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Bed bugs from moving company?
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bedbuggedinnyc
newbite
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 8
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Aug 15 2008 21:22:51
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Hey everyone,
I lived at my previous apartment for 10 months (and my roommate lived there for 5 years) without any problems of bed bugs. I am currently subletting at my sister's apartment, where she and her friends have lived for 7 years without any problems, and within 3 days of moving in, I started to receive bites(1-3 a night). After a few more days, I realized they weren't mosquito bites and were in fact bed bug bites. The girl who lived in the room before me never had any bites over the 7 years.
Tonight, for the first time, I found 2 small bed bugs underneath my mattress. Is it safe to assume that they came from the blankets/boxes/truck of the moving company? Is there anything I can do to recover any losses (extermination/purchasing new bed/bed items) from the moving company?
For anyone interested - the moving company is Dumbo Moving in New York City. They were amazingly nice and respectful throughout the whole process. It's such a shame it had to come to this. I am going to do my best to make sure they either fix their ways or move right out of business.
I've come to terms with the bites right now, but I'm absolutely in misery over the thought that I've brought these into my sister's home. We're calling exterminators tomorrow. Any suggestions?
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bedbuggedinnyc
newbite
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 8
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Aug 15 2008 22:46:31
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Oh no! Like I mentioned, I'm currently subletting. I just checked the bed bug registry for where I'm moving to Sept 1st, and an apartment in the building had bed bugs that were left untreated! http://bedbugregistry.com/location/NY/10003-5703/New-York/145-2nd-Ave/
Misery. I'm going to have to move to Alaska.
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fightorflight
senior member
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 694
Posted 1 year ago
Tue Aug 19 2008 0:21:28
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> I am currently subletting at my sister's apartment, where she and her friends have lived for 7 years without any problems, and within 3 days of moving in, I started to receive bites
Yes, well as you've already guessed, sounds like you're the one who reacts to the bites. Seems likely the bugs have traveled the building to find a safe frontier in your sister's apt, until you began to notice you were being bitten. Very common to have a problem for a while, months, before anyone cottons on. The only comfort you can take is that it's very, very likely you didn't bring them, the housewarming gift that is never welcome.
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I moved with DUMBO also recently, and I am now freaking, I have these two bites that might be from the park or bed bugs....haven't seen any evidence other than just those two spots.
Do you think it was the moving company? They did wrap my mattress in those blanket things of theirs when they moved it
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bedbuggedinnyc
newbite
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 8
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Aug 29 2008 23:46:31
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Just an update...
About a week and a half ago, we had the building exterminator come and inspect my room. He came to the conclusion that it was exactly as I suspected - I received a couple of bugs from the moving company. There had never been a report in the entire building of bed bugs, and it's a relatively new building.
I threw out my bed, mattress, and washed and dried (on hot) every single item of clothing I own. I wiped down my other 2 pieces of furniture that were at the sublet and threw out anything I wasn't attached to.
I spoke to one of the girls that used to live in my new apartment, and she said they never had problems with any bugs, especially bed bugs.
I moved into my new apartment on Saturday. A new mattress was delivered, and I bought a new bed from Ikea. For the first few days, I didn't have a chance to set up the bed, so I slept on the couch with the windows open (no screens yet). I woke up with one bite on my ankle and assumed it was just a mosquito bite. The next day, I woke up with 4 more bites on my leg - still assuming it's from mosquitos (As they've been flying around our living room).
I took a nap earlier in my new bed, with new sheets, and a new comforter in my new room. I woke up from the nap and a bit later noticed an itching to the right of my belly button. I check it out, and there's red patches covering about 2 square inches. Bed bugs.
I'd never actually do it, but this is the first time in my life I've ever considered suicide. I can't go through this again. I really can't.
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bedbuggedinnyc
newbite
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 8
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 30 2008 0:25:24
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Was just doing my bi-weekly search of every square inch of my sheets and I found a small one (about a millimeter across) and when I squished it between two pieces of packaging tape, it exploded into a small drop of blood.
Does anyone know if it's possible that I got this bad of a patch (2 inches long, 1 inch across) of bites from just 1 or 2 bugs? Or is there a bunch to be worried about? I can't imagine I brought more than 1 or 2 from my old apartment, if any (remember - I took every precaution I could).
I'm going to go do some more searching...
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bedbuggedinnyc
newbite
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 8
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 30 2008 0:30:52
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Sorry - just a follow up to my question about the number of bugs it would take to get a patch of bites like that...I was wearing a shirt when I was napping. Do bed bugs tend to hang out together while they're feeding?! Do they have bed bug parties, or are they generally at different parts of your body?
Oh god am I miserable.
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fightorflight
senior member
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 694
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 30 2008 2:15:31
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We understand you're going through hell. This experience brought me close to the edge many times. I had to endure what I initially considered was the unthinkable - spreading them to a good friend. But you should get through it one way or another. The rest of us did. There are people here who have been through double and multiple infestations. You'll have some calmer days and some really downer moments. And then, after however much time it takes - a month, a year, ? - you'll notice that things are getting better.
What you should begin to do, tout de suite, if those bugs are definitely bedbugs, is commence treatment. It should not be delayed, no matter where the bugs originated. Even if you think the bugs came from the moving company, read up here on plans of attack in multi-unit dwellings. The landlord should pay (it is not certain they came from movers) and should get the surrounding apartments inspected - *especially* if bedbugs have already been reported in this building in the past, as you say.
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BBinNYC
The red patch that you describe could potentially be a reaction to a single bite.
FightorFlight has provide some good advice, but you are scaring me with the mention of suicide.
There will come a time when your life is bed bug free. I don't know what else is going on in your life, but you should consider a consultation with a qualified therapist if the suicidal thoughts persist. A good therapist can be invaluable to help control your level of stress & help you maintain a rational perspective on a your situation.
An experienced pest control operator and a Bed Bug Dog team could help you track & control the spread of the infestation. PM me if I can help with a recommendation for a K9 team or provide any assistance.
It is hard to prove the source of the infestation to the level of reasonable certainty that is usually required to make a legal claim. Your best bet may be to avoid speculating on the source & let the landlord help you eliminate the problem at your residence.
Hopefully, the moving company will consider starting an effective bed bug inspection & treatment program. The same problem can plague furniture company delivery vehicles that remove the old bedding & transport the discarded mattress in the same truck that delivers the new mattress.
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bedbuggedinnyc
newbite
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 8
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 30 2008 10:02:36
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Thank you, guys. I'm going to begin work on the plan of attack today by caulking the cracks between the walls and floors in my apartment. I will get in touch with the landlord on when the work week starts, and hopefully I will have been able to find a better specimen by then. Don't worry about the suicide mention. It was more out of frustration than actual suicidal thoughts. I love my life and would never even think about putting my loved ones through something like that.
Thanks again.
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