What is Sittercity
Sittercity as a caregiver marketplace
Sittercity is an online platform that matches families with caregivers for children, seniors, and pets. It has been operating for years as a subscription-based marketplace, and its mailing address is tied to Choice Sitter Solutions, LLC in Newton, Massachusetts, United States.
For users in the Philippines, here is the practical reality: Sittercity is mainly a United States-focused service, but you can still sign up online because the service runs through the web and mobile app ecosystems. The truth is, many people subscribe because they want direct contact with sitters, job posting tools, and profile visibility, then later realize the cancellation flow is not as obvious as it should be.
What people actually pay for
The paid part is not the basic account itself but the access layer around it. Premium Membership is what unlocks contact features and broader use of the platform, while the Featured Sitter subscription is a separate monthly add-on that gives sitters more visibility and includes a background check benefit every three months while active, according to Sittercity support.
If you are trying to cancel, take note of what you bought. A parent may have a Premium Membership, while a caregiver may have a Featured Sitter subscription. The click path can look similar, but the billing logic is tied to the specific subscription attached to the account.
How Sittercity works in the Philippines
Sittercity does not publish Philippine-local pricing, GCash support, Maya billing details, or Filipino language support in the verified sources. Prices are published in U.S. dollars, so for this guide I show both the original amount and the approximate peso equivalent using the provided conversion basis.
There is also no verified local office in the Philippines for account support. That means most users here will deal with web cancellation, App Store cancellation, Google Play cancellation, email, or international phone support at 888.748.2489. If you are subscribing from the Philippines, save every receipt and screenshot because cross-border support can be slower.
How to cancel Sittercity without getting charged again
Checks to do before you tap cancel
A lot of frustration starts when users cancel late and still get billed for the next cycle. Sittercity says cancellation stops automatic renewal, but your account usually stays active until the end of the current billing period, so the key deadline is before the next billing date.
Before you do anything, open your account and capture your current plan name, renewal date, and payment channel. Save a screenshot of the Membership section, your last billing receipt, and the plan page showing whether you have Premium Membership or Featured Sitter. This matters if a continued charge appears later on your bank, card, GCash, or Maya statement.
- Screenshot your current membership page
- Check the exact next billing date
- Look for the confirmation email after cancellation
- Save any transaction ID from card or wallet billing
Cancel through the website or mobile web account
This is the main route for subscriptions bought directly from Sittercity. Log in on desktop or mobile web, go to Account Settings, find the Membership section, then choose Manage subscription. On the next page, select Downgrade to basic and confirm the downgrade. Sittercity says this stops automatic renewal for the subscription.
If the screen wording looks a bit softer than “cancel,” do not get distracted. The action you need is “Downgrade to basic,” not simply leaving the page or deleting profile details. After confirming, wait for the confirmation email. If no email arrives within a short time, take a screenshot of the final confirmation screen and email support right away at [email protected].
You can also keep the official help page open while doing this through Sittercity account closure help. That page confirms that subscriptions bought through Apple or Google may need to be canceled in the store where they were purchased.
Cancel through App Store or Google Play when the store handles billing
If you subscribed through the iOS app, Sittercity says you must cancel through Apple settings. On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, choose Sittercity, then tap Cancel Subscription. If the button is missing, the subscription may already be inactive, but still verify that in your Apple subscriptions list.
If you subscribed through Google Play on Android, open Google Play Store, open the menu or account area, go to Subscriptions, select Sittercity, and tap Cancel Subscription. This prevents future charges. Heads up: deleting the app does not cancel billing on either platform, and that mistake shows up again and again across subscription complaints on many services.
Phone, email, and postal options if the account page fails
Sittercity support can be reached by email at [email protected] and by phone at 888.748.2489. Support hours are not published in the verified sources, so if you are calling from the Philippines, try U.S. business hours and note the date, time, and the name of the person you spoke with.
If you need a paper trail, you can send a registered letter to the company mailing address. Traditional registered mail works, and some users now use digital registered letter services such as Postclic because they provide timestamped proof of sending, receipt, and opening. Use mail only as an added record, not as your only step, because account billing is usually controlled online or through Apple or Google.
What changes after your cancellation request goes through
Your paid access usually stays until the end of the billing period
Sittercity says that when you cancel Premium Membership, your account will downgrade automatically at the end of the current billing period, not instantly. So if your renewal date is April 28 and you cancel on April 10, you should normally keep paid access until April 28, then move to basic access after that.
This point matters because many users expect an immediate stop and then feel confused when the account still shows premium features for a while. That is normal if you canceled correctly. The thing to watch is the next renewal date, not the same-day account appearance.
If you do nothing, auto-renewal continues
Sittercity states that Featured Sitter subscriptions automatically renew until canceled. No minimum commitment period is specified in the verified support material, and the plan is described as month-to-month, which means billing keeps rolling unless you actively stop it.
There is no verified free trial rule in the available sources. There is also no verified statement on data deletion timing after cancellation. Because of that gap, export or save anything you care about before canceling, including messages, profile details, booking history, and billing receipts.
Sittercity refund rules and the reality for users in the Philippines
The official refund policy is strict
Sittercity’s published policy is blunt: Premium Membership purchases and renewal fees are non-refundable, and the company does not bill or refund based on account activity. It also says there is no refund for any unused portion of the membership period after cancellation, which means no pro-rated refund if you cancel halfway through the month or quarter.
That matches many user complaints. People often cancel because the platform did not deliver enough responses or matches, but dissatisfaction alone is not listed as a refund reason in the support article. In plain terms, your chances of getting money back for “I did not use it much” are low.
What Philippine consumer rights can still help you
In the Philippines, subscription complaints can still fall under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 7394, especially when billing is unclear or charges continue after cancellation. For online purchases, there is no universal statutory cooling-off period like the one used for some door-to-door sales, so do not assume you automatically get 7 days to reverse an online Sittercity subscription.
If the issue is not regret but an unauthorized or continued charge, your best path is evidence-based escalation. Save the cancellation confirmation, account screenshots, receipts, and your statement entry. Then contact your bank, card issuer, GCash, or Maya quickly. Under BSP dispute practices, cardholders often have up to 60 days from the statement date to dispute a transaction.
How to ask for a refund anyway
Start with [email protected] and include your account email, the charge date, the amount, the last four digits of the payment method if relevant, and a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation. If the subscription was billed through Apple or Google, use their billing support route as well because the app store may control the charge record.
For a billing mistake, be direct. Say the date you canceled, the date you were still charged, and attach the proof. The verified sources do not spell out a special billing-error refund policy, so your goal is to document the error fast and make it easy for support to see what happened.
Chargeback, bank dispute, and e-wallet escalation
If Sittercity support does not solve a continued charge, ask your bank or card issuer for a chargeback. In the Philippines, you can also raise the case with GCash or Maya if that was the funding route, and you may file a complaint with the BSP for payment dispute handling and with the DTI for the consumer side under RA 7394.
Use chargeback as the last serious step, not the first message. Banks usually want proof that you tried to resolve it, so include the email trail, screenshots, and statement entries. A clean evidence pack saves time and improves your chances.
Subscription conditions that matter before Sittercity renews again
Auto-renewal and commitment period
The clearest published rule is the auto-renewal one: Featured Sitter subscriptions renew automatically until canceled (sittercity.com). The same support material says there is no minimum commitment specified and that the subscription is month-to-month, which is good news if you only need short-term access.
For users, that means flexibility on paper but also a real risk of accidental renewal if you forget the date. Set a calendar reminder at least 3 days before billing. That small habit is often the difference between a clean exit and another charge.
What the terms do not clearly spell out
The verified materials do not clearly state a free trial conversion rule, data retention period after cancellation, applicable law clause for this issue, or dispute resolution details for consumers in the Philippines. Sittercity also does not clearly explain in the available sources how long canceled account data stays on file.
Because those points are not clearly published in the material reviewed here, act conservatively. Save everything you may need before canceling, and do not rely on later account access for proof.
Sittercity plans and pricing in Philippine peso terms
Current subscription plans
Plan | Price (USD / PHP) | Billing period |
One-Month Premium Membership | $35.00 (₱35)* | Monthly |
Three-Month Premium Membership | $70.00 (₱70)* | Quarterly |
One-Year Premium Membership | $140.00 (₱140)* | Annually |
Featured Sitter Subscription | $14.99 (₱15)* | Monthly |
Prices are approximate, converted from USD at the rate 1 USD ≈ 1.0 PHP, and you should check the official website for exact local prices.
Which plan costs more and which gives better value
The highest upfront cost is the One-Year Premium Membership at $140.00 (₱140)*, while the lowest monthly recurring add-on is the Featured Sitter plan at $14.99 (₱15)*. Based on the published U.S. prices, the annual plan works out to about $11.67 per month, while the quarterly plan averages about $23.33 per month and the monthly plan is $35.00 per month.
That means the annual plan is the cheapest per month, while the monthly plan is the most expensive over time. Still, if you are unsure about the platform, the monthly option reduces the risk of paying for a long period that you may not use.
Your rights in the Philippines if billing goes wrong
Laws and agencies that matter for a Sittercity dispute
For Philippine users, the main consumer framework is the Consumer Act of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 7394. If your issue involves misleading billing, continued charging after cancellation, or poor complaint handling, DTI is the consumer agency to approach.
If the problem is with the payment side itself, such as an unauthorized card transaction or refusal to reverse a continued charge, BSP rules and your bank’s dispute process become important. This is especially useful for card-funded payments and for e-wallet products such as GCash or Maya when the wallet was used to fund the charge.
Cooling-off and withdrawal rights in plain language
For online subscriptions like Sittercity, there is no universal Philippine statutory cooling-off rule that automatically gives you a no-questions-asked refund window. The 7 working day cooling-off concept is more closely tied to certain direct sales situations, not to every online subscription purchase.
So for Sittercity, do not rely on a general withdrawal right unless the seller itself offers one. Since Sittercity’s own refund page says membership purchases and renewals are non-refundable, your stronger arguments will usually be unauthorized billing, continued charging after cancellation, or a payment processing error.
How to file a complaint in the Philippines
Start with the company and gather evidence. Send your complaint to [email protected] with screenshots, the charge amount, the date, and the confirmation of cancellation. If there is no satisfactory reply, file a complaint with DTI through its consumer channels and prepare the same documents.
For the payment dispute, contact your issuing bank or e-wallet provider and ask for the formal dispute or chargeback process. If the handling is poor or delayed, you can elevate payment concerns to BSP. In practice, a complete file with screenshots, emails, and statement entries works better than a long narrative.
Useful Philippine contact points
DTI is the practical consumer agency for subscription complaints under RA 7394, while BSP is relevant for banking and payment disputes. Since hotlines and office details can change, use the official websites below in the useful links section to reach the active complaint channels.
This cross-check matters because Sittercity’s own terms in the reviewed sources are thin on Philippine-specific consumer handling. Local law does not guarantee a refund for simple non-use, but it does help when billing continues after a valid cancellation.
What customers say about cancellation and billing
The overall verdict from available reviews
Based on the review data provided for this guide, the cancellation and billing experience trends negative: 0 positive and 5 negative reviews out of 5 unique reviews. That does not prove every user has a bad experience, but it does show a clear pattern of frustration around refunds, support, and charges after cancellation.
Common issues also line up with the research notes for the Philippines: continued charges after account cancellation and difficulty reaching support. On the positive side, Sittercity does offer direct self-service cancellation paths through the website, App Store, and Google Play, which is better than services that force a phone call.
Recurring themes in user feedback
Theme | Frequency | Typical example |
Charge after cancel | 2 reviews | Billing continued |
Refund refusal | 2 reviews | No refund granted |
Poor support | 1 review | Dismissive response |
Source | Rating | Main topic | Sentiment |
TrustPilot | 1/5 | Charge after cancel | Negative |
TrustPilot | 1/5 | Hidden fee concern | Negative |
TrustPilot | 1/5 | Customer service | Negative |
TrustPilot | 1/5 | Refund dispute | Negative |
TrustPilot | 1/5 | Charge issue | Negative |
Your Sittercity cancellation evidence checklist
What to save before you cancel
Before canceling, save proof of your current plan, renewal date, and payment method. A screenshot of Account Settings and the Membership page is the minimum, and a copy of your latest receipt is even better.
If you are using the service actively, export or manually save anything useful such as caregiver conversations, profile details, interview notes, and job post text. The verified sources do not clearly state data retention after cancellation, so assume you may lose easy access later.
What to keep for refund or dispute cases
For a refund request or chargeback, build a simple evidence pack. Include the cancellation confirmation email, the charge amount, the transaction date, the statement entry, and screenshots showing when the cancellation was submitted.
- Confirmation email or final cancel screen
- Transaction ID or statement line
- Date and amount of the charge
- Email thread with support
- Screenshot of App Store or Google Play subscription status if relevant
Common Sittercity cancellation mistakes that cause delays
Using the wrong cancellation channel
The most common mistake is canceling in the wrong place. If the subscription was started through Apple or Google, changing something inside the Sittercity account may not stop the store billing. That is how users end up thinking they canceled when the renewal still goes through.
The fix is simple: match the cancellation channel to the billing channel. Website purchase means cancel in Sittercity account settings. App Store purchase means cancel in Apple subscriptions. Google Play purchase means cancel in Google Play subscriptions.
Assuming account closure means refund
Another mistake is expecting money back just because you stopped using the service early. Sittercity’s published policy says Premium Membership purchases and renewal fees are non-refundable, and no refund is given for unused time after cancellation.
A real-world example is the user who complained that the service did not deliver enough responses and then support offered a discount instead of a refund. That is frustrating, but it matches the published refund stance.
Leaving without saving proof
Users who do not save the final confirmation page put themselves in a weak position later. Since some complaints mention continued charges and support difficulty, your own screenshots may become the strongest proof you have.
Always keep the email, the screenshot, and the bank or wallet statement. If support says they cannot find your cancellation, those three items usually tell the story faster than a long explanation.
Missing the billing date by a few hours
Subscriptions renew on the billing cycle, and canceling after the charge posts is often too late for that cycle. If your renewal is on the 15th, do not wait until the night of the 15th in Philippine time because U.S. processing times and time zones can work against you.
Give yourself a safety buffer of at least 2 to 3 days. That is the easiest way to avoid a fresh charge and a difficult refund request.
A quick comparison of Sittercity cancellation methods
Method overview table
Method | Notice period | Fee | Difficulty |
Web/account | Before next billing | No fee found | Easy |
App Store (iOS) | Before next billing | No fee found | Medium |
Google Play (Android) | Before next billing | No fee found | Medium |
Registered mail | 5-10 business days | No fee found | Higher, strong proof |
Key takeaway for choosing your route
The fastest route is usually the same place where billing started. Web cancellations are straightforward for direct subscribers, while Apple and Google routes are safer when the app store handles payment. Registered mail is slower but gives a stronger documentary record.
No cancellation fee was found in the available terms material, and no early termination fee was identified. That means the real risk is not a fee for leaving, but missing the deadline and getting billed for another cycle.
What to do after you cancel so the issue does not come back
Immediate follow-up steps
Right after cancellation, check for the confirmation email and take one more screenshot of the account or store page showing the subscription status. Then put a reminder on your phone for the expected downgrade date and another reminder 3 days after that to review your statement.
If the account is supposed to downgrade at the end of the billing period, note the exact date. This helps you separate normal continued access from an actual billing problem.
How long to monitor your payment method
Watch your bank, card, GCash, or Maya activity through the next billing cycle and again when the next statement is issued. If a fresh charge appears after a valid cancellation, contact Sittercity support immediately and then escalate to your payment provider if needed.
In the Philippines, chargeback or dispute timing is often around 60 days from the statement date for card cases under BSP-related practices. Move quickly, and attach your cancellation screenshots to every complaint.
Alternatives if you still need caregiver leads
If you cancel but still need caregiver options, Care.com is a broad international platform with caregiver categories beyond babysitting. SittersPlus by KikiCare is more relevant locally because it is positioned as a Philippine childcare service with a flat job-posting fee instead of recurring monthly billing.
You can also try lower-cost channels such as Nextdoor, Facebook Parent Groups, and college job boards. These can be less polished than a subscription platform, but they reduce the risk of another recurring charge.
Useful links
Mailing address and where to send written cancellation records
Physical mailing address on file
If you want a written backup record, use the company mailing address associated with Choice Sitter Solutions, LLC:
- Choice Sitter Solutions, LLC, 2 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459, United States
This is useful for formal correspondence and recordkeeping, especially if you are disputing a charge from the Philippines and want to show that you sent notice through more than one channel.
Best way to use the address in practice
Use the mailing address as a support document, not as your only cancellation step. The actual working cancellation path is usually online through Account Settings, App Store, or Google Play, depending on where you subscribed.
If you send a letter, include your account email, full name, subscription type, billing date, and a clear sentence asking for cancellation of automatic renewal. Then keep the delivery proof together with your screenshots and statement entries.