Some concerns « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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Some concerns

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SleeplessInVan

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Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 14

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Aug 29 2009 2:04:40
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I had been planning on bagging my books but the PCO sheet my land lady delivered to me said that "Book cases, display cabinets etc do not need to be touched there are machine attachments that can treat these areas"

I phoned the PCO company listed at the bottom of the sheet and they no longer deal with this building.

Now I am not sure if I should bag the books and get a Packtite (which I was planning on buying with my tax return after this) or if I should just leave them on the shelves.

I will be having a second treatment so on the sheet to give them instructions / report things I've also asked a bunch of questions.

"Any suggestions for my books? Instructions for my chair / bed sofa? Also if you can let me know what pest control company you are with and what treatment was done. I tried phoning the one on the list / sheet to clarify some things only to find out that they do not do this building any more"

Any other questions you can think of?

Is there some form of magical treatment they might be doing that would mean not having to packtite my books?

Is my fear that I am not going to get a trained PCO and instead will have the building handy man in to try and fix it himself justified?
BugsInTO

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Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 197

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Aug 29 2009 10:04:49
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Hi Sleepless

You mention you are getting a 2nd treatment - does that mean you have already had one treatment, and now your landlady is changing PCO providers? (or going do-it-yourself.)

Talk to your landlady directly (or in writing) and tell her you have important questions. As a tenant, you are trying to cooperate and make sure you have done all the required preparation, so she should want to answer you questions. Only problem will be that she might not know the answers (which is one of the reasons you are doing your research.)

Laws differ from place to place. I suggest you call your Public Health and also find out if there is an info line for tenants from the Gov't. Find out if you are entitled to be advised of the type of chemical treatment that is being planned etc. Find out your rights and what recourse you have if they try the do-it-yourself handyman approach.

I wonder if the two different PCO companies use the same processes & chemicals and if a 1st treatment from one PCO, and a 2nd treatment from another PCO are going to be successful if they aren't compatible? Who knows?

I have read here that some PCO's would put down a residual poison and want things like books left open so that bugs would come out to feed, cross the poison and die. But, this would depend on the planned treatment method. I don't know what "Machine Attachments" actually means on the sheet from the original PCO.

Keep notes of dates & times, and keep copies of letters to/from your landlady.

Good luck.
SleeplessInVan

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Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 14

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Aug 29 2009 18:26:27
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It's one PCO but they do at least two sprayings for bed bugs. I cannot get a hold of my land lady to find out what company is doing it.

The instructions I have are conflicting. One page says all shelves must be emptied out, the next says not to touch book shelves or display cabinets.

I think I will bag the books just in case and leave a note for the PCO letting them know that it wasn't clear, I've bagged them and I will be running them through a packtite once it comes.

She certainly doesn't seem to be following our by-law in vancouver. Some digging tells me I need at least 72 hours notice of a treatment (I had), I should get told in writing who is doing the treatment (I did not have since the company listed no longer does our building), what they were going to do (I did not have and cannot get), and the contact numbers for poison control / pesticide services (I did not have).

Also apparently the bi-law only allows for a trained professional certified to spray pesticides to treat units (I cannot check).

I guess I will bag the books for now. Let the PCO know I am going to use the Packtite on them.