Advice - cancelled an animal sitter. Is email a contract?

rosielx

I had arranged through freecycle for a man to look after my small animals for two weeks as I'm getting married. We had been in friendly email communication and had arranged the date, time and cost and I was to drop them off tonight. Two days ago I realised that he had not sent me an address or any phone numbers so I emailed twice requesting the address but did not receive a reply. :eek:

Last night I sent another email saying that if I did not receive a response by 8pm I would have to find another sitter. I know it sounds harsh but I'm at work today and we leave early tomorrow morning on honeymoon/holiday and I have to make sure that the animals have good care while we are away.

I organised another sitter who is a friend of a friend but had to make lots of phone calls to find someone at such short notice. Then of course I received an email late last night saying that he had been away for a few days and did I want him to still have them. I sent a friendly reply saying that I was really sorry but due to not receiving a reply or having any contact details I had to arrange another sitter.

Then I get an email this morning telling me that he is out of pocket and has had to move his plans around for the day - untrue as I was told not to drop the animals until late at night as he was going to be out all day! He also said that he had had to cancel another booking to fit mine in but I have no way of knowing if this is true. Also I'm providing all food, hay, hutch, shavings, hay etc....

Where do I stand?

I'm fairly sure that this is a private individual who is not working and is thus volunteering to sit them to make some extra money (no problem with this). When I dropped some things off from freecycle a while ago I was told that they were going to become a nanny at home. The next time I hear from them they are now working as an animal sitter.

I had no contact details except from an email address so had agreed by email to drop them off on a specific date and time but had no address to drop them off too.

I have not signed anything or paid a deposit. The person does not have my address of phone details and did not contact me to say they were going away. If they had the arrangement would have stayed in place for them to sit the animals and I would not have arranged another sitter.

Surely someone who was running a pet sitting sideline should confirm bookings close to the date and provide you with contact details and also let you know if they can't be contacted for some reason close to a booking?

I'm using the money that I was going to pay them to pay the new sitter.

I was stressed enough about the wedding but now I'm worried about (probably stupidly) all kinds of threat/legal action. I have crohn's and this is just making it worse.

myrnahaz

I wouldn't worry.
You did everything you could to contact him, and it's dreadful that he left it until the day before you leave to confirm his address. He should have arranged for you to visit his home beforehand to check-out that his facilities were suitable. No-one can be expected to leave their animals with someone they'd never met - what if you'd got to his house tonight and found it was in an appalling state, with no garden or with other animals living there - would you have lbeen happy to leave the animals with him? It would have been too late to make other arrangements then. You've had a lucky escape.
Just go and get married and forget about him.

Tozer

You are definitely not liable for anything. Just relax, head off and enjoy your wedding and honeymoon safe in the knowledge that you have got someone else to do it for you.

brightonman123

the clue is in the title- FREEcycle.

He (anyone) shouldn't be paying for items/services via F/C, though if hepping out for 2 weeks, I would expect the food to be paid for..

or perhaps left with a family / friend instead? but this shoud have ben agreed long before any 'commitment' was made.

And who's to know the guy isnt just trying it on, by making you feel guilty?

search the group's messages, or feedback database (if there is one) to see if others have been like this..

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

A contract does exist and you did breach it so in law you could be liable for compensation.

That said I can't see the values involved being worth their hassle so ignoring them seems the best option