Sudden cancellation I'm not very pleased

[PissedOffPetSitter]

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.

Hello Brian. I’ve been contacted by someone called Mavis saying the booking is cancelled and I should return the keys. As the contract is with you, I need direct confirmation before making any changes. The cancellation at no notice has resulted in a £160 loss of income, so I wanted to make you aware of the impact. Please let me know how you’d like to proceed.

This sounds really dodgy, id want authorisation/confirmation from him before giving her the keys

She's sent this too

Sorry for the inconvenience. I left my job and asked Brian if I can stay with Flossy so she wouldn’t be alone over the next few weeks.

‘So’….feck that, whatever the hell her first bit is on about.
It’s Brian or nobody, as far as discussing this contracted work is concerned. Hope you get paid!

I'm thinking Brian is a bit of a simp.

Yeah, she’s a recent ex who has broken in!
(I had a cat named Flossie 50 years ago, and I’d never have left her care in the hands of such a slick burglar.)
Poor little scrap must be missing Brian 😿

Excellent

Get this sent first thing.

wimpy Brian has passed on your contact details

I noticed she's about half his age, too. When I first started animal care he had a different, age appropriate partner. Anyway I don't care about that, it's not relevant I'm just angry about the booking.

Definitely bill him, he might pay it, really bad form cancelling so late.

You've already done 7 days is that right? Tell him to revolute you that payment or ask the woman who is txting you.

I would be careful using the term “simp.” It has very derogatory connotations and is used in the “man-o-sphere” and incel groups to describe any man who is so “soft” that he respects women and their sexual autonomy. It may have originally meant a guy who gives too much, physically and emotionally, to a woman who doesn’t return his feelings, but it’s not just that anymore.

Wimp! Typo!

You CANNOT take instructions from a 3rd party.

contact Brian!

Tbh I'd chance it anyway OP.

"Okay, thanks for the message. Happy to offer my services should you need them in the future."

Then separately send "final/total bill is cancellation fee (x amount) to be paid by X date. "
Don't let them treat you like a mug!
I doubt he'll come back and say its not in the contract.

Don't engage with her further.
Until you receive instructions directly from your customer, do the job you have been given to do. If she won't let you in the house, report that to him.

And sort out your policies. You should never have even considered taking instructions from a third party without authorisation and you should have a clear cancellation policy.

Sensible to have contacted him directly. Hopefully he'll respond ASAP. The whole 'can't talk' thing anyway. Given that you were booked to check on his pet, he's presumably planning on being contactable, in case there's a problem like illness etc.

I've messaged him this morning telling him I've received a message from Mavis, I need direct confirmation from the owner, that it's had a financial impact on the business and also prevented me from taking a break myself. I've got one grey tick so he could have blocked me. (He's in Brazil). Now to message Mavis.

If he's in Brazil he will be sleeping, its the middle of the night there.

Yes I realise it's 3 hours behind. Mavis has read her message telling her my contract is always with the owner and I need to hear from him though. It really ruined my night.

You may not have a cancellation policy but you can still ask.

It is a big trust giving someone keys to your home and to take good care of your pet. It is in his interest that he can use you in future too. So although you have no cancellation policy I would hope he is still keen to pay at least 50%.

Many small businesses take 50% non refundable deposit, might be worth doing in future as easier than getting money from customers after cancellation.

Honestly, text him. Your contract is with him, not her.

I would not be handing over keys to someone I didn't know unless I got the instructions from he himself. You don't know who she really is.
All very odd and I wouldn't be trusting a stranger's advice.

I agree with changing your T&Cs going forward.

With my pet sitters I have to pay 50% up front as a deposit. It’s non refundable. I think they were burned like you in the early days of their business, hence the deposit clause. I have occasionally had to cancel/reschedule and they always offer to refund/transfer as a gesture of goodwill (but I am one of their most lucrative and longest term clients and, whilst I appreciate it, I usually decline the refund as I know it’s their livelihood - it’s too easy once the precedent is set to find yourself messing them around more often, so I like to stick to the rules).