Latest news with #Genevieve"Jenny"Dreizen
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Couple Hire College Student as Dogsitter—Shock at What They Later Discover
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A couple have received widespread support online after discovering that her dogsitter had added several expensive streaming subscriptions to her home account—without asking first. Reddit user u/Upstairs-Storm1006 shared the incident in a now-viral post on the subreddit Mildly Infuriating, where it garnered over 12,000 upvotes. According to the post, the original poster and their wife had hired a friend's daughter to stay in their home for four days and care for their dog. The sitter was paid and even given an extra $200 specifically for food delivery each night. But not long after returning home, they got a bad surprise. "I got a text yesterday from Xfinity thanking me for making my monthly auto-payment, and noticed the dollar amount was over $50 higher than normal. I looked on my bill and saw Max, Starz, Paramount+ w/Showtime, and Apple TV+ were now on my account, we don't subscribe to any of those. I called Xfinity which confirmed all were added via settop purchase during the dates she was staying with us," they wrote. After cancelling the subscriptions, the poster informed their friend, who reimbursed them immediately. The daughter then called in tears to apologize. "I'm glad it worked out for me but the chutzpah for her to do this in the first place they added. Expert Insight Etiquette expert Genevieve "Jenny" Dreizen, COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, described the situation as "frustrating and layered." "The OP handled things with admirable clarity and grace. They reached out directly to the parent, which may not have been everyone's first instinct, but it was likely the most effective and emotionally grounded route given the family connection," she told Newsweek. Dreizen emphasized that even in casual arrangements, there are unspoken rules that should be followed when staying in someone else's home: use only what's been offered, never purchase or sign up for anything without clear permission, and treat the space like a guest room, not a hotel. She noted that with the prevalence of smart devices and streaming services, clarifying boundaries ahead of time is more crucial than ever. She added that homeowners should feel empowered to leave a simple guide outlining expectations—including which services are OK to use, food policies, delivery boundaries, and emergency contacts. "Clarity is kindness for everyone," she said, also pointing out that while mistakes like these aren't uncommon among inexperienced sitters, that doesn't excuse them. Both parties can treat this as a learning experience. A stock image showing a woman holding a white dog. A stock image showing a woman holding a white dog. Halfpoint/iStock / Getty Images Plus Adrienne Alexander, a conflict resolution and etiquette expert and owner of public relations firm IPY Agency LLC, echoed that sentiment. She said the OP handled the situation well overall—taking quick action, contacting the parent, and resolving the charges without escalating. However, she pointed to one missed opportunity: "The OP could have spoken directly to the sitter before involving the parent. As a basic conflict principle, address the issue at the lowest appropriate level. Going through the parent first might've made the apology feel more coerced than sincere." "This isn't just about a $50 charge; it's about trust. When someone watches your pet, they're stepping into a role that demands maturity, respect, and responsibility. They shouldn't be in the role if they can't handle that," she added. Ivan Petersel, the founder of Dog Virtuoso, told Newsweek: "Pet care isn't just a side gig—it requires trust, professionalism, and accountability. "In general, people don't take Pet Sitting seriously enough. That goes for the pet sitters as well as the pet owners. "Many people think that anybody can take care of their dog but to find somebody that is responsible and truly understands Dogs is hard to find." Reddit Reacts Reddit users didn't hold back in the comments. "If a person can't take care of themselves, they can't take care of my dog," wrote one user. "Extra $200 for food? I'll dogsit for you!" joked another. "$200 for the person looking after the dog to eat food, s*** in this economy I'll start barking, sounds like a good home to me," someone quipped. Another commenter added: "If they aren't even capable of making a sandwich, then it is entirely possible that they aren't smart enough to figure out that adding channels means someone has to pay for them." Newsweek reached out to u/Upstairs-Storm1006 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case. Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Newsweek
Friend Kicking Guests Out 11 Hours Before Their Flight Sparks Viral Debate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A post about a couple wanting to stay at a friend's home for longer than originally planned has gone viral on Reddit, sparking debate about houseguest etiquette on the platform. Shared by u/TeeBrownie in the r/AmItheA****** subreddit, the poster asks whether it was unreasonable to "kick my houseguests out 11 hours before their flight is scheduled to leave." The post has garnered 11,000 upvotes and 3,000 comments since it was posted a week ago on April 16. The poster, who did not share her name, told Newsweek that she resides in a north Texas suburb near Dallas. "My friend and his wife have made plans to visit us this summer for a weekend stay. The flight is two hours, so not a really long journey for them," she wrote in the post. But tension emerged over a mismatch in expectations. The Redditor explained that she planned to take a personal day off work after her guests' departure to rest and recover from hosting duties. Two women appearing upset while standing in a doorway. Two women appearing upset while standing in a doorway. iStock / Getty Images Plus Before the friend booked the flights, the poster's husband inadvertently mentioned that she wouldn't be working the Monday following their visit. Her friend then scheduled a red-eye flight late Monday night, effectively extending their stay beyond the agreed weekend time frame. "To that I responded that I will be taking them to the airport as early as 8 a.m. Monday morning so I can have my day of rest like I planned," the poster said. The friend later admitted to booking the Monday flight, as it was cheaper, the poster said, adding in a later comment that "he's certainly not going to pay for an Uber." The guest's desire to hitch a ride with the poster is not surprising, as journeys with either Uber or Lyft from airports into major cities in the United States were found to cost as high as $79.96 from JFK International Airport in New York City, according to a survey conducted in July 2023 by FinanceBuzz. Etiquette expert Genevieve "Jenny" Dreizen, COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, told Newsweek: "This is an uncomfortable situation. But it does feel like one of those situations where someone being upset with your boundaries is because they were benefiting from the perceived lack of boundaries." 'Horrible Friend' The friend in the viral Reddit post pushed back, questioning why the couple couldn't stay and hang out at the house until their flight. "I told them that they are more than welcome to leave their luggage here if they want to go explore on their own, but we will not be hosting them or playing tour guide after Monday morning," u/TeeBrownie wrote, adding that "he's now accusing me of being a horrible friend and his wife says we're Ahs [a*******]." In a follow-up interview with Newsweek, the poster explained that tensions lingered even after the confrontation. "A few days after the blow-up, I gave him a call to explain that I didn't think it was a good idea for them to stay with us when they visit," she said. "Before I could start, he apologized for booking the flight on Monday without confirming they could spend the extra day with us and for saying I was a horrible friend." Yet the apology didn't erase all of the hurt. "When I brought up the fact that his wife called us a*******, he denied that. This confirms for me that she forgot his phone audio was on speaker during our conversation and probably says things like this about us often," she said. Despite the drama, she tried to offer a compromise. "I proceeded to explain that we could meet up at some point if they decide to come to town, but that they couldn't stay with us. I even told him that I could recommend some things they could do during their trip." Dreizen emphasized the importance of honoring personal space, noting "just because you're not working does not make you available." She applauded the poster for making her boundaries clear, criticizing the friend for making the host "feel poorly about naming and holding them." 'Entitled' or 'Least Gracious Host' Reaction on Reddit was split, with many users defending the host's decision to enforce personal boundaries. U/Worth-Season3645 commented: "NTA [not the a******]....He refuses to pay for a ride share? Oh no, no, can figure out their own way to the one abuses my hospitality and calls me an ahole." Another user, u/FireflyRave, added: "Plans were made for friends to visit for 3 nights (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and leave on Monday morning... OP [original poster] could have only wanted to sit on her couch and stare at the wall all day and those would still be her valid plans..." Others were less sympathetic, criticizing the host's firm stance. U/Otherwise-Abroad-959 said: "YTA [you're the a******] – they shouldn't feel entitled to your time or transportation but intentionally taking them to the airport as early as possible and expecting them to sit there all day is an a****** move." U/Ok_Sea_4405 said: "ESH [everyone sucks here] Your friends are not being unreasonable by asking you to spend Monday with you sound like the least gracious host in sound exhausting." Do you have a similar story or dilemma to share? Let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
