Welcome @Lulubelle to the forum.
Sorry that you’ve been disappointed with your application for a sit . Is this your first sit with THS ?
I am wondering did the sit include use of HO’s car ? In which case I can understand that they need to have a copy of your driving license for insurance purposes. If you are not happy about using e-mail maybe you have another method of sending personal information that you feel is more secure that you could have suggested?
If you did not feel comfortable with the HOs request then this probably wasn’t the right sit for you but don’t be discouraged I am sure you will find a a sit that suits you .
Ask him for his driver’s license and see how he reacts If you’ve got your info approved on here, then he shouldn’t need more info. You may have dodged a bullet. I would consider a red flag as well.
I haven’t had time to read every single reply to this topic, but what a useful and interesting one!
I would like to point out that on other sites I belong to (Home Exchange and Airbnb) once an exchange or a rental has been confirmed, then both sides are provided with the other person’s full name, email address, phone number, and street address. It seems to me that THS should also be providing this information to both parties once a sit has been agreed. It works on other exchange/sharing sites, why not here?
There could be no question as to the parties’ identities nor any confusion about what home is being offered.
I also think if a couple is registered on the site as one unit, that, BOTH sitters should have background checks, and if need be, they should have to pay additionally to be vetted as a second sitter. (I only presume my sitters are honest and trustworthy, but it is true that many victims of domestic abuse trust and defend their abusers, and most often you hear it said that serial murderers are the nicest people by their neighbors and friends!)
Hi @HostAndSitter if you click on the little heart symbol and hold it for a second or two you will then have four emoji options pop up to choose from, if you then click on the thumbs up option.
It took me a while to figure it out. If you tap the heart symbol you get a heart but if you hold on it for a while the other emojis will appear. Every day is a school day
I applied for a housesit for the fall. Even before I had my first call to ‘meet’ the host, she asked me if I would be willing to give my driver’s license information. I ended up withdrawing my application as a result. Just wanted some input from others - for me it felt off. I don’t plan to use her car (I’m not even sure that’s an option) and I’ve had my background checked and cleared already as that’s necessary to use the services. So I withdrew because it just felt off. Am I being irrational? Thanks!
Hi @disneyabby1. Your question about sitters being asked to provide some form of official ID, such as a diver’s license, is a good one. It comes up from time to time. I’ve moved your question here, to one of those earlier conversations, so you can see how others responded.
In this country (Sweden), one’s driving license is a matter of public record. Anybody can contact Transportstyrelsen (our equivalent of the Department of Motor Vehicles) and request a copy of my driving permit.
I’d consider it invasive, because of identity theft risks.
THS has done background checks on us using our IDs, which they have on file. Plus, many of us share our LinkedIn profiles, which feature our full names. And you can always ask for someone’s full name if they’ve not already volunteered it via LinkedIn or otherwise.
I’m happy to provide my full name, contact info, emergency contact (which THS has) keeps on file.
If someone offers me their car, I could see why they might want to see a valid driver’s license, but two sits have shared their cars and not asked me for that.
In the U.S., driver’s license info is not usually available to the public, because of privacy and safety risks. Like you wouldn’t want your address made publicly available in various scenarios. A woman was stalked and killed decades ago in one case, for example, which led to privacy changes with driver’s license info.
If you’ve got your info approved on here, then he shouldn’t need more info. You may have dodged a bullet. I would consider a red flag as well.
