AIBU to think this isn't really my problem and I shouldn't be paying for it?

[EvangelineP]

We have gone abroad for 2 weeks holiday and have left one of the TAs from my DCs school to house sit/dog sit. We agreed on £30 per day. The professional companies charge £35 - £40 per day but are bonded/insured etc. She doesn't need to walk the dog as friends are doing it. It's really just to keep our old dog company really as he wouldn't cope with being left overnight. This morning she texted me to say she had a leak in her flat and has had to go back and forth to home every day to let the builders in and wants to be reimbursed for her travel an extra £5 per day. While I do feel bad that she has had a leak in her flat I don't really see why I should pay for her travel. I'm fairly sure I will pay it to not be awkward but I'm not happy about it. AIBU?

No way is that your problem and you shouldn't pay!

Nope, not your problem.

Also are you really paying £30 to not walk a dog?

No way! Not your problem

Of course YANBU. I think you probably already knew that . I'm not sure why you would consider paying it. . £30 a day for two weeks seems a generous amount for housesitting.

She didn't feel embarrassed or awkward to ask you for the money so I don't understand why you would feel awkward saying that you won't pay. It seems a bit silly.

No you shouldn't be paying her travel expenses. Not your problem at all.

So in the 2 weeks she's dog sitting, wouldn't she have been going home at all during the day anyway to check on her house

YANBU but at the minute you're in rather a vulnerable position as she's in your home with your dog.
Could you ring up one of the professional dog sitters see if they can pick up at short notice? If you're going to have to pay £35 per day far better it goes to a professional.

YANBU at all but I worry what might happen if you refuse to give her the extra, might she just quit altogether?

If anything, she should be giving you a discount. You are paying her to stay at your house. If she goes home every day, she isn't doing the job you are asking her to, so you should pay her only for the hours she is working, not the hours she is travelling and at her own home.

She is taking the piss. She accepted the job. If she has to go back to her house that is her issue. I think she has a massive cheek really.

Cheeky moo! not your problem. If she was doing you a favour for free then it would be a kind gesture on you behalf to offer her some money for the travel but given that you are paying her a good rate then not your problem. If she had to go home everyday at lunchtime from school to let workmen in would she ask the headteacher for travel costs? No!

Message her back saying that you'll discuss it on your return as you don't have access to any banking facilities on your holiday.

When you return indeed discuss it - and say no.

Can't you find someone else who isn't a piss taker?

Don't say you don't have access to banking facilities as it implies you will be reimbursing her. I would ignore the message altogether until you get back.

I wouldn't say no in case she flounces. Can you say you will discuss it when you get back - and then say no?

I agree with PP in that she would have had to go back some days anyway so she is taking the piss.

Nope. She should be refunding you.

Why on earth should you reimburse her? She's not letting the builders in for you.

I think she's found out that professionals get paid £5-£10 more and has found a way to increase her pay, while forgetting she's not a professional

To avoid her saying that she won't be sitting the dog anymore cancelling the arrangement/doing something awful while she has access to your home etc I'd tell her you'll discuss it when you're home.
Then tell her politely or not that she's a cheeky cunt

plus a professional company has lots of overheads and taxes. you are paying generously

The cheeky bitch! No way should you give her anything extra. But I would definitely not be saying that until you get home as someone who is that brazen is almost certainly capable of just stopping the house sitting because she's pissed off you said no. Just say you'll think about it and let her know. Or don't reply at all.

I've just realised she's asking for the £5 per day even on weekends when surely the builders aren't at her house. Does it really take two weeks to fix a leak? I feel like she's just decided she wants to get paid more. I'm really dissappointed and now worried about our old dog. I think we will just use a professional house/dog sitter next time as now I feel quite stressed about the whole thing. My only response to the text was to ask her how much more she wanted thinking if it was just a few days then fine but she's asking for an extra £5 every day. I'm awful at confrontation but it doesn't feel nice to be taken advantage of either.

Tell her you will pay her and then when you come home tell her to eff off . I would worry bout the bow wow too but she is having a laugh

Def don't pay the extra. What a cheek. I'd there anyone at all that could step in if she does quit? Poor old dog. She sounds charmless.

She's blackmailing you as she can say if you don't give her the £5 extra she won't visit and then you will have noone to look after the dog.