What if the sitter cancels at the last minute?
Worried about using this service as my vacation plans cannot be canceled if sitter cancels last minute.
3 Answers
In addition to Karen's answer, I'd suggest that at the meet & greet with possible sitters, you inform them that you want to find at least two sitters who you can book with, realizing that sometimes one person may not be available (due to vacations, illness, etc.), so you have flexibility to alternate booking services between two sitters.
When you decide who to book with, let your second choice sitter know that you'd like to use them as an alternate if something should happen with the person you book and again mention that you plan to book them in the future too.
That way if something happens, you've already selected an alternate and kept the conversation open with them.
Rover will do its best to find you a replacement. Its reservation protection policy is laid out here:
https://www.rover.com/reservation-pro...
I realize that a refund isn't your concern because of your own vacation plans being in place but they will try to find a replacement.
Rover will help you find a last minute replacement. I have never had to cancel on a client, but have taken in dogs that have had last minute cancellations and/or the sitter decided that he/she could not care for the dog for whatever reason.
Do a Meet & Greet. Ask what back-up plans the sitter has in place if something happens during the stay. I have back-up sitters that I have met and/or used to care for my dogs. I refer to them when I'm full and they would be my first go-to if something were to happen while I had a client. (Severe sickness/hospitalization, death in the family that required travel, etc).
Also find an alternate sitter that you like to have as a back-up. Ideally, this would be someone that often has a lot of availability. That way if the sitter needs to cancel (or transfer your dog), you would be able to request this person.
For the holidays this year, I'm planning to fly out and visit relatives after my Christmas clients go home. However, should one of my clients be delayed and I need to leave for my flight, I have an alternate sitter that I can transfer to. When my Christmas clients book with me near my vacation days, they are told my travel plans and who my contingency sitter is.
Hello! If a sitter cancels last minute then Rover will help you reach out to new sitters. They usually reach out and coordinate for you. They also will look at why the sitter backed out and possibly mark it against them.
Hi! This happened to me the morning we were leaving on vacation for 2 weeks. I know this is an old post and you've probably figured it out, but it was a literal nightmare. For anyone else reading this, I would advise to use something else other than Rover.