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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think it’s tight not to pay?

71 replies

Woofwalkies · 30/08/2025 20:13

Person A dog sits for a family regularly. They always pay them. Their adult son (Person B) wanted a dog sitter for 3 days while he attended an event.

This cost person A £80 in train fayres plus all their food etc while they were there (at London prices). They dog had a long schedule and couldn’t be alone for more than 2 hours so person A couldn’t go out and enjoy London while staying and felt pretty tied to the property because of the dog.

This was a week ago and person B has not paid person A a penny or even mentioned money.

Person A didn’t think to ask beforehand as the family have always paid and person A assumed the son would have done the same.

Person A doesn’t want to say anything to person B as they have future dog sitting booked with the family.

AIBU to think person B should have paid them something for dog sitting?

OP posts:
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whowhatwerewhy · 06/09/2025 11:40

Did you receive payment?

DoggingDave · 31/08/2025 19:40

We'd price it up beforehand then send over an invoice to be paid on completion. The sitter just needs to send and invoice to whomever it was who booked them!

Booboobagins · 31/08/2025 18:49

I'd mention it to their son, send your bank details and say,

'Hi, I noticed you didnt pay me for dog sitting then realised you don't have my bank details. Here they are, it's £.. for the 3 days. Cheers'

JLou08 · 31/08/2025 18:34

I'm guessing you're person A.
What's your relationship with this family? Are you a professional dog sitter? Are they close family members?
If you're a professional just send your invoice, which you probably should have discussed beforehand.
If its family it is a bit more complicated, they may think you were just doing them a favour and they owe you one. Again, you probably should have discussed it beforehand and if you're not a professional you can't really just send an invoice, you will have to talk to them.

Cakeandcardio · 31/08/2025 18:31

Can she just send her bank details and maybe a message with: Just in case you don't have my details. It's X per day or whatever it is

Pessismistic · 31/08/2025 18:23

Woofwalkies · 30/08/2025 20:13

Person A dog sits for a family regularly. They always pay them. Their adult son (Person B) wanted a dog sitter for 3 days while he attended an event.

This cost person A £80 in train fayres plus all their food etc while they were there (at London prices). They dog had a long schedule and couldn’t be alone for more than 2 hours so person A couldn’t go out and enjoy London while staying and felt pretty tied to the property because of the dog.

This was a week ago and person B has not paid person A a penny or even mentioned money.

Person A didn’t think to ask beforehand as the family have always paid and person A assumed the son would have done the same.

Person A doesn’t want to say anything to person B as they have future dog sitting booked with the family.

AIBU to think person B should have paid them something for dog sitting?

No one should be out of pocket for helping someone out need to ask for his money.

Pessismistic · 31/08/2025 18:21

The dog sitter should text the person and explain he has been waiting to be paid for dog sitting. Some people will just be cheeky and say nothing. If he gets nothing back he asks the parents if they mentioned to him that he does expect to be paid for him travelling out of his way giving up his time etc and when can he expect the money as he needs it.

pollymere · 31/08/2025 18:16

Send an invoice via text message saying it's payable on receipt.

Berthatydfil · 31/08/2025 16:40

Text him
hey Fred I’m just checking you have my bank details to pay for the recent dog sit. They are sort code 00-00-00 a/c 1234567.

Your parents usually pay me by bank transfer in advance /within 24 hours of the sit ending (or whatever).

The total cost of the sit was £x, which is my standard charge of £y per day plus an addition contribution towards my travel. If you can just confirm when you have sent it that would be great.

X

Whaleandsnail6 · 31/08/2025 16:31

I actually feel a bit sorry for person A but I think this mistake is on them and they could end up being out of pocket for this.

Its crazy that person A never thought to say to person B "my service costs £X amount per day, you happy to go ahead?"

I dont think think they have a leg to stand on now if they message person B with their price, and person B turns round and says "oh thats too much, I thought it was £y amount"

Maybe try and ask for money person A, but you kay end up writing this one off if B argues amount, and they value the custom from Bs family

Vaxtable · 31/08/2025 14:27

A needs to send B an invoice and ask for t to be paid

Hairshare · 31/08/2025 14:08

It’s true that the owner may have thought a stay in London was the payment especially as no money was mentioned. You can still ask but do acknowledge that you should have discussed it first . You could ask if they feel able to pay something rather than listing expenses and food .

GameWheelsAlarm · 31/08/2025 10:33

Person A is being idiotically unreasonable not to mention money.

"Hi B, I haven't had the money through for the dogsitting I did for you but I realise your Dad usually pays so you might not have my bank details. It's xxxxxxxx xx-xx-xx and the standard rate I'm usually paid for this job is £Y. It cost me a lot to do this for you, lovely as (dog's name) is, I can't do it for free"

Person B is probably just blissfully unaware and won't magically gain awareness without being told.

user2848502016 · 31/08/2025 10:16

Well lesson learnt for next time always agree payment beforehand “have checked train fares are X then expenses too, shall we say X amount for the 3 days?”

Also I would send a message now requesting payment and reminding of your bank details.

Family A can’t refuse further dog sitting if they usually pay you can they, they’re surely expecting that person B is paying

Redburnett · 31/08/2025 10:02

Just send a message requesting similar payment to what is usually received, instead of moaning to a bunch of strangers on the internet.

Imbusytodaysorry · 31/08/2025 10:01

@Woofwalkies thats tricky . If it been organised through the parents I’d just have sent a txt remaining payment was due as they haven’t receive it. I doubt the parents would like to think that their dog sitting was possibly jeopardised by sons lack of payment .

I’d possibly send the son and message asking for his email address so they could send through the invoice for dog sitting services.

Hollietree · 31/08/2025 09:21

Surely he’s just waiting for your invoice??

Moonnstars · 31/08/2025 09:13

Clompette · 31/08/2025 09:07

Agreed @Moonnstars . B might have got someone cheaper in or asked local friends had they been aware of the fees. It's not as simple as OP forwards all their expenses and B is obliged to pay it all uncomplainingly.

How much do you normally get paid OP?

Exactly. I agree its wrong that they haven't paid or mentioned it, but then A is also in the wrong for not mentioning it to begin with.
If they send an invoice now then B just might not pay it and if there is no contract or anything to suggest that payment was agreed then they can't really chase it up either.

CrowMate · 31/08/2025 09:08

Send an invoice and go from there.

Clompette · 31/08/2025 09:07

Agreed @Moonnstars . B might have got someone cheaper in or asked local friends had they been aware of the fees. It's not as simple as OP forwards all their expenses and B is obliged to pay it all uncomplainingly.

How much do you normally get paid OP?

moose62 · 31/08/2025 09:05

You are unreasonable as you should have laid out the terms for dog sitting in advance of agreeing.
Send him an invoice and ask for payment.
Stop being a doormat!

Moonnstars · 31/08/2025 08:53

pasturesgreen · 31/08/2025 08:45

Person A didn't dog sit out of the goodness of their own heart, so needs to stop dithering, start treating it as the business arrangement it is and ask for payment.

Should really have clarified it in writing beforehand, but now they need to produce receipts and ask, not wait for Person B to do the right thing. B unfortunately looks as though he's counting on A being too embarrassed to bring it up.

The issue to me is B might not have booked A if he knew the fees. This is why A needs to have made their costs clear from the outset. I don't hire someone to come and do any work (even a small job like window cleaning) without knowing the costs beforehand. Surely even if buying something in a shop if no price is shown on the item, I will ask before purchasing how much it is before committing.

B might have naively thought this friend of the family enjoyed dog sitting and that this was an opportunity for them to visit London.
It is unclear that A is actually a professional dog sitter and it sounds more like they are a friend of the family.

pasturesgreen · 31/08/2025 08:45

Person A didn't dog sit out of the goodness of their own heart, so needs to stop dithering, start treating it as the business arrangement it is and ask for payment.

Should really have clarified it in writing beforehand, but now they need to produce receipts and ask, not wait for Person B to do the right thing. B unfortunately looks as though he's counting on A being too embarrassed to bring it up.

SaladAndChipsForTea · 31/08/2025 08:41

Just bill him.

If it gets awkward then it's a bigger problem.for the regular dogsitting family as they will worry about you withdrawing from your next job and leaving them up shit creek.

Noone expects a free dogsitting service, especially not someone who was recommended to use you by someone who pays.

If anything, they will be baffled why you gave him freebie but charge them.

Just text an invoice. Now. Rip off the plaster and move your life forward.

Side note, are you really so delicate that you need to use person a and b nonsense? Just own your behaviour.

Fizzfamm · 31/08/2025 08:40

I voted yabu because it sounds like an informal 'babysitting' style arrangement, not a dog sitting business. I presume that the family who regularly require the dog sitting are local. Some people pay their babysitters, some don't e.g. if they are good family friends. So yabu to just assume what you have.

However, I don't think it's CF to ask for the money. Clearly you won't dog sit for person B again if he doesn't pay on this occasion, so you've nothing to lose - just ask about payment.