What to say to lying dog walker?

[oobeedoiwannabelikeyou]

Sent home sick from work yesterday, still off sick today. DH messaged walker at 9am to say dog was fine (she had been ill last week)
Dog walker messaged back saying Perfect I'll be to take her out.
Comes to 12pm no walker, DH messaged again to say where are you?
She messaged back saying she'd been and gone from 8:45-9:45 and would be back at 2pm.
DH said that's not true and that I was at home.
Walker messaged back assuring him she'd been.
DH said he would be coming home to walk her as I was too sick to and not to bother coming back in the afternoon.
She maintains she had walked her.
SHE DIDN'T I WAS AT HOME WITH HER!
Anyway the trust is gone, Therefor she is going. How do I word this?
I know she's lied and doesn't obviously give a shit but I would like to hold my head up high walking past her knowing I was right and handled it correctly without flying off the handle.
Please wise women if mumsnet help me with wording a message.

[64BooLane]

It’s so weird though. Could it not still be an error? It’s not as if she was actually saying “oh I am with her now” at 8:45. It’s more that she has given a response later on in the day that doesn’t match with her own response earlier in the day. Which does sound like bit of a brain fog moment.

Of course she hasn’t turned up, which is a problem in itself. But surely the actual contradictory messages must have a slightly more in-depth explanation than plain old brazen lying? because they don’t even seem to make sense as lies.

[FetchezLaVache]

Friend of mine caught the Cat Feeder and Cuddler out with Hive, I believe - she said she'd been there for half an hour, as agreed, but he could see from his phone that the front door had been opened and closed twice, six minutes apart.

Could be an option for anyone who has concerns about their dog walker's veracity.

[QuestionableMouse]

Any chance she's mixed you up with someone else?

[Confused2018]

Don’t know what to say really OP if she’s seemed fine up til now and you’ve been happy with her services then it might be worth more of a ‘discussion’ even if you are terminating her services.

And to those saying slate all over social media, get hold of other customers and message them etc, I’m a member of a dog walkers networking group and there have been a few customers names bandied around to avoid, avoid, avoid. In fairness, these customers it seems weren’t really justified in their complaints, but it was the way they handled their complaints with their previous walkers that have been raised within our networking group. I would avoid doing anything that would put other walkers off walking for you if you need another one and this does include messaging other customers/ slagging off over social media etc. You don’t know what lies the walker could spin to try and twist the truth etc. I just don’t think it looks very good from either party tbh.

There is a TERRIBlE dog walking company around here, I have taken on 9 ex customers of theirs just in the last year alone and at the meet and greet the customers have explained why they’d left the past walking company (some really horrendous reasons, they really are a shite company!) but they’ve all been unanimous in the fact that they’ve remained dignified throughout and just left without any public slanging matches. I think I’d take that route personally but up to you how you want to handle it!

[oobeedoiwannabelikeyou]

Confused2018

I would genuinely love to scream it from the rooftops and I'm tempted to change my review from 5 stars to no stars, and completely slate her but the fact of the matter is that as far as I know this has been a one off.
The blatant lie has genuinely angered and frustrated me and all the trust is completely gone, I know that if we kept her on I would be coming home at lunchtime to check and walk my girl so it would defeat the purpose of paying her.

[Piffpaffpoff]

Friends of mine put in a webcam to keep an eye on the dogs and this quickly showed that the 1hr dog walk they were paying for was actually a 5 min dash round the garden. They binned that dog walker and I hope you do the same!

[AnimalBrain]

A dog walker in our dog park was DRUNK yesterday! Id have given anything to contact the owners!
You’re doing the right thing OP, providing you’re 100%

[oobeedoiwannabelikeyou]

I know I said earlier in the thread I wouldn't be keeping quiet but all the questions has me thinking that as far as I'm aware it's just a one off so better to cut my losses.
If asked though I will be telling people of my experiences.
Will message walker tomorrow and let you all know how it went.
I'm sad this happens so regularly poor pooches.
Thank you all very much for your input

[Gemini69]

your poor Dog

[oobeedoiwannabelikeyou]

Drunk?!?
That's bloody ridiculous.
I think there should be some sort of dog walking qualification that people should sit before they can register!

[AjasLipstick]

If I were a dog walker, I would send a picture daily of the dogs going on their walk. I imagine many dog owners would like that anyway and it reassures them too.

[melj1213]

I wouldn't go slagging her off all over FB, I tend to find that if it gets to "slagging off" rather than a factual recollection of events then people write it off as a disgruntled customer trying to smear a business' reputation rather than a genuine issue.

I would message her back and ask her to explain herself about not turning up, the conflicting story and the dodgy timeline (why would she reply to DH's first message to say she'd be by later if her subsequent messages assert that she was supposedly with your dog when he sent that first message?!) - as unlikely as it is, there's always a possibility that there was a genuine mix up/misunderstanding/emergency and the walker lied to try and cover up their mistake/emergency and it spiralled.

I'd still tell them that you don't want to use their services any more (unless they had a really good explanation) but I think that you should give them one chance to explain and hopefully they will be graceful enough to apologise too.

[StormiTeacakes]

Maybe she thought your dog would still be ill, so made other plans then couldn't fit you in. She should have said that though. The subsequent lies and the fact that she was just going to take your money away mean that you can't trust her anymore.

[Kitsharrington]

Has she confused you with another client?

[BarbarianMum]

Yeah, like expect them to turn up and walk your dog.

This woman lied to you and stole from you. How lucky that you caught her out on the one and only occasion that she's done this.

Can't believe you'd leave her with a 5 star review to help her lure other suckers in.

[GabsAlot]

confused how does that help though

the bad company are still taking on unsuspecting clients becaused noone will say anything publicly

yeah its good to have pride isnt it while peope are ripping you off

[Hortonlovesahoo]

Your poor dog :( we’re very lucky with our dog walkers but I’ve heard stories similar to what you said. I’d be factual but polite about her lie and see what she does and if she replies.

[GU24Mum]

It sounds as though there's no logical explanation but it's an odd message/set of timings. Before you up the ante, I'd speak to her/message her and sort out exactly what happened ie the "I'm really confused - you've told OH that you were here between X and Y with the dog but I was also here with him at the same time and didn't see you so can you explain the message?" In the [unlikely] event that you get an explanation you can live with, you can decide whether to try again; assuming you don't just tell her that as she hasn't been straight with you clearly you need to find someone you can trust - and please can she give you a refund for the time she said she was with you today but wasn't.

[biscuitmillionaire]

I think dog walking services are regulated by your local council, some certainly have a maximum number of dogs they're allowed to walk at once. So you could try reporting to the relevant department.

[ScattyCharly]

I'd try and be polite and send a message saying;

hello, please can you clear this up for me, I was off work sick today and sittign on the sofa with the dog waiting fo you to come for the walk. you told (husband) that you had been and walked the dog at 8.45-9.45 but dog was with me. i am very uncomfortable about having to pay you for this dog walk because it did not happen thanks

[ChardonnaysPrettySister]

Those poor dogs, sitting there crosslegged waiting to be walked.

This is what you say OP.

You are fired, bitch.

[Twoweekcruise]

Oh, your poor doggies, that’s just off.
I’m a dog walker ( and a dog owner) and would never do this, my dogs love my visits and are over the moon to see me.
A couple of my customers have cameras in their homes ( the ones where they can chat to the dogs) and the others always leave out a treat or balls/ leads etc so they know I’ve been as I always return them to a different area.
I would have to call or txt and tell her I was at home all day with the dogs just to see what her reaction is.
It pisses me off there are people out there taking advantage.
Hope you find someone much more reliable. Good luck.

[Skittlesandbeer]

Whatever you choose to respond with, make damn sure you get your keys back first. And change any codes.

You know she’s dishonest, and doesn’t care about animal welfare. Imagine what she’d be capable of when she’s also humiliated and pissed off?

[Twoweekcruise]

biscuit unfortunately there is no regulation, anyone can set up a dog walking or pet service!

[GlitteryFluff]

As others have said It does sound odd that she replied to your DH's 9am text with times 8.45-9.45 as that wouldn't work out right?