To think it’s tight not to pay?

[Woofwalkies]

Person A dog sits for a family regularly. They always pay them. Their adult son (Person B) wanted a dog sitter for 3 days while he attended an event.

This cost person A £80 in train fayres plus all their food etc while they were there (at London prices). They dog had a long schedule and couldn’t be alone for more than 2 hours so person A couldn’t go out and enjoy London while staying and felt pretty tied to the property because of the dog.

This was a week ago and person B has not paid person A a penny or even mentioned money.

Person A didn’t think to ask beforehand as the family have always paid and person A assumed the son would have done the same.

Person A doesn’t want to say anything to person B as they have future dog sitting booked with the family.

AIBU to think person B should have paid them something for dog sitting?

YANBU but person A shouldn’t have spent the time and money without checking the situation regarding payment first

I would message your usual family contact. Just a quick nudge that person B hasn’t yet paid me for my recent dog sit. Please could you ask him to transfer asap….

im wondering if person B is thinking that their parents maybe paying?!

Why wouldn’t person A have broached this with person B before now. A simple message saying “Hey B, I was expecting to hear from you re payment. Your parents usually pay X but my train fare was £80 on top of that. Here are my details, cheers”.

A sounds like a right doormat. Why put yourself out that much when you’re not being paid?

I can’t imagine spending a single £ nevermind £80 on transport, attending and essentially working for 3 days without having at any point discussed how much I’d be getting paid for it. Person A really should have had these conversations beforehand.

So the son is the son of the family she usually dog sits for? How old is he?

Did he think his family were going to pay? Like you've got an arrangement with them and just add those hours onto their invoice?

Someone needs to pay. That's for sure.
Just invoice him for the same amount you would if it was any other member of that family.

If he ignores you raise it with the other family members who paid you previously. Not to ask them to pay, but just to get him to stop ignoring the request.

This is what I’d do.

Person A should have clarified before agreeing

Also, it sounds like person A had to pay a lot out initially for this pet sitting job. Are they a friend/family member and does B know they usually get paid? I can't see that person A comes away with much for this job after expenses?

What’s with the person A and person B nonsense?

And have you sent person B your bank details? If not then contact the person in your family you usually speak to and ask whether they can forward on your bank details or if you should send them to B directly

Why would Person A spend money up front for a job without clarifying in writing how much they are getting paid and organising out of pocket expenses to be paid in advance. Person A doesn't sound very savvy to me.

I would respect person As decision over not saying anything since to travel down to London alone they’re obviously not a child. I’m sure they’ve learnt a lesson from this and I wouldn’t want to stress them out more by making them think their future dog sitting may be in jeopardy.

So Person B doesn't live with his parents, or in the same city, but also has a dog. Did he independently contact Person A to ask them to dog and house sit?
"Yes Joseph, I can do that no problem. Your parents usually pay me £X per day but since you're in London I will also need Y for the train fare"

Person A was an idiot for not establishing about payment from the off tbh

They need to message about it now

Person A should just ask for their money. I think person A may lose out on train fares if it wasn't agreed first but should be paid the sitting rate

Just invoice Perosn B

No, person B doesn’t live with his parents and person A and B communicated directly via text message

The son approached you directly, so don't bring his parents into it to call in the debt.

Was there no mention of the cost per day before the dates, routine etc were agreed? No messages you could refer to to confirm the agreement you had?

Eta - it's not tight not to pay, it's very wrong. He can't think you do this voluntarily. Give him a nudge, he'll probably be embarrassed that it's slipped his mind.

More fool A to not check travel costs were covered Let alone payment so I would invoice ./text B and say totally is x amount. Here’s my details

How does person A know the family? Are they family friends? I get the impression they’re not clients of a dog sitting business since pricing wasn't agreed and you haven’t invoiced them. Is it possible that the son thought person A was offering to help them out as a friend?

(Even so, they could at least pay the train fare and food but I’d have asked up front)

Person A needs to message person B and ask for their money.

They should have gone it clearly set out before dog sitting tbh but that being said, the next best thing is to do it now

What did person A agree with B? There must have been a chat about cost?

as much as it’s very rude not to pay or offer - it’s also going to be awkward to now ask for money when that wasn’t maybe discussed? B is within rights to refuse to pay or pay what is asked, as there’s no contract (I’m making this assumption). Not saying that’s right!! But that’s what could happen

send a WhatsApp asap !!!!

Hi person B hope you had a great trip.

Fido was great fun to look after.

Enclosed my bank details

12-34-56. A/c123456789. Dog bank, Manchester. for you to transfer the £200 owed for dog sitting.

Best wishes Doug (not mug)

Person A should have agreed the price with Person B beforehand i.e. saying yes I'm happy to do this and my fee is x pounds!

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.

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 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.

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