Because of the policy that only owners can cancel a sit, it is impossible to determine how often sitters cancel sits.
One of our friends had a sitter cancel a week out from a sit for no particular reason. The only way to repost was for the owner to initiate cancellation of the sit, which meant they couldn’t the sitter was free to move on. My friend contacted THS, who told them they would warn the sitter, but that’s not enough, in my opinion.
We have also had sitters canceled on us and we have had to cancel the sit and repost.
I had a conversation with THS six months ago (after contacting the president of THS via email) suggesting that sitters be allowed to initiate a cancellation, and owners would then accept the cancellation. The reason for the cancellation can be noted.
I would be perfectly comfortable with the site, providing profile information regarding the number of cancellations from both owners and sitters, since both can cause tremendous problems.
Wondering how other owners feel about this. Thanks!
Part of the issue is that THS doesn’t track cancellations, and most cancellations happen before the sit starts. THS only knows there was a cancellation if someone disputes it, and that rarely happens on either side because you can’t force someone to sit for you or to open their home to you. THS will generally accept almost any reason if there is a dispute.
I’ve suggested in both emails to THS AND in the forum that THS do more to track cancellations on both sides. A simple form when a homeowner hits cancel that would go to both sides to make sure they both had the same understanding of what happened, and then an alert of some kind when someone has more than one cancellation within a certain period of time. It wouldn’t necessarily lead to a suspension but it could lead to attention. Maybe a homeowner has been cancelling a lot because of illness – their own or a family member or pet, and needs some time off from hosting until the matter is resolved. Maybe a sitter has been struggling with something as well, and needs a break.
I think if both sides understood more clearly this is serious and it is monitored, there would be fewer “frivolous” cancellations.
It’s not the actual cancellation, it’s the reason for the cancellation that should be noted both by sitters and hosts. I have cancelled a sit once. The reason was my physical health changed and I knew I would never be able to cope with three very large strong dogs. My husband was only going to be there part of the time. I gave them about 7 months warning. Should I be penalised?
It’s the way of the world, plans change and people decide to do something different. At least now sitters cannot apply for sits that have the same dates as they have a committed sit for. That must ease it slightly. There isn’t an easy way ro7 d this problem.
Cancellations could be for a variety of reasons, and if a member cancels it could be on them, but a member cancelling could also be because of the other member. Something disclosed later, accuracy of listing, pet behavior etc etc.
How would one know who was the cause and why. You would have to take their word for it, and if two members say opposite things - how would you solve that? I understand why the issue is raised. But this is a voluntary exchange. Everybody should have a plan B. If one can’t handle the uncertainty of life happening, then a paid service or a paid vacation might be a better option.
I understand what you are saying, however, we’re sitters, and we’ve completed 30+ sits. We’ve only had 2 x HO’s cancel last-minute, both for VERY good reasons (they unfortunately lost their dogs). However, we have had A LOT of HO’s that have tweaked their dated for various reasons, in fact I wouldn’t like to count up the amount as it is so high, HOWEVER, we’ve always been given plenty of notice for those ones (around 6 months notice in general) and they’ve always ensured they tried to work things as best around any plans we already had booked in, so it has never been a problem for us at all, no problem whatsoever, not even a moments thought, we’ve sat for amazing owners that we return to, given the long notice we have been given about changes in their plans.
Whereas we have never tweaked, changed, or altered any dates that have previously been arranged.
I think you are possibly tarring all sitters with the same brush, because in our particular case, we’re in our 50’s and 60’s so if we ever had to cancel it’s likely to involve a serious health problem or a death in the family so I don’t think it should be held against us given that.
Just imagine if the cancellation stats for HO’s were shown, with the amount of older pets that are on THS.
It’s the reason behind the cancellation, not the actual fact there was a cancellation that took place. Because all HO’s need a back up plan, the same as all sitters need a back up plan, because no one can predict the future.
That is true. I always arrange my travel after confirmation and let host know in detail. Even so, many have wanted to alter times long after - well knowing that I have bought my tickets according to our initial agreement. Thankfully, so far my hosts have made sure I can leave as agreed, providing someone else checking in on the pets, but I do see the option of some entitled person cancelling and leaving me stuck with tickets bought in good faith - and trust in them and our agreement.
We have completed 25 petsits and have never cancelled but have had 3 pet parents cancel which was highly disruptive. I have backup plans and can afford vacation rentals if this happens but it’s not ideal. I’ve had less problems since I changed my application process. I state in my applications that I am seeking hosts who will honor the full dates so that any changes do not affect our work/homeschool schedule and cause unnecessary travel change costs.
Am sorry for your friend @ForumMelinda but what else can they do but warn the sitter if it’s a first offence? It would be draconian to throw them off for the first time. Maybe a rule of second strike & they’re out if the reasons are flaky? There are so many variables in this & as other members have said, how do you police it, how much notice is enough notice, what reason is a good enough reason? And so on. @IHeartAnimals has a good idea to ask for hosts that are firmly committed (we’ve had four cancellations by hosts out of 50+, 2 flaky, 2 fair, all expensive as international). We reported two of them, THS warned the host. She’s now off the site. It happens both sides. And as sitters we’ve never cancelled. Maybe a question to add to your video call is “Have you ever cancelled and if so why? And then the elephant in the room is dealt with.” Hopefully a new sitter is found for your pal. BTW allowing sitters to cancel would make the commitment even weaker so not a great plan to add that option. #sitchallenges
Cancelling a sit 7 months out should not be noted, in my opinion. I think if a sitter cancels 8 weeks out (just a number I’m proposing) they should provide a reason for the cancellation AND they should not be allowed to accept a sit for that same time period (my sense is that some sitters may cancel because ‘something better came up’ without stating that up front.)
Often people need to travel if there is a death in the family or they need to care for an ill family member. So, you propose they should be blocked from applying for sits in the area they need to go due to having to cancel in a different location (for a valid reason). If I needed to travel due to a death in the family, I would much prefer to take a sit nearby rather than sleep on a cousin’s sofa or stay in a hotel.
Since THS seems like a vacation rental platform - accommodation in exchange for pet care - why not mimic Cancellation Policies found on similar platforms such as VRBO or Air B&B. Several industries have standard cooling-off periods (a specific number of days during which you can cancel an agreement without reason or penalty) in contracts, terms, or codes of conduct.
Sitters and Homeowners could define their own “Cancellation Policy” and negotiate during the interview process. Once the sitting is confirmed, either member should be able to cancel for any reason without disclosure. No one needs to share their health reasons or other personal business to justify a cancellation. No one needs to judge what is considered a valid reason.
Either party just needs to adhere to the consequences or penalities of a cancellation in relation to the notice period. That said, knowing the frequency and number of cancellations could be a helpful indicator of reliability.
But then nobody would apply to sit for them, because they wouldn’t know the whole story, just a stat, it could have been due to lost pets, change of flight times by airlines, vital hospital needs, cancelled holidays by the tourist operator, cancelled ferry crossings, they are just a few of the reasons why owners have had to change their dates with us, and while we’ve completed a fair amount of sits, we’ve only been a member for a couple of years.
I have full trust that an HO has every intention in going on holiday at the date/time agreed, and I know the owners we have sat for have had full trust in us turning up when we say we will, because they ask us to sit time and time again. We are naturally drawn to certain owners, it’s a gut instinct, the same as it should be for any owners. If any of them cancelled or changed their plans, it would be for an incredibly good reason, and they know the same goes for us, severely ill health and death in the family, I don’t feel it’s something that stats should be logged as a figure, an owner should haven’t a mark against them when their pet has died, and sitters shouldn’t have a mark against them when they have a severe health issue or a death in the family. The majority of sitters on THS are great, and the majority of owners are great. The below stats speak for themselves. The odd bad sitter and the odd bad owner should be kicked out, but the good people out there shouldn’t have things held against them because those bad people.
If we look back to the original topic post, and the discussion so far, it might be helpful to break it down into 3 parts. 1. Who can cancel. Currently only homeowners can cancel. Should Sitters be allowed to cancel? 2. Cancellation Statistics. For example, a profile section could show: Total number of Sits (16), Number of Cancellations (1); Frequency (0.5/year), Timeline (4 months prior to Sitting). Are other stats helpful? 3. Rationale of cancellation. Was it a good reason or was it flippant?
As a HO, these are my opinions: #1. (Must Have) I fully support and didn’t realize it wasn’t available. Sitters should not feel trapped. The last thing I want is a Sitter who wants an Exit but can’t. I will offer reasonable opportunities to my Sitters to exit, prior to and during a Sit. I have back up plans if things don’t work out. My pet, my responsibility. #2. (Nice to Have) These stats give helpful insight into reliability of both parties. #3. (Unnecessary) I simply don’t need, or want, to know. Everyone has a different opinion of what is a good reason and I don’t see how it helps to know. If someone was severly ill, or a close relative died, or the pet, those are rare occurences to begin with. The stats will show reliabilty without probing peoples personal business.
Now that I know Sitters can’t cancel, I will petition to THS to give them this option.
Me! I have a problem right now, as HO - my sitter who confirmed a month ago for a sit in June sent me a message stating that a family member is gravely ill and she might not be able to come - in four months! She still can’t say. Should I go ahead and cancel her and try for someone else? I hadn’t wanted to but since she can’t cancel, should I? I love someplace that is very hot in the summer and getting someone to stay in the summer is problematic. Thanks for any advice.
And I would LOVE to know if people have cancelled. Only one sitter has, ever, and it was very legit, last minute - and my insurance from TH covered the cost of a local sitter.
I say cancel. If she cannot commit, you have to consider your pets. Are you in an area that you do not get a lot of applicants that makes you hesitant?
Yes cancel it, but tell her first before you cancel it on the platform (by messaging is fine), and word it in a lovely way to her, because things are out-of-her-control and she has given you plenty of notice, TBH it will probably be a weight of her mind with everything she has going on at the moment. Possibly say you’d love to have her sit at some point in the future, because you obviously thought she was great to pick her in the first place, and obviously say you hope her family member is okay etc.
@ForumMelinda, great thread.
It seems credibly feasible that THS has no commercial interest in publishing data on cancellations. Probably many members are relatively new. Perhaps some members perceive that sits are somehow guaranteed and never cancelled. Seems pleasant environment to imagine.
Reality gets a bit more nuanced. Number of cancellations aggregate/individual. Number cancellations by pet parent/housesitter. Number successful claims by sit cancellation insurance (suspect low %cancellations given policy terms). All would be informative to both Pet Parents and housesitters. Assuming THS has usable data then it seems unclear whether they would want to share that data.