Cancel dog-sitter with 2 days notice after finding negative info?

NatNat28

I did my research, found a dog sitter with 500+ glowing online reviews to live in my house for a week while we're on Holiday, and booked them in via a Portal.

Since then, I've come across info that they've been fined in court for various minor things, which made me uncomfortable, but to give them the benefit of the doubt, I just asked for proof of their business insurance to give me peace of mind - and since then, they have ignored me for 2 days, which strikes me as dodgy. I'm a paranoid person, so ran their number plate through a widely available online checker, and it's not taxed.

Basically, I want to cancel, but there's only 2 days until we go on Holiday at the weekend, so is it unprofessional of me to do so? I am fully happy to pay their entire fee, if it keeps them happy. I am Autistic and have a tendency to think people might harm me, so just don't want any come-back from them.

TELLIT01

If you are going to worry all the time you are away, do you really have any other option?

Grumpy_chap

If you are willing to pay the full fee, you can cancel - say you cancelled the trip if you feel compelled to give a reason.

What will you then do to provide care for the dog while you are away?

An untaxed car is not great, but I'd probably ignore that.  What are the nature of the other misdemeanors and how recent are they?

MyRealNameToo

NatNat28 said:

I did my research, found a dog sitter with 500+ glowing online reviews to live in my house for a week while we're on Holiday, and booked them in via a Portal.

Since then, I've come across info that they've been fined in court for various minor things, which made me uncomfortable, but to give them the benefit of the doubt, I just asked for proof of their business insurance to give me peace of mind - and since then, they have ignored me for 2 days, which strikes me as dodgy. I'm a paranoid person, so ran their number plate through a widely available online checker, and it's not taxed.

Basically, I want to cancel, but there's only 2 days until we go on Holiday at the weekend, so is it unprofessional of me to do so? I am fully happy to pay their entire fee, if it keeps them happy. I am Autistic and have a tendency to think people might harm me, so just don't want any come-back from them.

Have you read the cancellation terms? 

Generally if you pay them in full then they have no comeback on you however this case is a little more complex given you were to pay them but also give them accommodation for a week. Most will be perfectly happy being paid without having to do the work and that will be the end of it but I have met a "professional house sitter" and they tour the globe house/pet sitting with no home of their own so the loss of accommodation would be more of a problem for them. 

NatNat28

Thankyou all so far.

I have been recommended another dog sitter by a neighbour, and they are free - so I am fine in that regard.

The portal simply puts people in touch with providers, and the dog sitter issued me no T&Cs whatsoever.

They have their own home, so the lack of accommodation will be fine for them.

As a nervous person I just don't want any come back. So you think if I pay their full fee anyway and cancel pleasantly, it should all be fine?

Aylesbury_Duck

Yes, I suspect they'll be very happy to be paid in full.  The only downside is if they had plans to use your home as a base to tour the area, for example, or have a commitment to let their own place out while they were at yours.  Even if none of that were applicable, the only additional cost for them would be some exra utility costs from living in their own home for a week compared to living at your place.

Enjoy your holiday, I'm sure it won't be a problem.

eddddy

NatNat28 said:

The portal simply puts people in touch with providers, and the dog sitter issued me no T&Cs whatsoever.

It's possible that the portal website has terms and conditions which users (sitters and pet owners) must agree to.

Often, you have to tick a box saying that you agree to those terms and conditions, before you can proceed.

So it might be worth checking the portal website to see if they specify cancellation terms. And/or check any emails that you received from the portal website.

Myci85

If you won't feel comfortable letting them stay and look after your dog, then you absolutely need to cancel. 

I would send them a polite message letting them know that your circumstances have changed and you no longer require their services, but you appreciate you are cancelling at short notice, so are happy to pay whatever fee is due, and ask them to confirm details. It may be that their policy is a percentage up to the day before or whatever, so you may not need to pay the full amount, but equally if you are happy to, great. 

I think anyone who does pet sitting would be crazy not to have a back up option of accommodation for when cancellations inevitably happen, so I wouldn't worry about that at all. 

MyRealNameToo

Myci85 said:

I think anyone who does pet sitting would be crazy not to have a back up option of accommodation for when cancellations inevitably happen, so I wouldn't worry about that at all. 

I'd argue those that have decided to sell their home and spend their life travelling via house/pet sitting around the world possibly have a materially different mentality and view on risk than the average person. Wouldnt go as far as calling them crazy but they certainly arent adverse to taking on risk. 

The one I met did talk of having had to sleep in bus shelters etc on occasions but then she did go home with a bloke one night and a lass the next along with the dog she was sitting so maybe she has a different sort of fallback mechanism. 

Thankfully the OP believes this sitter does have their own accommodation though still doesnt guarantee anything if they maybe rent their own property out on AirBnB whilst house sitting etc. 

gwynlas

I think that you should be honest and say that due to online negative reviews that you feel uncomfortable leaving them in your home.

They can either offer an explanation or accept what you say.

Why would you pay for a service from a questionnable person that you are not going to receive?

born_again

gwynlas said:

I think that you should be honest and say that due to online negative reviews that you feel uncomfortable leaving them in your home.

They can either offer an explanation or accept what you say.

Why would you pay for a service from a questionnable person that you are not going to receive?

If you have agreed to the T/C on the contract, then you would be bound to pay, or expect to be taken to court to pay.
OP made no mention about negative reviews, in fact said glowing online reviews. Only they have been "fined in court for various minor things" Which does not make them a bad person.