Money Moral Dilemma: Should we keep paying our dog walker in lockdown?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

My partner and I are both still working and were going to cancel our dog walker to avoid the risk of the virus spreading during collection and drop-off, but still keep up payments as we suspect the business could be struggling. Yet before we could, the walker started to only do late walks, which don't work for us. So we've cancelled, as they allowed us to – due to their change – without paying, but we feel conflicted. 

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be a point of debate and discussed at face value. 

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diggingdude

is this seriously a question?

DCFC79

diggingdude said:

is this seriously a question?

There was another 1 that was imo (other posters thought the same) a pointless one.

As for the dilemma I would IMO only pay what the dog walker had actually done so did 4 walks then pay them for the 4.

It obviously depends on how well off you are to keep on paying them.

You don't need to cancel though, you just agree on a way to do the handover so you don't need to come into contact with the walker.

Grumpy_chap

By the sounds of it the OP would have cancelled, irrespective of coronavirus, because the service offered has been changed and they would not normally pay then.

Where is the dilema?

jjames1985

these "dilemmas" are getting increasingly ridiculous.  so the person was going to tell the dogwalker to stop walking the dog because they were afraid of catching Cornavirus but still pay them.  so the walker is now doing walks that "don't work" for the OP, but the OP doesn't want them to walk the thing anyway? so why not do what they were going to do in the first place which is pay the walker to not walk their dog (even if they're not walking the dog at a time that doesn't suit them)?

Grumpy_chap

If the OP wants to pay people to not walk their dog at a time that would be inconvenient for the OP if they did walk the dog, where do I sign up to not walk the dog?  I'll even not walk the dog at a time that is convenient for the OP.

Smodlet

Why have a dog in the first place if you don't want to spend any time with him/her?  I feel sorry for the dog; the humans can please themselves.

REJP

No.  Don't pay.

[Deleted User]

You don't know for every customer a lost, a new one may be found. They are free to leaflet drop prospective new ones, you've done your bit, given them custom in the past and been clear on what you want to do - we've have people at the start of the pandemic saying we want to cancel, how can you carry on then as things improved they come back saying didn't really mean to do it and did I say that! and the accounts that did helpfully go on hold... well, this group like saying but! (we're to shy) we meant to cancel.  ((meaning no rest for the wicked!!)) they've no idea of the work involved putting it right on our systems.
Thought they were intending to bring in licenses to he held for the 'dog walkers', after cruelty was shown on one consumer rights programme anyway.   

annieshb

I’m more concerned about the dog. If you are still working then who is walking the dog etc.
other than that if the dog walker cancelled on you then that releases you from obligation to pay.

farmerjools

As a professional dog walker myself who has been very affected by this whole situation, I have been so appreciative and humbled by a few clients who have continued to pay me during lockdown and it has truly helped to keep me going. Now I have gone back, with all hygiene and social distancing procedures in place, I still have only half my clients using me. However, if I had changed my procedures so that it didn't suit a certain client any longer I would absolutely not expect any payment for a walk that I would not be doing if things were "normal".