Bed bugs & lack on money

geriann

I've recently discovered I have bed bugs.

Since June or July I've been bit on pretty much every part of my body,.

I live on the disability rate of Universal Credit & own my own home. (Peterborough)

Professional bedbug killing seems to be crazily expensive.

Has anyone heard of a way of getting financial help for it?

Getting a reduced rate or even a grant might be the only way I can get this sorted.

marcia_

 Have a look on your council website they might offer advice or recommend local companies 
for example https://liverpool.gov.uk/environmental-problems/pests-and-infestation/

grumpy_codger

AFAIK, they live in a bed frame and dorn't travel far. What sort of bed is it?

Get a sprayer and 

Strip the bed frame and and spray it everywhere, including turning it on the side and upside down (you will probably need help with this). 

If it's some sort of divan bed with lots of fabric and hidden spaces, it's probably worth changing it to something more simple. It'll be cheaper than 'professionals' and you can get good free furniture from freecycle.com if you keep your eye on it. The only problem is delivery.

If the floor is floorboards, it's worth spraying it too.

GDB2222

They are very hard to eradicate, I’m afraid. You probably do need professional help. If you’re going to try to DIY then you need to be incredibly thorough and methodical. 

twopenny

Are you absolutely sure they are bedbugs? 
Have you seen them?
Do you have the bites in the formation that they make?
They don't normally attack every part of the body.

I ask because during covid lockdown I was convinced I had them because I appeared to be bitten in the way they do and I frantically hoovered, sealed, boiled etc.
What I found that I thought may be two I fixed in sellotape and I photographed them and emailed to a pest controller.
He said they weren't. (It was plant seeds)

Turned out it was stress induced, hives maybe through being in pain and isolated.
Could that be the case?

Bigphil1474

Our local council does provide some free pest control services to people on benefits - worth looking to see what they can do. As above, worth trying to catch some to photo and ask for advice.

Cisco001

Consider changing to metal frame bed and get a zip mattress protector once you get rid of the bugs.