Why do I need to pay for the service in advance of the stay?
What is it necessary to pay in advance of the stay?
3 Answers
I think Rover needs to revisit how they fully charge in advance. I am new to Rover and just booked a 10-day stay for my two dogs which will be in July. The full amount, $600, was taken from my account upon booking, even though the stay isn't for 4 months yet. I don't understand why they are entitled to hold all of my money until then. I can understand taking maybe a 20% holding fee, which would also allow them to know that the credit card info is legit, but to take the entire amount and hold it is unreasonable in my opinion.
Comments
In personally think Rover doesn't need to hold your money. If they have your credit card information, they can always charge it at the start of the transaction or get a downpayment close to the transaction date. Hotels hold credit card information and bill after your stay. Rover is not an airline.
It's easiest if you think of this like booking a hotel or flight - you pay at the time of reservation in order to hold your space.
If you are trying to book a trip very far in advance and simply don't want to pay until it gets closer, you could try asking the sitter. Some of my regular clients will message me their dates months a head of time, so I'll confirm my availability and 'pencil them in' on my calendar. A month or two before the stay I'll send them a booking request. If I receive other requests for those dates before the booking is completed, I message the owner to confirm they will still need me and proceed accordingly.
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This is not like making a hotel reservation. When making a hotel reservation, it's just that, you are making a reservation and not charged for the hotel stay until that date of the stay. Seems like payment is required so interest can be made before given to Sitter.
I bet it's exactly that. They make money on the interest. I'm sure they aren't paying the sitter immediately.
Paying ahead ensures that the Sitter will be paid in the end. The Sitter does not actually receive the money until 48 hours after the Service is complete. That way in the unlikely event that there was a problem with the Service the Owner has an opportunity to dispute the charge.
Comments
oh, so the sitter doesn't get the cash - but, http://rover.com gets all the interest. i see.
This is not like making a hotel reservation, as I read in a previous answer to another pet owners question as to why a pet owner has to pay before services. Seems like Rover is taking payment before services are completed so that interest $$ can be made before the Sitter is paid. : /
I agree. It seems your payment should be due at most a day ahead of the scheduled service. Why should they make money off our money?
Agree, I have a stay scheduled in over a month from now.