We had a terrible experience with a sitter in Portland Oregon where we live. The sitter had five star reviews but after many red flags the first few days they were there, I went back to the reviews and noticed an alarming amount of sits did NOT leave a review. This person was in my house and knew anything they wanted to know about us. Our dog was Not being cared for as was agreed upon and then the person texted a picture of her hand in an ace bandage saying she had tendon damage then added in the next text: from pulling on the leash. To be clear I outline our dog’s walking quirks in his profile, in the welcome guide, in my in-home instruction sheet and even in the 30 minute FaceTime the week before.
I ended up telling her on the second day she was there after she complained about him not wanting to walk, not to stress out about walks and exercise as Long as he was getting the care he needed (I even tried to arrange for dog walkers and good friends to come by but that’s a whole other fiasco)
We arrived homE to a dirty house and immediately started cleaning to find a large amount of dog vomit on four corners where our off-white sectional couch meets — with a THROW PILLOW covering it.
So many things wrong with this. 1. Our dog is not allowed In the couch 2. It was filled with leaves of bamboo so our dog had clearly been left Alone in our side yard to eat this 3. The sitter intentionally placed the cushion over the mess.
I have been emailing THS about this person from the beginning and they can’t do anything without a formal complaint.
I’m concerned to do that and write an honest review Since who knows what she may do as she lives in our home town.
Your fear of retaliation because the sitter lives nearby (and knows your home and property inside and out) is quite valid. At the very least write a “fair” review sticking to facts only and explain all the problems, and dock stars appropriately without totally gutting the sitter.
Anything more than that including raising a member dispute that may affect the sitter’s account is more likely to result in retaliation so it may be unwise to pursue that course of action.
I think your concern about retaliation is understandable, particularly as the sitter lives locally and has stayed in your home.
Given what you’ve described, though, I think you should make the formal complaint to THS. You’ve already been communicating with them, and they’ve told you they can’t take action without one.
I’d keep everything factual and documented: what was agreed regarding your dog’s care, what you were told during the sit, what you found when you returned, and any photos or messages that support it.
I also wouldn’t let the question of the sitter’s surname become the main focus. THS already has the member’s identity and presumably the information needed to deal with a formal complaint. The more important issue is whether THS will properly investigate what happened and support you if there are concerns about retaliation.
As for the review, I’d wait until you’ve spoken with THS and then write an honest, factual review based on your experience. You shouldn’t have to protect a sitter from an accurate review simply because you’re worried about how they might react.
Whilst I understand your concern about possible retaliation because the Sitter lives locally you need to ask yourself, by doing no review what are the ramifications for future hosts? Please review the sitter. Even if you just review by docking stars and not elaborating, future hosts will read between the lines.
I’m so sorry to hear about this @teeno70 - have you find the advice you’ve received so far to be helpful?
It sounds like you’re already in touch with Membership Services, so I’d continue speaking to them, but if if there’s anything the Forum team can to do help please let us know.
I think you should be honest in a review. Talk about the vomit and the injury to your dog. You are upset with all the 5 stars and you don’t want to continue that lie. She doesn’t sound like the type that will burn your house down so what are you scared about. Also, all you had to do when you talked to her before you accepted her was to ask her last name. You can ask any question you want. You can ask her LinkedIn for linked in. Don’t blame THS for no last name. Your responsibility to ask the questions that make you comfortable having someone in the home.
@temba do you know if that is just on the app or also on the website? I tend only to use the website and have never come across it. Maybe I’ve just been lucky.
On the sitter’s profile in their Reviews @SeniorSitter1. I only noticed this week when I was checking reviews given by a couple of hosts whose listings I was interested in. Both had not given one of their sitters a review and that was the message under the sitter’s name.
I would def leave an honest (but diplomatic) review, just as you wish someone who left no review would have done so you might have avoided this very scenario.
If you are truly concerned, and I get it - I would be anxious as well - I’d invest in a Ring camera if you don’t already have one. And make it obvious.
You have only two possible options for recourse — write an honest review and/or raise a formal dispute. If you don’t do either or both, then all you can do is move on.
Only recently has THS made it possible for hosts to see past sits by sitters who’ve received no review from their previous host(s), which is a key way to avoid potentially bad sitters. Definitely check that if you opt for THS sitters going forward.
It’s a work in progress. I know this sitter relies on THS and other sitting jobs for housing (she told me) so it another reason I’m hesitant to leave a review but may peruse the formal complaint process. I’m still debating and just gathering information. Thank you
Change lock or combination , ring door bell in front and a camera in backyard. Very common in the USA. Send her a note that says you are formally trespassed from the property. That way if you see her on the property the cops will arrest her. If you don’t send her a trespass warning they can’t arrest her. In the USA anyways.
