PLEASE HELP Bed Bug Infestation and dispute with council

steve888

the infestation was no doubt gradual and the erradiaction can take a while

here is the EXP{ERT ADVICE

Transmission from a neighbour is a lot more common than people would believe and the likelihood of you getting infested depends on how they handle the problem. In flats and apartments the risk is greater if the building does not have a sturdy party wall. A few years ago this method of transmission was widely discounted by pest professionals but is now recognised by most people who have experience of dealing with infestations. In worst case scenarios we have seen 10-20 adjoined properties infested by this method in the same street and several floors in apartment buildings and blocks of flats. If you think your neighbour has an issue with bed bugs you should check your bed and living area on a weekly basis to make sure that you detect any bed bug signs at the earliest possible stages.


http://www.bed-bugs.co.uk/bbmyths.html

steve888

Suzy_M wrote: »

I think she would be struggling to prove the bugs originated from her neighbour's house. With the numbers she is suggesting I'm sure she would have noticed them much earlier had they been from the original infestation a year and a half ago. Anyone in your aunt's house been on any foreign holidays recently, bought or been given any furniture, even soft toys etc. etc. etc. all of which may have brought the infestaton in.

What is your aunt's priority - dealing with the problem or screwing what she can out of the council? I'm sorry but the tone of her letter suggests the latter. If it is dealing with the problem I think the council's fees sound very reasonable.

thats exactly the point my aunt has been no where in the last5 years and had no furntiture or soft toys given to her - the only route hsas been next door

the tome of the letter is a reflevction of the response from the council - to get action from theym you have to talk tough - its not my style but she desperate and the freindly response go her nowhere on Friday other than not our problem luv

Browntoa

"sense of community" is overidden by the rule of law

other neighbour could sue the council for breaking their confidentiality

just because you do not like the answer does not make it wrong , if the neighbour chooses to tell you its up to them but the council have no legal obligation to tell anyone

steve888

Browntoa wrote: »

"sense of community" is overidden by the rule of law

other neighbour could sue the council for breaking their confidentiality

just because you do not like the answer does not make it wrong , if the neighbour chooses to tell you its up to them but the council have no legal obligation to tell anyone

ok then lets apply this another scenarion - lets say it was a more seriuos infestaion - lets say some damgerous pet that someone has had in

Im sure the pubilic interets is better served by preventing other problems - would adta protection stop the authorities . they do it at schooolsl whgen a child has a disesase no dtat protection stoppoing people there

I think a lot of peoole can be so blinkered and high behind data protection - - but then the soem people have the Rules is Rules mentality . The public inetrest test is there and people m need to get up to speed.....

paddy's_mum

I've had another think about this. If you haven't already sent them, I would simply tear up any further letters and drop the whole matter.

The claims are farcical. The allegations are close to libellous or do you think the neighbour who is being blamed will be happy to be named and shamed? If the first bed bug could have come in "through the window", on what basis is this the negligence of the council?

What reading or checking out of facts did your aunt do before destroying the bedlinen and mattress that she is now claiming for?

If she can't afford to pay for the treatment, how is she going to fund the thousands of pound of legal fees to take court action? It's an empty threat that just makes her look foolish.

To claim compensation for distress is laughable. If her child catches headlice, is she going to shove her out for adoption and then claim from the school, because that is the likely place she caught them?!

Finally, is your aunt going to "raise the alarm" and let the entire street know that she is now a "health risk" and a "public health hazard"? No ... why not?

Your best bet is to drop the whole thing and hope that as few people as possible realise that you have behaved like fools. The reply you demand by the 4th of February may be from the local authority's lawyers letting you know that they are issuing proceedings to prevent you from publicly labelling them as "negligent" and "subjecting" someone to a "major health hazard".

I hope it gets sorted out soon but really feel that you are going about this in totally the wrong way since it is quite likely that your letters will do little except to alienate people.