Anyone that reads the internet or watches the news knows that bed bugs are a problem throughout the United States. When they first became an issue in New York City, people often believed that an infestation was caused by a person being dirty. Through education and experience with the pests, it is fairly well understood that bed bugs can be found anyplace that people frequent as they are hitchhikers that are attracted to blood…preferably from the human kind.
When a hotel, motel, or other type of business has bed bugs, they must protect their reputation, treat the problem head on, and give customers who have encountered the pests the respect they deserve, or face the wrath of the public.
On December 21, 2012, 41WMGT reported that a family booked three motel rooms at a Motel 6 in Macon, Georgia so they could attend a family funeral. Thrilled with the $25 Christmas special that was being offered by the motel, the family had no idea that the rooms were already occupied…by creepy crawlers…not humans!
Upon check-in at the motel, the family found bed bugs and cockroaches throughout the rooms. Complaints to the motel management resulted in an offering of new rooms. According to reports, all seven of the rooms were also infested with the pests.
Frustrated with the situation and not feeling like they were receiving the results they needed, the family went out and bought over-the-counter pesticide products. Those of course did not work and only made matters worse. The family called the North Central Health District which decided to do an inspection of the motel.
Their findings resulted in the motel receiving an 86 and bed bugs and cockroaches being found. After the inspection, the motel asked the family to leave their establishment. Reports are that they did refund the night of one room and gave a partial refund of the other two rooms.
This is bad business no matter how you look at it! The motel should have had regular visits from a licensed pest control professional to avoid this bad publicity and bad customer service.