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New client I haven't met is making me nervous. How can I verify him in advance?

A new client booked me for 2 drop-in cat visits 6 weeks in advance. I'm supposed to pick up the key today and start the first drop-in visit tomorrow. So, why am I so nervous and scouring the internet and Rover to find out how I can screen this client? I can't believe that Rover doesn't have a way for me, a Rover pet sitter, to verify the legitimacy of a new client?

The reason he has made me nervous is because he continues to ask me to text him at his personal number, ignoring my requests to just use the Rover number. He told me to text him at his personal number six weeks ago and he is doing this again today when it's time to pick up the key. He says he does not answer phone calls not in his contacts and he has no voice mail. Yet he told me I could drop by anytime this past six weeks to pick up his key. No profile pic and I can't see his house on Zillow, will check it out before picking up key. He may be extremely set in his ways, so I'm checking with other sitters to see if you've heard of any issues with clients wanting to avoid going through Rover for non-financial reasons.

Comments

Money may be tight, he may be set in his ways - no matter. Never give out your personal information , and always trust yourself. If you can't get someone to go with you to the meet and greet, cancel. No amount of money is worth your safety or life. Take care, Liz.

Call rover support to verify. Don't go alone, I've had my husband come with me to the clients house, he helps me when needed. If the client doesn't like it then it wasn't meant to be. If I'm nervous about a client I take my husband. I also research the address, look at the street view on maps & FB

4 Answers

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I want to know why I can't see a potential new client's address, but they can see mine, without booking a stay. That is VERY suspicious to me. I'm beginning to think that Rover has NO interest in my privacy when it comes to new clients searching ME out and knowing everything about my home, but I can't do the same for potential new clients. What if that client is homeless or lives in an apartment and doesn't take proper care of their dog? Then I have to take my chances based on ONE meet n greet?

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I agree that your best course is to call Rover support today. They can view the user's history and see previous booking etc. I would have recommended that you pick up the key long ago, but even at this point, you could try to find a pet friendly relative or friend who would be willing to go with you. Explain to the cat owner that your friend and you are going somewhere before or after you pick up the key and they can wait outside while you go inside to see where all of the cat's stuff is that you'll need to know about. If nobody can go with you, give the address and ask someone you trust if they can check in with you at a specific time (maybe like an hour after you meet cat owner) to let them know you returned home safely.

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Did you talk to Rover support? I hope you did if you are freaking out like this. Same thing happened to me with my last sitting. I always check out who the client is. I like to verify names and address, usually with a voter office or property records. But this time these two people who hired me just didn't exist and that has never happened to me before, so I contacted Rover support, telling them about my problem, and they verified it for me and let me know the clients are legit, used their services many times before etc.

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How do you do this if you do not have the last name of the client? I asked but did not get it.

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Trust your instincts. If you are uncomfortable then decline this booking.

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Absolutely