Bed bugs are a growing scourge in many homes and establishments around the world. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in scams from some unscrupulous companies operating in the bed bug control industry. These include bed bug treatment companies (3D companies: disinsectisation, deratting, disinfection) and canine detection companies specializing in bed bug detection.
1. Bed bug disinfestation treatment companies
Some 3D companies exploit the distress of people facing bed bug infestation by offering expensive and ineffective treatments. Here are a few warning signs:
- Promises of guaranteed results: Beware of companies that promise miraculous results without any real guarantees. The fight against bed bugs can be complex and requires several interventions to completely eliminate the infestation, at least three interventions 10 days apart. A strict protocol must be transmitted by the company to the customer, and must be respected by the customer before any intervention.
- Use of harmful or unsuitable chemicals: Some companies may encourage you to use chemicals that are harmful to your health and the environment. Make sure you choose solutions that respect the environment and human health. Also, no smoke grenades should be used. Fumigants are suitable for use against flying insects, but not crawling insects such as bed bugs. Only products sprayed onto surfaces should be used. The products used have a re-entry time to be respected, so be sure to follow the instructions given.
- Lack of certification: Always check whether the pest control and disinfection company is certified and has the necessary skills to carry out the treatment. Don’t rely on uncertified companies, which may make the problem worse rather than solve it. Like Sereni-d, companies certified and competent to treat bed bugs must have the Certibiocide label, and ideally the Certipunaise for enhanced skills and knowledge.
2. Canine bed bug detection companies
Dog detection companies often claim to offer a fast and effective solution for detecting the presence of bed bugs in homes. However, it is important to remain vigilant in the face of certain dubious practices:
- Reliability of detection dogs: Although bed bug detection dogs are often highly effective, it’s important to ensure that the company has dogs specially trained and certified for the task. Dogs must be retrained every 6 weeks to maintain their maximum detection level. They should not work for more than 5 hours a day, in 45-minute sessions interspersed with 45-minute rests. A tired dog will tend to make “false positives” in order to complete its work more quickly!
- Exaggerating results: Some bed bug control companies may exaggerate the results of detection dogs in order to entice you to subscribe to their treatment services. Be sure to ask for concrete proof of infestation before incurring additional costs. All dog detections must be proven by visual detection. Also, unless the infestation is already on a very large scale, a dog detection should last at least an hour for a 50m2 apartment. Dog detection is not a 5-minute job!
- High costs: Dog detection services can be expensive, especially if you have to pay for several visits. Be sure to compare prices and check if there are any guarantees in case of faulty results.
To find out all you need to know about how canine bed bugs detectors work, take a look at the article dedicated to the subject on the Sereni-d blog.
In conclusion, the lure of money encourages some companies to be unscrupulous, and it’s essential to remain vigilant for scams in the bed bug control sector. Find out more from trusted organizations, ask for recommendations before choosing a company to treat or detect a bed bug infestation, and compare offers. Don’t be fooled by unrealistic promises, and make sure you choose safe and effective solutions to protect your home from bed bugs. Find out more about Sereni-d’s advice on bed bug prevention and treatment.