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?

So is she actually planning to be at her own place while the builders are here, every day for 2 weeks? That's not much of a house sitting service. If she's just going there to let them in, surely she could ask a neighbour or something?

She is lying to you, so don't feel guilty about saying no. It would have taken builders no more than 2 visits max to resolve the leak. If she is having damage made good, then that is not urgent and can wait til she is no longer house sitting.

Is she spending the whole day at home while the builders are there? Did you have an agreement about how much time would have to be spent actually with your dog whilst dog sitting? Because I am concerned she is not even holding up her side of the agreement.

Tell her to give her builders a key, or just do an emergency repair as she is committed to being at yours so can't be there,

I agree with the previous poster who said see if you can hire a housesitter last minute and boot her out.

"Hi, CheekyTAlady. So sorry to hear about your leak - sounds like you want to be home to take care of things. I've booked in a professional company so that your not having to incur the extra expense and stress of hopping back and forth"

We are already abroad so hiring a professional firm now would be tricky as who would do the handover? The dog would be even more freaked out by a brand new person coming, I think. I'm going to leave it until we get back and see if I can manage to not stress for the rest of the holiday and summon a bit of courage for the return unless she insists on texting me again then I'm not sure what to do.

She is deffo taking the piss. Two weeks? I had a leak recently, water coming through the ceiling in the kitchen from the bathroom and it took two days total. First day to fix the leak which took a few hours then the next day to replaster the ceiling because it had dipped...again, a few hours.

If she texts again, fake a misunderstanding.

Like, "Are you sure you want to commit to the extra work for the whole two weeks? We currently get the dog walking for free, but even so, I think your offer of walking them to yours and back for £5 would be OK. Are you sure you want to commit to that for the whole two weeks? I can't mess around the people doing it for free so I need to know if you can do the whole time from now on or not."

I'd pay because I'd be worried about the dog but won't book her again.

Reply and say very vaguely that you will pay her when you get back. Then when you return pay her the £30 per day that you agreed and no more. Or you could ask her to submit her expenses like any normal employee would have to do.

One day to fix the leak and another day (when it has dried out) to replaster. She's taking the piss.

Another example of the lesson I have learned - painfully at times - over the years. Namely " cheapest is rarely best" and, if in doubt, "pay a professional".

Yeah yell her that is fine, then when you get back ask her to send you an invoice with utr on it for payment.

YANBU. I'd refuse to pay her because this isn't your problem and it doesn't take 2 weeks to sort a leak. I'd probably message something like "sorry but we agreed on an amount which I feel is more than fair given someone else walks the dog, and I'm confused as to why you need an extra £5 every day for a leak as it shouldn't take more than a couple of days at most to sort out."

I'd say no, and if she reneged on the original arrangement I'd threaten to sue her for breach of contract.

The thing is she has got you over a barrel because if you say no she can just say she won't look after your dog anymore. I would send a very cryptic/badly worded reply which makes it look like you are agreeing and then when you get back tell her she interpreted it wrong.

I would text her back. Text 1 : Oh my goodness what happened? Text 2: oh dear sounds horrendous. What are the builders going to do? Etc to elicit info and her to explain to you and get the low down. Give her some answers like: I can see you're in a bind, we'll sort something out when we get back. Try not to commit then tell her to stick it when you get home.

Just reply, " hope your leak gets sorted, how awful for you."There are people coming in to check the dog, so they will notice if she is not staying over.

I would ask how long she is expecting to do this for, text "how many days will this be for as obviously it does not take 2 weeks to fix a leak, please explain this arrangement further"

Discuss on return, at which point you tell her to fuck right off, the cheeky bitch. Effectively, she needs to stay overnight and can presumably come and go as she pleases in the day? Fixing a leak=organising workman, waiting at appointed time, maximum hour to fix leak if uncomplicated. Plumber fixed pipes the DH had accidentally nailed into within 30 minutes.

If her last email to you was "It will be £5 each day, for the next 2 weeks"

just reply with "Thanks, we'll sort this along with the invoice when I'm back on the 19th"

(and then obviously do not pay any more than the £30 agreed when you do get back home)

Get her to text you pix of dog to make certain she is even there.

I would reply..how lucky are you to have somewhere to stay while work is done..Lucky you don't have to pay additional rent ..

What maddening says.

£30 a day for no walks? Our dog walker ( through a reputable insured company ) charges £20 a day for holidays and looks after the dog in her own home plus a daily walk- you are being had even before she asked for the extra!

There is no leak. She's pulling a fast one.