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My Landlord and His "Guy", or The Gold Standard of Bed Bug Ignorance in Chicago

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  1. Van Helsing

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sat Mar 13 2010 22:04:02
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    Hi,
    This is my first post here, but I want to begin by thanking all of you who have already helped me so much - your stories, knowledge, and spirit have made the early days of my nightmare a little more pleasant.

    So a week ago, my wife began getting red itchy spots all over her neck and arms. It didn't take long, with Chicago in the midst of an epidemic, for us to suspect bedbugs. Sure enough, a few days later, at 3 am, I spotted one of the tiny monsters scampering across a pillow case. I kept him as a sample, and was easily able to confirm due to all of the varied pictures on the internet. I immediately contacted a quality PCO (A-Alert, often mentioned positively here) and got some good advice. I went to each of of my neighbors in the six flat and asked if they had been having any problems, also handing them a sheet with some tips, general info, and what to look for (no obvious cases yet) The next day, I contacted my landlord, who will hereafter be referred to as Doof.

    Now, some quick back story is necessary - Doof lives above me, and is hands down the worst landlord I have ever had. He reeks of booze at all hours, spouts hateful language about every race/creed/orientation you can name, and has threatened to evict me over how loudly I close my cabinet doors. I had to call the police when he and his degenerate army buddy who lives in the basement physically attacked me and threatened my life one night. So really, none of the following should be a shock to me, but I thought that you all might enjoy the depths of his ignorance on bed bugs ...

    - Doof shows up, reeking of whiskey, at 3 in the afternoon. He has a confused looking "PCO" with him. Doof's first action is to pull a camera from his pocket, and take a picture of the two neatly tied bags of non-food garbage waiting to be removed from my kitchen. I assume he must be seeing this as a source of the bugs.

    - Doof informs me that he has never had bed bugs in the 45 years he has owned the building. I patiently explain the history, current epidemic, and reasons for the resurgence. He replies, "No, you definitely brought em in here."

    - Doof and the inept "PCO" look at the sample bug, which is CLEARLY 100% a bed bug to anyone who has ever seen one. Doof takes a picture, and PC-Ohno stares for a full 5 minutes - neither has any idea. PC-Ohno says he needs to take the bug back to the office for identification. Doof tells me this is because he needs to look at it with binoculars.

    - Doof chastises me for informing our neighbors about the possibility of an infestation. "Whaddaya want to start a panic for?" he says. He tells me the girls directly underneath me are needlessly nervous about the possibility of the bugs coming into their place.

    - PC-Ohno, who, armed with a flashlight, "thoroughly" checked 6 two-bedroom apartments in a half hour total, tells me my apartment is clear. He flips over the couch, where I caught the bug, and examines the bottom frame, and, although there are a few hundred possible hiding spots he cannot see, declares it bug free because there is no sign of bug feces on the exposed wood. He sweeps the baseboard with the flashlight (not flipping up the carpet edge) and repeats "Yeah, nothing here."

    - Doof sighs at the small pile of laundry in my bedroom (currently waiting for order of plastic bags to arrive so I can launder and seal correctly to prevent spreading through building or to laundry room) He tells me that if there are bugs, this is why. I have to stand in his way to prevent him from taking a picture of my laundry.

    - I ask PC-Ohno to explain to Doof that level of cleanliness has nothing to do with bed bugs, that there is currently a major, growing problem in our city, and that the other units could have bugs and not know it yet. He just stares at me.

    - Doof crushes the sample bug in a piece of foil, so that it will be easier to take out for examination. He tells me they'll let me know if there is a problem, and not to bother him again.

    So, I hope that the above gives you a laugh or two. I just wish that I could appreciate the humor myself. I have no idea what to do now. I got the ok to move out early, but I am not sure how to do this without transferring the bugs. I could care less about the building - I just want to get bug free.

    Do I have a shot if I throw out some furniture, launder, Packtite, or steam clean everything else, then seal it in bags for immediate transport to a new apartment? What about having a good PCO treat only my apartment, and timing the move (of safely cleaned bagged things) to come after a second or third treatment? Is Vikane treatment of a truck available in the Chicago area right now?

    Thanks again for all of your great advice. I feel so alienated from everyone I know right now - glad to have a place to talk with others who have had to battle these tiny vampires.

  2. Nobugsonme

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sat Mar 13 2010 22:15:54
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    I would be confident with anything which is dried on hot and sealed, or run through a Packtite (per the directions) and sealed.

    I would not necessarily be confident with just anything that you steam because you cannot be sure steam is penetrating deeply enough. (I am thinking of upholstered items.)

    Any non-upholstered furniture should be completely dissassembled and treated with steam, and even then you may not be 100% confident.

    Another option may be having a pod or pallet or truck full of stuff treated with Vikane or heat. If this is done almost everything can be treated, saving you having to toss anything.

  3. cilecto

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sat Mar 13 2010 22:17:14
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    And remember to report your LL to the city and bedbugregistry.com. Keep paper trail of your correspondence and expenses (including lost property). You may wish to consult with an attorney.

  4. cilecto

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sun Mar 14 2010 1:07:06
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    > He tells me the girls directly underneath me are needlessly nervous about the possibility of the bugs coming into their place.

    They're the ones he's been telling "no one else is complaining".

  5. Van Helsing

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sun Mar 14 2010 7:33:59
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    Thanks guys,
    I called 311, put the address on the registry, and am going to start the registered letters on Monday morning.

    After sitting down with my wife tonight, we have come to the conclusion that Vikane treatment would be best for us mentally and practically. However, we have no idea if it is available in Chicago, and if we can afford it.

    Cilecto - Spot on. In spite of this, the only person in my building who is taking the situation seriously is the one of the girls beneath me. The landlord shook his fist and said "Dammit! Do you realize that ___ has already begun wrapping up her stuff in plastic bags?!" Smart girl. I am going to feel bad when we move and the bloodsuckers crawl down into her domain.

    I lost my job in September, and honestly thought I was near a low point in life. Turns out, I wasn't even close. Thanks again for the support - I have been teetering on the edge , and the fact that others have gone through this and survived has kept me me from falling off so far.

    Anybody got thoughts on Vikane in Chicago?

    Thanks.

  6. Van Helsing

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sun Mar 14 2010 7:36:46
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    Oh, and nobugs ... for probably the 1000th time from someone you have helped with your hard work -- thanks. It makes a world of difference.

  7. cilecto

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sun Mar 14 2010 8:32:24
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    Van: here's a link to the forum of Chicago vs Bedbugs discussing your question.

    (Admin note: Link removed. Chicago vs. bed bugs is no longer active and their website has been taken down as of 12/1/2010).

    I'd bet your LL is not ignorant at all.

  8. Nobugsonme

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sun Mar 14 2010 8:37:21
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    Thanks, Van Helsing! Glad you found us but sorry you're here...

  9. wchicago

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sun Mar 14 2010 13:13:11
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    hi van helsing

    i'm so sorry you have to be here!!
    condolences on your sucky ignorant landlord. (though i must admit i giggled out loud when i saw you named them "doof" and "pco-ohno")

    anyway, wonderful persephone called around and found a company that will heat treat a moving van (all hail persephone!)
    it is on the "Resources for Bedbuggers in Chicago" thread, but is not in the top overview post, its several posts down

    http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/a-list-of-resources-for-bedbuggers-in-chicago

    good luck with it all!

  10. MyWorstFear

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Sun Mar 14 2010 16:56:56
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    Hi Van Helsing,
    Good to see you kept your sense of humor in the midst of the bed bug saga. You definitely came to the right place. The people here have talked many of us off the ledge. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. I wish you the best of luck in escaping via vikane and please hang around and let us know how it goes.

  11. persephone86

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Mon Mar 15 2010 11:02:05
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    Van Helsing (love the name btw.),

    I too am so sorry you have to be here! But you have come to the right place! Sounds like your LL and his "guy" are quite the pair of nincompoops. But I am glad you are keeping your sense of humor. The nicknames you gave them are perfect! And while I couldn't find Vikane in Chicago, wchicago (who's wonderful too btw) pointed you towards the info for the heat treatment guy. He was super nice and very knowledgeable on the phone. He should be able to help you treat all your things before you move. I wish you and your wife the best of luck in moving and getting rid of these icky bastards (Doof and PC-Ohno included.)

    persephone

  12. Van Helsing

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Mon Mar 15 2010 15:45:48
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    Thanks everybody - wish I didn't have to meet good people under such crap conditions. Your advice and support has been awesome.

    I am waiting to hear back on thermal treatments from the provider that was mentioned, but have had no luck with the search for Vikane (A customer service rep at one company, upon hearing the words "gas" and "moving truck," said "Um, you know you contacted a pest control company, right?" Hilarious. Pretty sure she thought I was looking to fuel up a Uhaul.)

    Quick question about thermal - Are there items that will be exempt/ruined by this treatment? I am thinking of photos, electronics, etc. Also, how high of a success rate does thermal normally have?

    Really hoping a truck treatment works out, so I can leave these creeps (including the big drunken one) behind.

    Thanks again for everything,
    Van Helsing

  13. Van Helsing

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Mon Mar 15 2010 15:58:37
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    Oh - sorry, one more question ...

    Does anyone know where to buy dry ice in the Chicago area? I am looking to make a cheap DIY monitor to catch another sample bug, since my last one was stolen by the dynamic duo. Thanks.

  14. cilecto

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Mon Mar 15 2010 19:10:17
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    google "dry ice" and your zip and something should come up. A more convenient approach is the brand new "bed bug beacon" (see, I told you solutions are co
    ing fast and furious).

    Contact bed bugs and beyond in NYC and ask who they know in Chicago. Vikane should be safest for photos and electronics. Thermal done right may be OK, done wrong (ie hasty or overdone) fatal. Other options for hard to treat items is long term bagging (time it takes all stages to die at the temp you store) or short term bagging with DDVP strips or mothballs (after carefully reading the caveats for legal and safety issues). You should be able to inspect unframed photos while packing. Remember, some of your items can be "split"; your vinyl records might warp in a packtite, but they can be scrubbed down and eggs picked off, while you packtite the sleeves.

    > and getting rid of these icky bastards (Doof and PC-Ohno included.)

    what are you suggesting, Persephone?

  15. persephone86

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Mon Mar 15 2010 20:26:49
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    cilecto - 1 hour ago  » 
    > and getting rid of these icky bastards (Doof and PC-Ohno included.)
    what are you suggesting, Persephone?

    Hmmmmm...Toss them in the thermal truck too?

  16. persephone86

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Mon Mar 15 2010 20:33:19
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    Oh, and Van Helsing, there's a listing for a Chicago dry ice supplier in the same thread wchicago linked you to. Maybe you should make a monitor for drunken landlords & friend who come and take your stuff too. Substitute dry ice with booze it sounds like and you should be all set.

  17. tiredofbedbugs

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Mon Mar 15 2010 20:43:22
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    augh! reading your post made me so mad!! i canNOT believe how crazy your LL is! Who owns the place anyway! you should get him fired! what a stooge. I never ever wished bb's upon anyone even if i hated them-- and even though i don't know your LL-- i hope only he gets bb's at his place, gets covered in hundreds of those bloodsuckers all over this face and he gets baseball sized welts with intense itching even the strongest steroid creams cannot cure. that should wake his ass up and wished he had listened to you!

    good luck with everything and all you do. the thread about bed bug resources that wchicago has posted up is awesome. pretty much everything you want to find in chicago is in there.

    that jerk.

  18. cilecto

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    Mon Mar 15 2010 21:42:15
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    The LL probably has BB in his home, too. (just speculating.) He slathers it with the nastiest looking stuff he can find at Home Depot and fires off bombs more often (who cares if it drives the bugs to the neighbors) than he has sex. He's spread some "mystery" powder some guys cousin sold him, plus special water from a river in Egypt (apologies to our Egyptian readers). To anyone who visits, he boldly declares "we don't have bugs" and to any friends who get them while visiting, "they must have brought them".

  19. MyWorstFear

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Mon Mar 15 2010 22:30:23
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    Hmm, maybe Doof has bed bugs, but because he's so boozed up, he's
    1) got a blood alcohol level of 91% so the bed bugs won't bite him, since it would be fatal to them.
    2) not aware of it or just doesn't react
    3) (nod to Cilecto) this is a "nice" place, bed bugs won't come here.

  20. stricken

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Wed Mar 17 2010 11:11:42
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    Dear Van Helsing,

    Much sympathy from east of you in the Big Bedbugged Apple! I've got Frick and Frack over here, the LL and his clueless quasi-PCO whose main qualification, aside from working at a larger pest-control company he's moonlighting from, is that he plays softball w/the LL. Sadly for them they don't even have alcohol as an excuse. However I'm sure the fact that the PCO doesn't use a mask has left him just as chemically impaired and able to spout gems like:

    "They only bite women."

    "There are no bedbugs in the living room, so I'm not going to treat it."

    "The landlord is doing you a favor by treating; bedbugs are 'brought in,' so it's not his responsibility."

    And so on.

    I could go on, but just know that you are not alone.

    --Stricken (twice)

  21. Van Helsing

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Tue Mar 30 2010 15:46:25
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    Hi everybody,
    Just wanted to check back in after a few more weeks of this constant nightmare. Thanks for all the well-wishes, laughs, advice, and commiseration.

    So, the situation has come to an absolute standstill (except for the population of bugs, which is apparently thriving, eating heartily, and enjoying my hospitality)

    Doof has no zero plans to take any steps towards extermination (except for trying to strong arm my downstairs neighbors into signing some sort of paper that says a PCO came and found no bugs in the building) I am currently in the process of trying to secure and translate into common language the deed of trust for this building (Doof's mom technically owns it), so I can find out if I am covered by the CRTO and have any rights, or if it is truly owner occupied and I am in even deeper trouble here.

    I continue to sleep on the couch as bait so that my wife can get a good night's sleep without being eaten alive. (No bugs in bedroom ... yet) However, my reaction to bites has recently changed, from very little bother to feeling like I have mosquito bites on top of the chicken pox. The stress is aggravating my eczema as well, so that's awesome

    My neighbors downstairs have joined the fight against the landlord (everyone else is blissfully in denial), but we would all be better off talking to a tree stump in a robe with a bourbon bottle duct taped to it.

    Still waiting for the city inspector to come. They give no date, and probably no notice if they have been here yet. I fear that they will come when no one is around (or just Doof = even worse) and just move on to the next place.

    I just do not know what to do, and this lifestyle is starting to wear on me. I am unemployed, already far in debt, and have a history of depression. I read about other people's nightmare situations and get jealous - I feel like my living hell has an extra dozen or so circles. I am paying good money to live here, and I can't believe that I have to live like this.

    Here are the options I have before me -

    1) Pay out of pocket for thermal of apartment, then move a few weeks later. (also probably losing deposit. $900 + $1150 right off the bat, before even adding in the many incidental costs and having to put down a deposit on a new place)
    2) Try to legally withhold rent to pay for PCO, a long process that would not cover all expenses, could land me on the losing side in court, would keep me here until July, and could be pointless considering that the odds of everyone preparing for treatment correctly is slim. Also, the odds of success are not nearly as good as thermal
    3)Lay here and wait until I run out of blood and sanity.

    Thanks for listening to me vent. More updates when (if?) they come.

    PS - Any word on those new cheaper monitors? Do they work? I would pay $50 for five nights where I could actually sleep next to my wife and not have to serve as the tossing and turning main course.

  22. sickofbugs

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Tue Mar 30 2010 20:09:59
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    Van Helsing, I truly appreciate your sense of humour, it will be your saving grace. Don't know what I would have done without my sense of humour, even though it was not conveyed through my posts here. Although eventually I did lose that great aspect of my personality; some of my children and one close friend often said that I was being too emotional/irrational and perhaps I was a "little disturbed". My sense of humour kept me going, until even that was gone.

    It's when I read your posts that makes me realize that I still have "it" in me and will refuse to let others (some of the above mentioned) denigrate me. Now that one of my children has been through this (I did not bring bedbugs to her place, they were already there and landlord self-treated, need I say more), she sympathizes with me entirely.

    I stayed in that hellhole (previous apartment) until I realized that without a concerted effort to work together from the PCO, landlords and other occupants' suites, they would never be able to obliterate these bugs. I chose to move and was very diligent in my efforts to make sure I brought no bugs with me. In the first 4 months in my new place I was still getting random bites and realized that my thick mattress pad (even though I had washed it in boiling water several times and dried it each time for 2 hours), I was still getting a bite here and there. I vacuumed daily, washed twice a week, checked morning and night and kept everything bagged. Once I threw out this mattress pad, the bites have stopped completely. Come this weekend, I will have been bite free for 60 days, but will still continue my routine probably for the rest of my life.

    I lost around $10,000 during this time, but what I lost/missed most was my sanity and my sense of humour. Sanity is slowly coming back, sense of humour will take more time. But I can still laugh when reading posts (such as yours for example), so there is hope for me.

    Bad part though is that just last week 3 units and amenity room were found to have bedbugs in my present building (far from my suite), and the same insanity as in previous building continues (just so landlords can continue to rake in their money). I was told they have a "right" to income, all on the backs of tenants (we are the ones who pay and dearly at that), but it will come back to bite them too eventually.

    sickofbugs

  23. Nobugsonme

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Tue Mar 30 2010 20:57:46
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    Re: option 1:

    1) Pay out of pocket for thermal of apartment, then move a few weeks later. (also probably losing deposit. $900 + $1150 right off the bat, before even adding in the many incidental costs and having to put down a deposit on a new place)

    Have you gotten the price from the firm persephone mentioned here on -- instead -- thermal treating your stuff in a truck en route to a new apartment?

    I know it does not render your current apt. bed bug free, and that's not ideal from an ethical standpoint, but given LL's attitude (and the fact neighbors may be infested also and he's in denial about the possibility), you might want to consider slapping him on the bedbugregistry.com and then getting the heck out of there.

  24. Van Helsing

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    Tue Mar 30 2010 21:52:43
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    sickofbugs - Yeah, I am trying to keep my sanity by laughing about it as much as possible, but I can feel my sense of humor being drained away a little more with each belly full of blood the little bastards take from me.

    nobugs - My initial plan was to thermal a moving truck and get out of this place, but after talking to the company persephone mentioned, I discovered that it would actually cost more to do the truck ($900, but then also at least two days expensive rental of a truck huge enough to leave enough space for heat to permeate all my stuff.) Also, they believe the apartment treatment would be easier and leave less chance for any survivors.

    So I planned on thermal for the apartment, which comes with some traditional treatments like dusting and sealing to prevent return from outside of my unit, and then moving a week or two later, after monitoring for any survivors.

    I hate this plan, as I am struggling economically, and there is NO WAY I should be paying to rid Doof's apartment of bedbugs. However, I am weighing this against the ongoing, mentally draining battle against this Banker's Club-soaked hatebasket, and against the possibility that the bagging/steaming/packtiting/disposal of everything I own, maybe even repeated once or twice, is enough to push me over the edge.

    Oh, and he is on the registry, and will stay there until this problem is remedied.

  25. Nobugsonme

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    Wed Mar 31 2010 0:19:50
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    Thanks for clarifying that Van Helsing.

    Option #2 does not sound great, since a landlord reluctant to treat is likely to skimp big time when forced to. So you wait until July and he hires some cowboy who sprays once.

    You're still stuck trying to debug your stuff when you move.

    Sorry you're dealing with a lousy set of choices.

  26. cilecto

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    Thu Apr 1 2010 19:01:37
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    This reminds me of a recent episode of NPR's "This American Life". Shady entrpreneurs converted old apartment houses to condos at the tail of the boom. Substandard construction. Large percentage unsold. Remaining buyers stuck with obscene maintenance costs. One vignette of a couple who finally hot the developer to send in crew (of his relatives) to check out the horrible plumbing, only to have them gleefully declare " You bought s-! You bought s-!". Reminded me of your friends "Doof" and "OCOhNo".
    http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/377/Scenes-From-a-Recession

  27. MyWorstFear

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    Thu Apr 1 2010 22:05:18
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    IS it possible to put everything you want to move with into a truck and Vikaning it instead of thermal? Would that be more affordable and faster? Then you just drive that truck to your new apartment?

  28. Van Helsing

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    Thu Apr 1 2010 22:08:03
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    Wow - every time I think this can get no more awful, there is a new wrinkle.

    Walking into my building today, I overheard Doof and my neighbor from downstairs (who I thought was cool and concerned about the problem) standing in Doof's kitchen talking smack on me for an hour.

    Some highlights ...

    - I was called "a psychopathic liar" and drug abuser by Doof about 30 times. Every incident I have had with Doof is recounted with from his warped perspective, while neighbor enthusiastically laughs and eggs him on (including his admission of racial slurs, threats of violence against me, and
    promises to ruin my future) He mentions that he has logged the times when I come home, and listens to my late night phone calls through his floor. (I guess I have a curfew, at age 34)

    - There is no bug problem. I am just trying to somehow get money out of Doof because I am having financial problems. The sample I gave to exterminator was written off. "You don't find one or even five bugs ... you find hundreds! They come in herds!" The theory is that I planted bugs in the building (but somehow still, miraculously, "There are no bugs here! He tricked you!")

    - My helpful packet I put under neighbors' doors ONE DAY before notifying Doof, in hopes of knowing the possible extent of the infestation before informing Doof, are labeled as an attempt to scare people and lose tenants for Doof.

    - Doof is going to sue me for this fraud that I am perpetrating. Either that, or shoot me, which is what he says he'd do if I came into his apartment.

    - The neighbor is incredulous that I turned down her generous (read: selfish) offer to split the cost of a dog to find out if there are bugs anywhere in the building. (I had countered that I understood her fears, but that this was Doof's expense, and that I had to save money for my own treatment since I am probably going to be stuck with the expense. I offered to get her back in any plea to Doof)

    - The other people in my building signed a letter that says PC-Ohno checked their apartments, and found no proof of bugs. Really smart, guys.

    -The neighbor is going to print my private email correspondence with her about the bug problems so that Doof can take it to his lawyer. (Emails were professional, truthful, and polite, so nothing damaging. But still ... the nerve of this person)

    All in all, for over an hour, my character and name were subject to loud attacks that echoed throughout the building. I continue to be eaten alive every night (at least 8 bites last night, and captured four bloated adult bugs and one youngster last night when I awoke at 4 am) and somehow am the villain.

    I am seriously at the point where I am going to eat my deposit and treatment costs, thermal my stuff in a van regardless of cost, and pray that every piece of sh*t in this building is up to their eyeballs in bed bugs by the end of the month.

    This was my reward for doing the right thing.

    One bright note right now - Beacon Monitor coming tomorrow, so I will be able to sleep in bed with my wife will it serves as bait on the couch.

    Thanks for listening to me vent, guys. Also, thanks for the entertaining link, Cilecto.

  29. Van Helsing

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    Thu Apr 1 2010 22:09:13
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    Myworstfear - I was told by two different companies that you are not allowed to fumigate with Vikane in Chicago, period. It was my first choice as well.

  30. bugration

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Tue Apr 6 2010 18:55:33
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    Van Helsing, I feel your pain! How terrible to have a landlord and situation like that.

    So I guess that girl living downstairs from you has tried her best to coax you to send more emails (so she can print them out for Doof) over the last few days?

    At least you're not on your own and have your wife to help you through all this. I'm sure you'll both have a happy ending soon!

  31. Van Helsing

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Tue Apr 6 2010 22:58:54
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    No, the girls haven't contacted me again. I get the feeling that they realize they messed up (and know that I overheard their awful conversation), and instead of working with me to find a solution, they tied their fate to the illogical whims of a drunk, violent racist. Either that, or they are comforting themselves with the fantasy that there are no bugs here.

    I would never wish this problem on anyone, but if they become infested, it would be a great case for karma.

    Currently waiting for my 14 day warning to Doof to expire, so that I can move on to a much-needed next step. Right now looks like either thermal here, with Doof paying against his will, or putting my stuff in a van and baking it.

    On a side note, it is now 10 PM here, and Doof is blasting soft rock hits into the hallway and down into my kitchen. Easy listening warfare - hilarious!

  32. MyWorstFear

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Wed Apr 7 2010 19:57:21
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    Van Helsing - 5 days ago  » 
    Myworstfear - I was told by two different companies that you are not allowed to fumigate with Vikane in Chicago, period. It was my first choice as well.

    Van Helsing,
    How close is the nearest place that would do Vikane? Since the truck is on wheels, you could drive it and your stuff to the nearest town/city that does Vikane, and then drive it to your new apartment. I seem to recall discussions a long while back, where a member was going to rent a truck and Vikane the contents, but was not going to inform the truck rental company in case they said no. (actually, it would have been to the truck rental's benefit if the truck got Vikaned, considering that the stuff being transported in it probably had bed bugs) Not that I'm pushing you to do anything illegal, but sometimes you just have to find the loopholes. ( in case that sounds a bit like LOST, I'm a huge fan!)

  33. bugger09

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    Posted 3 years ago
    Wed Apr 7 2010 23:21:35
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    I could be completely wrong, but isnt there some Vikane company in Wisconsin? Van Helsing, maybe you could put your stuff in a truck and drive it up there before moving?

  34. bbpsych

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    Posted 2 years ago
    Mon Sep 20 2010 23:10:10
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    VanHelsing,

    I'm so sorry you're dealing with this . . . I see the last comment was in April, so I'm hoping you're bb-free by now! I'm in Chicago too, and I'm convinced Doof and my building manager are brothers, if not identical twins. I'm just a renter in my building, but I've been the only vocal resident, so my name has gone through the wringer too. I'm not sure what you ultimately decided re: your move, but I'd love to hear how it went.


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