OT: I am sooooo upset!!!!

[Nini]

We went on our annual trip to Cape Cod w/dh's extended family. We have two dogs & one cat which we left at home with a Pet Sitter (bonded & insured). I met with her on Friday before we left (left that Sat.) and gave her specific verbal instructions on keeping the dogs in the kitchen during the day and the office (with crate for puppy) in evenings. I TOLD her that the puppy is in a chewing phase and I did NOT want him having access to our living room when we weren't there. I even demonstrated where to place the gate and how to use it. I even marked in RED the lock position!!!!

What did she do?!?!?!?!?

She basically took the pressure mount gate and leaned it against our SOFA and small bookcase with our three barstools to prop it up!!!! Needless to say, our sofa is totally damaged beyond repair. I won't even be able to have it reupholstered. THe horrible thing is that I just bought the sofa last August!!!!!!!!

There were poop stains on my oriental rug as the older dog (8yrs. & TOTALLY house trained) was stung by bees and became ill.

I am heartsick and angry beyond words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I asked her if her insurance would cover it, she said that "they don't cover anything like that"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to spit obscenities....needless to say she wants the remaining balance and I am NOT paying it!!!!

I cannot find an ANGRY enough icon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pyrxtc]

well if her insurance won't cover it then she should. Pay her and take her to small claims for evrything that was ruined. Get written estimates on what the cost would be for the same sofa (type) and pay for the rug to be spot cleaned professionally and add it to your bill. Present her with bill then she can decide court or not. That is horrible!! Why have insurance if it doesn't cover this stuff!

 

[Julia M]

Well, I'd be pretty surprised that she knew exactly what her insurance would and wouldn't cover. I would send a formal letter, stating what you see happened, and how you want it resolved. I would send it certified, and keep all the paperwork. It sounds like there is enough damage to pursue this kind of action.

Julia

 

[Nini]

I have already drawn up a letter and I need to meet with her to get our house key back before I give her a copy of the letter. I even have photographs as my camera was nice and handy just being back from vacation and all!!!!

I will give her a copy of the letter instead of the remaining balance ($85) after she hands me my house keys. I am also sending the original letter w/photocopies certified mail return receipt requested to her. She only has three options in my opinion...pay outright, submit it to her insurance, or go to small claims!!!!!

Am I being unreasonable?!?!!

 

[epcotfan]

I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. It makes me appreciate the wonderful petsitter I have. I've heard so many horror stories about a certain chain of petsitters that do a lousy job. I always tell the lady that looks after my guys that she can never quit or die because I don't want to have to use another service.

You said you gave her verbal instructions regarding their care. Did she take any notes? Or did you put anything in writing? The only reason I ask is perhaps some of the information was misconstrued. I always type out detailed instructions for my pet's care and give two copies to my petsitter and then keep one for myself so I know everything was spelled out clearly. Then there is no confusion. I also go over everything I've written down in case she has any questions. Hope this can be straightened out without having to go to court.

 

[Nini]

I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. It makes me appreciate the wonderful petsitter I have. I've heard so many horror stories about a certain chain of petsitters that do a lousy job. I always tell the lady that looks after my guys that she can never quit or die because I don't want to have to use another service.

You said you gave her verbal instructions regarding their care. Did she take any notes? Or did you put anything in writing? The only reason I ask is perhaps some of the information was misconstrued. I always type out detailed instructions for my pet's care and give two copies to my petsitter and then keep one for myself so I know everything was spelled out clearly. Then there is no confusion. I also go over everything I've written down in case she has any questions. Hope this can be straightened out without having to go to court.

she could possibly have misconstrued "don't let the dogs in the living room" in any way. I set up the gate in FRONT of her even!!!!! I said "I marked where the gate locks w/a red marker".

She just disregarded my requests and when my older dog became ill, she didn't try to contact us even ONCE!!!!!!!!!!

It is horrible to come home to a destroyed $650 sofa. I know it is not expensive, but is was all we had!!!!

 

[dzneelvr]

Sounds like a case for "Judge Judy"....Seriously, I don't know that you will be able to withhold payment for services rendered. She can always say she did what she thought was best and it was the behaviour of the animals that caused the damage, not her. I KNOW it stinks. But lesson learned and you can certainly give negative references on her whenever the issue comes up. Probably best to get 2-3 past client references in the future so you can ask just how the pet sitter actually works. You can "read" her to see if she is going to fight you in getting the remainder of her account; if it seems she is going to go away quietly, then it's a moot point. So sorry....it's horrible to come home from vacation to something like that.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Well, there was a case much like this on Judge Judy or maybe People's Court. Problem there was that NOTHING was in writting. No contract or written instructions. i agree that i would be very upset but you might want to look into the legal side of things to see if you have a case.

 

[Nini]

Well, there was a case much like this on Judge Judy or maybe People's Court. Problem there was that NOTHING was in writting. No contract or written instructions. i agree that i would be very upset but you might want to look into the legal side of things to see if you have a case.

Write her a note, but it was in tatters when we returned home. She gave our dog her meds for colitis instead of contacting us to let us know she was stung by bees and was not feeling well. We would have had her (or a family member) bring our dog to the vet for medical attention!!!!

How could a person LEAN a gate against our sofa to prevent our dogs from accessing it. She OBVIOUSLY knew I didn't want them in there, otherwise, why even bother doing that!?!

She gave them access to our ENTIRE house by not confining them in the Kitchen as I had specified (even the basement). She also left them on the deck ALL day and took my mixing bowl to fill with water!!!!!!!! I know, because she left it out.

 

[MELSMICE]

Wow - I would be very angry also. Not sure what your recourse, but good luck. I hope it all works out well for you.