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.

He should pay. I wouldn't work for him again, and if he asks you to, then tell him how much you lost and that you had accepted his job but could have looked for a different one if you'd had enough notice.

Surely if this is your job you have a clear cancellation policy?

You need to start charging upfront. Check out Time To Pet.

I didn't but I do from tomorrow.

Fucking rude, especially if she/they did not apologise.

May I ask how much you charge and which area are you in? I am a housesitter myself and always wonder what other's prices are

You were only going to charge £160 for all that work?

I think OP said it was something like £10 a visit popping in to see to the animals. I doubt she is factoring in tax, expenses, insurance, and all the other fixed outgoings if she is running it as a business.

It's the sort of fee school kids in my area charge for popping in twice a day to feed a cat.

It's literally on the next street to me and it's a 10 minute job. I've lost £160 on the days that were cancelled, that doesn't cover the whole job which was for 22 days.

My dog walker takes payment in advance weekly.

Surely there is something you can do as it wasn't the guy himself that is canceling you , it's his girlfriend??

Your understanding was with him not with girlfriend. So unless he contacts you personally to let you know this job is cancelled , you will continue to do the job. Do text him and let him know that and the fact that he owes you x amount for the job done so far...

You don't know who she is or if she is genuine. She could be a squatter or someone else trying to take his home. There is no way you should hand over his keys unless he expressly tells you to himself. You need to hear from him what is going on, but it sounds as though he has delegated the woman (household admin) work to her. 😟

My teenage DS does pet sitting and his T&C he gets a 20% deposit or the booking is not confirmed. Full payment required 5 days before booking. Come back early and tough. He has their money. These T&C are known about and he has repeat customers. He has full insurance, DBS and pet first aid training.

This is the way to do it Op.

Whilst it’s too late for this booking, I’d still message Brian & tell him he owes you £160 - worst he can do
is refuse to pay, so you’re no worse off than you are now. Definitely don’t hand his key over to anyone.

Sorry. I did read OP's posts but miseed the one about having contacted the man.

I think you also need to point out to him that you have turned down other work s you were committed to his booking and press that his last minute of change of plans left you with an unexpected financial hit in one of the most difficult financial months for everyone.

Remind him that it is usual business practise for a late booing to result in payment of a percentage, if not all, of the arranged fees.

You can't enforce it but you can make it very clear that his fuckery has real life consequences for you.

With any luck he might pay up to get you to go away.

Charge for your time dropping off the keys (do you have a minimum charge?), or alternatively be difficult and say that as you've managed to find another job at short notice, tomorrow is not convenient for you, so she'll have to collect them from you (at some very inconvenient time/place).

Sorry this has happened to you. The Pet Sitting Service I use take a non refundable deposit. Perhaps you should ask for a deposit, returnable if a suitable period of notice of cancellation is given.

Maybe you should change your T and Cs to say late cancellation means at least 50% charge?

Just contact him direct, tell him what has happened and ask him to confirm he doesn't need you. But say you still require payment.

And then see what happens.

Your contract was with him, not his gf. He is the one to cancel, not a third party. I would have continued with the contract and billed him.x

Youve done a great job taking on feedback and navigating this. The fact hes embarassed goes in your favor as he clearly has a conscious. However he has given her your number when he should have known it was his duty to cancel you in the first place so also a little careless of him. But if you can get some sort of compensatory payment you can overlook it as a blip on his part and learning curve on your part.
So in my opinion all thats left is for you to hand him a bill at the time you give his keys, this should be for 50% of the total due so £80 in this case. Outline that it is to cover the inconvenience and lost opportunity and express that you're looking forward to working with him again in the future, make it short and sweet.
I anticipate his opinion of you as a trusted pet sitter will have risen based on this situation because a) you have demonstrated due consideration to his pets care and his home, reliability and professionalism all valued attributes when handing over keys to your home and the care of your pet!

I hope he pays up please come back to update me/us?

He should pay you end of. What an AH.

She's not getting the keys. I'm holding on to them until 15/01 and giving them to Brian in person. He knows this.