What would you do? Stay put or move. « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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What would you do? Stay put or move.

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terrifiedtosleep

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Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 86

Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jun 14 2008 11:36:51
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Hey-
Just a quick question to pose.

I sublet from a woman and shortly after I moved in I developed bed bugs.

She isn't handling things right with the super/landlord.

We had 2 exterminators I found to come and inspect.

She then went to the super and the super said they have an exterminator for bed bugs they use for the building.

I thought this would be great because we could try our free option and then have better grounds to go to the landlord and say "You have to pay for a pco that specializes in bed bugs and he's 1400.00"

Yesterday the building's guy shows up and he has a big jug of spray and the conversation goes something like this:

Me:"Um what's that?"

Him: "you have bed bugs."

Me: "Yeah, you aren't spraying that. Our apartment isn't even prepared. That's not the right way to treat bed bugs. What kind of chemical is that?"

Him: "it kills bed bugs"

Me: "I know but, what chemical is that?"

Him: "It kills bed bugs"

Me: "What kind of chemical is that?"

Him: "I don't know"

Me: "Well aren't you going to look at my bed? Even."

And then he proceeds to my room to check out the bed and kind of throws his hands up.
He said I had them before because he found a "dead bed bug" that's probably a molted skin because everyone else that came said I got them in the past two weeks.

Afterward, I asked the lady I sublet from what we should do. She expects me to pay 700.00 of the exterminating cost because she doesn't feel the landlord should pay or will want to when there's probably a infestation in this building because I can't prove where they came from.

In all if I have to pay half the cost of the PCO and all the other actions I need to take to be free of bed bugs I'm looking at an easy 1500.00 just to see if it'll work the first time. Whe

I'm not optimistic about this because Cesar pretty much said that in her apartment they will come back because of hte condition it's in and if they have this guy with shit for brains spraying a chemical he doesn't even know in the building because our neighbors haven't educated themselves on bedbugs they will surely come back!

I feel like it would be cheaper just to move and tell her if she's not going to deal with it right, I can't stay there.

So my question is would you just get out of there, go find a nice studio apartment and have your apartment treated there instead? Or should I even give this a try (which in the long run will cost more than just moving and having the apartment treated).
Adele

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Joined: May '08
Posts: 634

Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jun 14 2008 13:28:34
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Terrified - personally I would move - it sounds like you are in a no-win situation

sounds like the loonies are running the asylum there

But like me - you have to be careful not to take the creepy crawlers along with you

unless you vikane all your stuff - it will be work for you to do this right - as others can attest to - but they will also say it can be done

Adele
terrifiedtosleep

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Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 86

Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jun 14 2008 17:46:56
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Thanks, Adele!

When I spoke to the PCO I wanted to use for treatment he said the infestation was light and what he would recommend is that I move, along with my bed bugs and then have my new apartment treated by him.

That I would stand a better chance this way.

My work is pretty unpredictable and I'm supposed to go to Florida for a few weeks on a job so there's no way I can move to a brand new apartment before then.

I think what I'm thinking of doing is basically trashing all my big furniture with the exception of a few things possibly keeping my dresser. maybe not at all.. and packing all my stuff away as if everything was going into quarintine for 18 months and putting it in my storage unit until I'm back and in the meantime crashing on couches until I find a studio. If I can even find my own apartment. I think as a freelancer this may be hard for me and I don't really have anyone that can co-sign on a new apartment for me.

The worst part is I can't afford any of this. I have a tremendous amount of debt from using my credit cards as a crutch for freelancing that I've been slowly trying to pay. By the time I move (which I can't afford) I'll probably have a quite bit more debt to pay. I don't think I can do another sublet sitaution because who in their right mind would live with someone who knowingly has bed bugs.

Does anyone else have some advice or who has gone through something like this?

Also, does any one know how much Vikane treatments cost in NYC? I basically have a room full of stuff.

Thanks!!!
Adele

senior member
Joined: May '08
Posts: 634

Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jun 14 2008 20:15:23
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Terrified - I don't know what other people would say - but I would NOT try to move with your BB - what will you do if you CAN't get rid of them in your new place?/ what will you have gained?

Vikane treatment is pricey but the most effective

But Terrified - do you live in NYC? if you do you have the laws of NYC on your side and the LL MUST pay to get rid of them

I would not trash your stuff unless you know that you can't salvage it

Adele
buggedny

newbite
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 2

Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jun 14 2008 20:36:37
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I'm in a similar situation..my LL wants me to try these sprays that are guranteed apparently to work but I don't trust it. I'm going to try and wash down my wooden bed frame, double sided carpet tape, and caulking, bagging everything, and washing clothes. My LL says she will not pay for the cost of an exterminator so I'm hoping to resolve this on my own..because I don't want to spread the problem if I move.

Anyone have suggestions? I'm also going to the doctors to make sure it's bed bugs and if it is file a complaint since my LL wont pay for the exterminator b/c she says I'm the only one and no one in the building has ever had the problem.
terrifiedtosleep

junior member
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 86

Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jun 15 2008 10:12:35
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I was advised by the reputable PCO, Cesar from Freedom, I've been using that that's the best chance for me to be rid of them.

He said basically move, then have the remainder of my stuff treated in the storage space and in the new apartment taking absolutely no furniture with me whatsoever. The infestation is very light. He couldn't find any live BBs or any eggs visible on my mattress or on any of my belongings he checked.

The problem with the LL is this.

I am not on the lease. I write my checks to the lease holder.

The leaseholder does not want to handle this properly or ask the LL to pay for the proper treatments in full and ask to have the other apts treated.

She won't even let me be around for conversations with the super and I'm the one suffering!
fightorflight

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Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 694

Posted 1 year ago
Mon Jun 16 2008 0:38:53
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> The leaseholder does not want to handle this properly or ask the LL to pay for the proper treatments in full and ask to have the other apts treated.

This may be of no help in your situation, but when I lived in NYC, I several times reported housing violations when I was *not* the leaseholder. And I know that in each case, the landlord was contacted and told to rectify the situation (which, unfortunately, they never completely did).
auntbfine

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Joined: Dec '08
Posts: 2

Posted 1 year ago
Sat Dec 6 2008 19:42:52
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does anyone know if bb's cause any serious health problems??