Where is the Five Application Thread?

[anon55123711]

I am trying to find the extremely lengthy 5 application thread.

I am looking for it for one specific piece of information. It has always been my understanding that once an application was started, so long as the tab was not closed, that we were able to complete the application. Indeed, it often takes me half an hour or more to complete the application because I am checking on flight times and prices and all the logistics involved in accepting the sit.

Recently, on two occasions, I have completed my application and hit send, and it has just simply disappeared. I have had no pop-up message of any sort and it has only been when I have looked at my open applications that I have realized it is missing. Nothing shows up in my sent messages either.

I saw someone in one of the Facebook groups mentioning a similar problem. I assumed it was a glitch in the system but I have been on chat and spoken with a real person and I have been told that it is because of the five application rule. This contradicts my understanding of what we were told previously, that once we started an application we could complete it.

So, I would like to find that thread to check on what we were told and if @Jenny or @Ben-ProductManager could check it out for me please that would be most helpful.

Please do not start a lengthy discussion repeating everything that has been discussed in the past. But if you can give me a link for the thread I would be very grateful, thank you.

[PVGemini]

Try this:

Conclusion Of Pausing Application Test - Updated Post

Hi All , We’ve been testing the functionality of one-off pauses over the last 6 weeks, and believe that this change will improve your experience on the platform. We also believe that this will improve communications and help speed up the application process, and help more of you become successful. We fully understand the concerns expressed by sitters applying to popular international sits and assure you we will monitor the situation closely. This new functionality will only affect a very…

[anon55123711]

Thanks @PVGemini that’s probably the one I’m thinking of.

[anon55123711]

@Mark_B Can you shed any light on this issue please? I have been unable to find the answer in the thread I asked about, it is just so very long.

[Twitcher]

Mobile site shut down my application saying five had been reached

I just applied for sit. When I started typing, there had already been 3 applications. I completed my application, pressed ‘send’ and a pop-up message appeared telling me that the listing had already reached the five max, was now paused and my application was too late to be sent. You can imagine how furious I was as we have been told on numerous occasions that this cannot happen. I immediately started to create a complaint message and went back to the listing for details. Surprisingly, the l…

This posting was in February 2023. Does it sound similar to the issue you had?

[anon55123711]

Yes @Twitcher this is the same issue and I see that there wasn’t really a clear answer given. It does seem to be a technical issue that reoccurs from time to time. It’s very frustrating.

[Mark_B]

@anon55123711

@Mark_B Can you shed any light on this issue please? I have been unable to find the answer in the thread I asked about, it is just so very long.

Hi CathyCat,

Sorry, I’m unsure which specific discussion you’re looking for.

I imagine I’ve encountered the same issue as you when searching for “five application” or “5 application”, without knowing the specific title, or which category the conversation took part in, it’s very difficult to narrow the search.

Could it be this one from summer 2022??

Note: Occasionally, we’ll archive very old, very long discussions for SEO purposes, but I don’t see any evidence that has happened here (those discussions can be unarchived).

[anon55123711]

Thanks for responding @Mark_B and yes that’s the thread I had in mind but it’s much too long to find what I am looking for.

So, would it be possible for you to ask member services about this issue please?

It has always been my understanding that once an application was started, so long as the tab was not closed, that we were able to complete the application. Indeed, it often takes me half an hour or more to complete the application because I am checking on flight times and prices and all the logistics involved in accepting the sit.

Recently, on two occasions, I have completed my application and hit send, and it has just simply disappeared. I have had no pop-up message of any sort and it has only been when I have looked at my open applications that I have realized it is missing. Nothing shows up in my sent messages either.

I saw someone in one of the Facebook groups mentioning a similar problem. I assumed it was a glitch in the system but I have been on chat and spoken with a real person and I have been told that it is because of the five application rule. This contradicts my understanding of what we were told previously, that once we started an application we could complete it.

[Mark_B]

To confirm, your question is along the lines of;

“once I start an application to sit, does the system reserve my place in the first 5 applications?”

[anon55123711]

@Mark_B yes, that’s the question and if this is not the case, when was it changed? Because many of us are still applying on this assumption. Thanks

[Mark_B]

@Mark_B

“once I start an application to sit, does the system reserve my place in the first 5 applications?”

@anon55123711 The answer is yes, once you start an application, you can complete it… however that place isn’t held for an unlimited time.

Similar to many booking/reservation sites, after a prolonged period of time, that place will be released to other members - I haven’t confirmed an exact timescale that a place would be held, but it seems that 30 mins or more may be too long.

Thanks

[anon55123711]

Thank you @Mark_B it’s good to have this confirmed because yesterday, on the chat The person I spoke to did not appear to know this.

Although , at times, I take up to half an hour, yesterday it was only a couple of minutes, because it was for a location that I am familiar with and know the bus routes so it required very little research.

So, just to keep you busy, can you ask please why this happened yesterday?

When I started my application there were no other applicants but when I hit the send button, a couple of minutes later, it just simply disappeared. I checked my open applications, it was not there, I checked my sent messages, it was not there. I got no pop up message if any kind. When I looked for the listing it said reviewing applications. I have read of this happening to other sitters recently.

Also, would it be possible to push for a definitive answer as to how long an application can take before it is cut off. This is very important for sitters to know.

Thanks

[Mark_B]

Glad i could help

@anon55123711

So, just to keep you busy, can you ask please why this happened yesterday?

I’m afraid, it won’t be possible to retrospectively look into this.

@anon55123711

Also, would it be possible to push for a definitive answer as to how long an application can take before it is cut off. This is very important for sitters to know.

Sure, if I’m able to get that info, I’ll come back and share it in this discussion.

[anon55123711]

Thank you @Mark_B. In regard to the first point I’m wondering if it’s a known glitch? I realise they cannot check specifically for my problem but maybe they have been made aware of this by other sitters.

Anyway, thanks so much for your help and I’ll watch out for your reply about the time elements.