To think it’s tight not to pay?

So no money was mentioned at any point? Then I think person A needs to write this off as being foolish for not being upfront with their costs.

I am assuming the usual dog sitting arrangement is to a friend as surely person A wouldn't run a business like this. Maybe this family told their son they usually ask their friend to sit for them and gave son the details. He may have wrongly assumed that as a friend they don't normally pay, and the family might not have realised they needed to tell their son to do this assuming person A would make it clear.

What was said when person B asked about dog sitting? Did person A just say yes that's fine with no discussion of payment or covering costs? As that's on them not to bring it up.

Also, choosing a username like Woofwalkies rather gives the game away.

If you are doing this professionally/semi-professionally, you need to be much more on the ball with arranging terms in advance, @Woofwalkies .

I agree with raising it with your usual contact and perhaps mention the expenses you incurred just to get to the job. Hopefully they'll be mortified by their son's tardiness but if they're not, you're on a hiding to nothing as you did not specify this was paid work beforehand, far less what your fee would be.

Person A should put on their big pants and send person B a message. There are lots of good examples upthread.

Person B is a cf to expect it for free when his parents always pay. I can't believe the parents would be cross at person A for requesting payment as they always pay. Perhaps they don't know that their son has not paid?

This. How stupid is person A. And not they’re even more fool being scared to ask for the money.
Is person A very young?

Why didn’t you agree a price beforehand?

Send them a message with an amount, otherwise you run the risk that when/if he pays he'll think he can just bung you £30.

Don't be embarrassed. Be upfront and make him embarrassed

It’s shitty that he hasn’t at least asked you how much he owes you but I’m wondering if he knows that his parents usually pay you, or does he think you do it for free?

Never commit to doing a job without agreeing the terms first, it’s unprofessional and leads to this kind of mess. Send an invoice to the person you sat for and if it’s not paid by the date you specify, eg 7 days from now, mention it to their family. Hopefully the lesson is now learned and you won’t have this problem in future.

Person A should not have assumed

Person A (which is clearly you) is being unreasonable.

How did you at no point mention the cost and expectation of payment and how is person B supposed to know what to you pay you when you appear to have not sent your bank details or told them how much to pay?

I'm also confused as to how you couldn't explore London. Surely you would just take the dog with you?

and pointlessly confusing

This

And not write posts with all the person A and person B stuff - as it's both annoying and unnecessary.

Yes, this 👆

Person A needs to use their words and message B asking for payment

Person A should have established the payment amount/terms in advance. The comment about not being able to go out and feeling tied to the property makes it seem as though person B perhaps thinks this was a house sit type situation you get a free stay in London in return for looking after the dog. If that was roughly the agreement I don't think you can retrospectively demanding payment and expenses

Person A is a fool for not organising payment agreement beforehand and needs to grow up and speak to person B!

Person B is probably waiting for a message to let him know how much to pay.

This.

Why in heavens wouldn’t you want to send a message like this? It’s polite, factual and fair.

The parents always pay, so this won’t jeopardise a booking with them, as it’s all normal and to be expected.

Send him an invoice?

Dear Person B

I hope you are well and had a good holiday.

Regarding my recent dog sitting services supplied to you. Please could you provide payment for my incurred costs and charges at my usual rates as per my attached invoice.

Please can you settle this within x days.

With thanks

A.

No one would expect someone to do this for free! He's either a CF or has completely forgotten (outside possibility).

If he doesn't pay then I'd say to his parents before you next work for them, 'did person B think you were paying me?' If that were my son I'd be mortified and pay you immediately.

Just send person B your invoice along with bank details stipulating your usual payment timeframe.

how does the family pay Person A.. in cash at the end of the job..

Person B has avoided asking how much, how do you like to be paid, bank details etc..

He thinks he can avoid paying. and he will probably underpay. Before he sends you a derisory payment

Send a detailed invoice. include your travel. He can argue about it if he wants but the money should be in black and white. Dog sitting is a business for Person A ... not a charity for family members of her regular employers that she doesn't really know. Person A needs to stop tip toeing around this and get the wages she earned. Its his fault for not clarifying how much. She assumed Family would have told B when they gave him his number. What a chancer!

I don't think B's family who always pay up would block Person A and stop employing, they are more likely to be cross with person B for showing them up. Good dog sitters are hard to find.

Geeze! If anyone asks me to do anything for them (unless I owe them a massive favour) I give them a price. I usally I will tell them that my "terms of trade" are XX. I dont drive so even if I agreed to do the favour I would ask for my transport money up front. Can nere understamd why people are shy about asking for money.

How did you, or your friend/relation Person A, get as far as spending £80 to travel to a paid-for dog sitting job without raising the subject of payment at all?

We do live in a world where a website offering more or less free house and pet sitting is available. Person B sounds cheeky at best, but Person A is being an absolute doormat and should not have assumed about the payment before committing to the job.