Reply from SittsySep 15, 2026
We’re sorry that this was your experience. We want to clarify each point.
The paid sitter activation requirement is disclosed on the App Store and Google Play pages before download. The listing states: "To join Sittsy, every sitter pays a joining fee, verifies their ID, and passes our quality checks." Adding or saving a card charges nothing. A payment happens only when you choose a plan and press the button showing the amount, such as «Pay 50 €».
Sittsy does not take an activation payment automatically when a card is added. The activation amount is shown before payment, and the sitter must actively authorise it by pressing the payment button. The activation amount depends on the region and local demand, so it can differ between sitters. It is a one-time payment, not a subscription or recurring charge.
After every payment, the sitter receives an email with two PDF files: the invoice and a copy of the payment screen they authorised, showing the plan, amount and button pressed. The bank may also request its own check, such as an SMS code, 3-D Secure, banking-app approval or biometrics. Sittsy’s payment provider can request this check, but the bank decides whether it is required.
Activation is for identity verification, quality and safety checks and profile review. Pet owners trust sitters with their pets and, for some services, their home and keys. Activation does not guarantee a booking: owners choose which sitters to contact or book, and the timing depends on local demand, availability and profile history.
Regarding a refund, the Money Back Promise is conditional. A sitter who chose a plan including it and meets all its conditions can receive the deposit back if no pet owner books them during their first 30 days on Sittsy and they decide to stop using the account. The conditions include applying to at least 80% of requests received, replying to every request within 24 hours, keeping the calendar open for at least 24 of the 30 days, having 5 approved testimonials and keeping the profile complete. There is no refund during those 30 days. A plan without the Money Back Promise is final and non-refundable, as stated on the payment screen before paying. For sitters in the EU, EEA and UK, the payment screen also states before paying: "By tapping «Pay 50 €», you request immediate activation of your account and acknowledge that you lose your right of withdrawal."
If an email reply is not visible, please check Spam, Junk, Promotions, filtered folders and mailbox storage, including messages from [email protected]. The payment email containing the invoice and the copy of the authorised payment screen, together with any bank authentication, records how the payment was authorised.