I'm about to do a meet and greet and am getting a bad feeling about it. I do sitting in owners home only so I need to be at his home. Is there any background check or screening done with new owners using Rover?
it doesn't seem that pet owners undergo background checks and I think that's messed up. in using Rover, BOTH parties (owner and sitter) are engaging in very personal business with people they don't know...entrusting strangers with their beloved pets on the owners parts, and on the sitters parts, sleeping, which is when we are most vulnerable, in an unfamiliar place belonging to people they don't know. to me it's a no brainer to start performing background checks on pet owners, at least if the sitter is going to spend any time in the owners home.
Hi Darla, Beyond credit card payment authorization and collection of their name/phone/address/email, I'm not aware of additional measures of checking background or screening by Rover. I'd suggest follow your instincts. Here are a couple recent links that you may want to read. www.rover.com/community/question/8700... www.rover.com/community/question/6555...
I just had a similar situation. I was asked to watch 2 dogs by a person back in January. We tried scheduling 2 M&G and he cancelled both but kept saying you're watching my dogs, right? I was willing to help and said yes. I turned down 2 other possible sittings and this weekend he no calls no shows. He did not pay so I guess that is my fault and lesson learned. Still frustrating because I gave him my address and cell.
If the customer hasn't paid, then the job isn't booked. Since you made a verbal agreement, the most you can be expected to do was contact him one last time and if no answer or payment, then you would be free to accept another job.
Yes, I know that. I was just airing my frustration. Like I said, lesson learned.
Old question/post I know but wanted to put in my two cents. I do drop in visits and sleep overs at the clients home. Before each meet and greet so far I have been quite concerned about my safety regarding who these people are in addition to the location of the sleepover in urban Philadelphia. It is many times a guy who initially contacts me which concerns me until I find out he has a wife and kids then I feel a little better about the M&G and ultimate booking. I have not done so to date but think it is a very good idea to have someone go to the M&G with you if only to stand outside or sit in the car. Whenever I go to one, I give the address where I am going to my husband. You just never know who you're dealing with and better safe than sorry. I have had 2 different "trolls" message me about sitting their dogs asking me if I would be willing to brush their dogs teeth and an escalating series of bizarre questions ending up in them telling me the Rover app was not working well and could I call them. Within a day, one of those "clients" profiles was suspended from Rover and I was instructed by Rover not to communicate any further with them. Don't know if it was just some young kid having sick fun or an adult with ill intentions....
I was contacted only days ago and the stay starts tomorrow. We scheduled the m&g for last night but was rescheduled for tonight leaving no time to interview anyone else if it doesnt work out.
To suggest to someone to "follow their instincts" when it comes to this particular situation is absolutely terrible advice. There is no way for you to know if a person is good or bad, or if the person is legit. Just make sure you do a meet and greet in public or with someone else. Carry pepper spray
There is no better check system than to follow your intuition. If you feel something is "off", you're probably right. Meet in a public place and be proactive in protecting yourself. It's your business - you choose your clients. You do not have to book every client.