higher membership fees for that additional protection. There’s a distinction between expecting transparency and appropriate support, and expecting THS to take responsibility for resolving every difficulty that arises during a sit.
I don’t mean this to sound unempathetic here but I suspect that, ultimately, much of the responsibility for dealing with a difficult situation will always rest with the individual sitter. We can’t eliminate every risk, but we can make informed decisions about what we’re prepared to accept when the reality of a sit becomes evident.
Thankfully, situations as bad as the one described here are rare, in our experience of completing over 50 sits.