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AIBU?

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Original poster

Sudden cancellation I'm not very pleased

204 replies

PissedOffPetSitter · 29/12/2025 22:21

I was booked for a job from 23/12 to 14/01. The guy has gone to his home country to visit family. When I went today there was someone in the house. I assumed he'd got back early and decided to contact him but I got a text from an unknown number which turned out to be his girlfriend.

She said he's not able to talk to me but has asked her to tell me to drop the keys off tomorrow because as she's there I'm not needed. I've lost £160 with this. I'm so cross.

I can't really expect him to pay. I've gone over and above with them before and I'm so annoyed.

OP posts:
SwaningAroundHereandThere · 30/12/2025 10:54

PissedOffPetSitter · 30/12/2025 10:19

That's gone out to all customers now.

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You need to take payment in advance.

Written T&Cs don't guarantee payment. Clients can ignore them.

The only way you can claim them (if the client signs the T&Cs and doesn't pay as they should) is by going through the Small Claims Court.

Even if this is just a 'hobby' type of job you need to be professional because people will muck you around.

Growlybear83 · 30/12/2025 10:44

I think you need to make sure that cancellation information is included in the terms of payment in your invoices going forward. It’s unlikely that you would be challenged, but make sure you keep the email trail for when you prepare your accounts so that you can explain why you didn’t receive the payment that you had been expecting.

Maiyakat · 30/12/2025 10:39

Our cat sitter requires 50% payment in advance to secure the booking, then the rest the day the sit starts.

Jugendstiel · 30/12/2025 10:37

I also agree with PPs that your contract is with him, so don;t hand over keys or ignore your obligations unless you get a message directly from him.

Jugendstiel · 30/12/2025 10:36

vanillalattes · 29/12/2025 22:25

If you’ve not got a cancellation policy in place then you can’t charge him.

I’m a pet sitter myself and charge upfront for all sits.

This is the way to do it. You charge up front with a cancellation fee that is full price if they cancel within 48 hours of the booking.

OccasionalHope · 30/12/2025 10:23

Also I would still go and check on the pets as agreed until your client contacts you.

Neveranynamesleft · 30/12/2025 10:19

Absolutely do not hand over any keys to anyone but the owner unless you have their permission. Could be a simple explanation but sounds dodgy to me.

Original poster
PissedOffPetSitter · 30/12/2025 10:19

GAJLY · 30/12/2025 10:15

For future bookings you’ll have to email your terms and conditions e.g number of days notice required for cancellation. You could say that you’re not very happy as you’ve lost money due to this cancellation and next time to please provide x number of days notice.

That's gone out to all customers now.

OP posts:
GAJLY · 30/12/2025 10:15

For future bookings you’ll have to email your terms and conditions e.g number of days notice required for cancellation. You could say that you’re not very happy as you’ve lost money due to this cancellation and next time to please provide x number of days notice.

LittleBitofBread · 30/12/2025 09:57

I think you’ve done exactly the right thing, OP. Chances are all is innocent and he’s genuinely asked his girlfriend to contact you, but with someone’s house keys and pets at stake it pays to be ultra-cautious. It’s also very professional of you to be so thorough. Unfortunately they clearly see it as more of a casual arrangement. I think adding a cancellation clause is a very good idea to protect yourself against something similar happening in the future.

Bikergran · 30/12/2025 09:57

Contact him direct. He may not even know she is there. Seems odd to me.

Andepeda · 30/12/2025 09:56

Sounds dodgy as hell to me.

BillyBites · 30/12/2025 09:55

Or, even if he did agree to it, that may not mean he wanted to cancel you. This may be all to do with her, not wanting to be disturbed by you coming and going.

Outside9 · 30/12/2025 09:54

I think YABU in the sense that this is just what comes with a business.

In future request deposits and set out cancellation via a contract.

B1anche · 30/12/2025 09:54

LIZS · 30/12/2025 09:41

Do you have a cancellation clause when they book? If so you could go to small claims if they refuse to pay up.

🙄 If only this had already been answered 107 times...

DeeLitefilly · 30/12/2025 09:54

I would have thought 50% would be reasonable as you have nothing written in your contract. You should try talking to him and explaining how you are affected first though. I do mean speak not TXT or message to emphasis and make it more professional.

BillyBites · 30/12/2025 09:54

So, she (apparently) asked him if she could stay in his house for a few weeks? How do we know he actually said yes?

DontbesorrybeGiles · 30/12/2025 09:46

I’ve listened to too many true crime podcasts but I’d want to make sure Brian was OK as it would feel very off that he didn’t let me know his plans had changed and suddenly isn’t able to talk to you, and this has all come from someone you don’t know. Wait until you’ve seen him in person, alive and alone. Then you can decide he’s a wimp.

LIZS · 30/12/2025 09:41

Do you have a cancellation clause when they book? If so you could go to small claims if they refuse to pay up.

Original poster
PissedOffPetSitter · 30/12/2025 09:33

Another client has a lodger. They messaged me from Cambodia to say the lodger was returning before they are but they were still going to pay me as agreed.

OP posts:
vanillalattes · 30/12/2025 09:32

SwaningAroundHereandThere · 30/12/2025 09:09

I know. I read her posts. It's still very cheap.

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Not really, £10.50 is a pretty standard price for a check in. It’s not a full hour - I charge about that for 20 minutes.

Agapornis · 30/12/2025 09:29

I'm also a cat sitter (£14 for 35-45 mins though). Don't return the keys until the owner is home. You don't want to risk the kitty being left alone/unfed. No pay = no keys.

Thankfully I have nice clients, on the rare occasion they cancel last minute, they still pay 100%. I usually offer to bank the visits for another time but that's rarely used.

HuskyNew · 30/12/2025 09:19

Anyusernamewilldo8963 · 29/12/2025 22:42

I'd want to hear the jobs cancelled and who to give the keys too directly from the person who hired you not some random from an unknown number who you "believe" is his girlfriend

This!!

don’t give his keys to a random stranger and don’t give them back at all til he pays at least half

ConnieHeart · 30/12/2025 09:13

SwaningAroundHereandThere · 30/12/2025 09:09

I know. I read her posts. It's still very cheap.

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Not really as it's only popping up the road to check on the pet. I get roughly the same for cat sitting

But I always get paid in advance.

SwaningAroundHereandThere · 30/12/2025 09:09

vanillalattes · 30/12/2025 09:04

OP is only doing drop in visits, not full days of work.

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I know. I read her posts. It's still very cheap.