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Landlord using two different PCOs at the same time! Big Problem
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dsantos
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Jan 24 2012 23:28:57
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Hello All,
I first noticed bedbugs back in late December '11. I contacted my LL office & they provided two PCOs that they use. I contacted one & had my first treatment in early January '12. After first treatment the PCO told me that the apts to either side and directly above and below need to be inspected. I contacted my LL office and told them that inspection was needed. I also spoke with my neighbor to the right of me & she said "when he comes for second treatment, send him to my apt for inspection".
Fast forward to second treatment. PCO came in and during our discussion he said that he was not contacted by the LL to inspect the other apts. OK - so I rang the bell to my neighbor who requested he check her apt & she said "no, I don't feel any bites so I don't need an inspection" (paraphrasing). But she does work at a dog groomer and itches all day& cannot detect if it is fleas or other. Anyway, during the time the PCO was treating my apt , I contacted the LL office to inquire about my previous conversation on inspecting the other apts. I received a call back and was informed that the apt to the left of me (not the neighbor who I personally notified) was inspected & bedbugs were found and the apt was treated BUT...it was through a different PCO.
I thought this was strange but did not question or go further because I was not in a place at the time to continue a full conversation regarding this issue/problem. My thoughts are, that this can hamper or even worsen the problem because no two PCOs use the same process. If they had a preferred PCO then they should have informed me when I informed them which PCO would be treating my apt. As far as my other next door neighbor - she may be a problem as far as inspection may go. I'm at a loss at this point. I'm trying to do every and anything I can do(plugging cracks, buying a packtite, wrapping & bagging items, etc.). But if no one else realizes the seriousness then all my efforts are in vain.
Any thoughts on this issue? Thanks in Advance
DSantos
PS: Captured a "nymph" after second treatment yesterday, crawling on my bed -UGH!!!!!
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Jan 25 2012 0:03:06
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One thing that strikes me as odd is that the PCO who treated your unit told you, not the landlord, that he needs access to adjacent units for inspection.
It would seem more usual for the PCO to tell the landlord, since they're the ones who hired the PCO (unless that's not the case).
Sorry I am not sure what to suggest, but perhaps others will know.
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dsantos
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Joined: Dec '11
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Jan 26 2012 0:23:54
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Thanks for your response NoBugs
My LL is not one who I would consider "trustworthy" when it pertains to repairs and the like. Previous to this incident, my experience is that if you scream, holler and threaten (with a report to state agencies) then there is a response. But I digress. Not sure of the relationship of the PCO & LL. But I am concerned about using a two different PCOs at the same time.
I am composing a letter to my LL outlining my concerns & hoping they respond accordingly. But my question is...how does simultaneously using two PCOs, possibly using different methods , affect treatment?
DSantos
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dsantos
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Jan 26 2012 0:25:14
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meant to say "not trustworthy"
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your host
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Jan 26 2012 3:45:08
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I have heard that it is best to treat all infested units in a building at the same time. So I suspect that having the units treated by different people at different times (if that's the case) may be an issue, but I should really leave it to the experts to comment on this one.
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dsantos
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Jan 26 2012 22:38:42
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Thanks NoBugs
I hope others may have some insight to my issue as well.
Have a Good Night
DSantos
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old timer
Joined: May '07
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jan 28 2012 11:05:11
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Inspecting adjacent units is a best practice everywhere. Fortunately more people including LL are realizing and accepting this practice. In NYC if an apt receives a bed bug violation inspection of surrounding units is mandatory, and if live bed bugs are found then treated as well.
Another aspect understandably not covered by law is social transmission. This was originally noted in senior facilities where there may be two or three residents with bed bugs who are not adjacent but rather; spend time together in each others apts, sitting together in the lobby, at activities or in the dining room. This has also been observed in the general population with kids after school congregating in one apt and in other social or familial interactions.
In the building case it is the LL who should request the surrounding inspections and not something done unilaterally by a pest management professional. A. Charges need to be authorized B. Some persons may not want to have their neighbors informed by a knock on the door by a PCO
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dsantos
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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Jan 30 2012 5:46:20
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Thanks Winston
I'm looking into the landlord's legal obligations. I'm just at such a loss - quality of life is going down. And now that my Mom is back I feel more anxious - don't want her affected. I'm a nervous nelly - 24hrs & haven't been to sleep yet & now must getting ready for work. I have my good days and bad.
I'm contacting my LL's office again to discuss this issue & follow up with written correspondence.
Have a Great Day everyone
DSantos
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Two PCO's in different apts, although not the greatest idea, is still adressing the problem. If they were both treating yours, then yes it would be.
Although we all treat differently, in most cases the process will still be the same. As long as a residual is placed it helps against migration. The problem will be the resistance that the nymphs will develop with two separate residuals, if the PCO's are using different chemicals. This could present a long term issue and force a greater number of call backs.
Finding a nymph on your bed although discouraging should be expected. Unless heat remediation was used, the eggs are impervious to chemical and will hatch. This is why so many return visits are required.
Good Luck! I will be interested to see how this one works out!
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dsantos
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Posts: 39offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Feb 1 2012 0:35:51
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Thx Cimex
Had second treatment on 1/23 & the morning of treatment found & taped a bb (adult). One day (1/24) after treatment found & taped a "young" bb (sorry still familiarizing myself with terms for growth stages). Then found an adult & then what looks like a newly hatched nymph (? -smaller than a pin head) on 1/30. Then the captured "nymph" with tap & when I taped it to the paper, blood dispersed - SOB already fed (am 1/30). Obviously an egg was hatched after treatment - hoping they walk through the chemicals and die. I did prepare myself (mentally) that some will come out after treatment. Will ask PCO to come back for 3rd treatment.
Left a message for my LL & those &^!&%* did not respond (symbols are not a typo-trying to keep my language clean)
DSantos
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The main problem I see here is that you may bedbugs coming in from adjacent units. The landlord really needs to require a mass inspection of all units.
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bedbugsuptown
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Joined: Sep '11
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Feb 1 2012 1:15:07
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Hi dsantos,
I can't offer any advice, I'm just a bugger who overcame her infestation. I'm posting as a cheerleader--your holding up well and are very smart to be documenting all events be they of the human or buggy kind. Here's to a short journal. Good luck -
dsantos
junior member
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Posts: 39offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Feb 8 2012 22:53:11
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DreyDay,
I do suspect they may have traveled from another apartment. The main infestation was in my couch which is against a wall that I share with a neighbor who had major work in their apt sometime in the late summer/early fall. I believe they may have been introduced to my apt around Oct & based on what I have read, my noticing them in December is plausible (although I think we were getting bit sometime in November - mainly after sleeping on the couch). I'm just theorizing - don't really know where these things came from but trying to get rid of them. Feel like the boy in the plastic bubble - lol.
DSantos
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dsantos
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Feb 8 2012 22:56:10
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Thanks Uptown,
I've been trying to document as much as I can & sent a letter to my LL to document the situation. I'm planning on having a third treatment. Hoping for the best - Thanks for the encouragement
DSantos
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