I had bedbugs once before in 2007, and I've seen how other companies operate, so it's not for…read morenothing when I say I'm extremely impressed with Ecology EP and Arnold the director. (N.B. I will alter this review if their work doesn't hold up, so please take comfort if this is still here and still has five stars three months from now.)
The thing is, when I woke up this morning to find a live bedbug walking across my comforter in front of my nose, I instantly went into full panic mode--not because bedbug bites are so terrible (you'll survive)--but because the PROCESS is MISERABLE.
Here was what was horrible BEFORE I found Ecology Ep:
*Landlord pretended like he'd never heard of such a thing, and only begrudgingly sent his "exterminator" who sprayed with generic chemicals around the perimeter and left me with hopping mad bedbugs. (Note to 25 year old me: Small Claims Court is your friend.)
*I was poor and as a result (or so I thought) the guy I could afford said that I had to do a lot of work on my own. Meaning:
*Bagging up everything I owned.
*Carrying everything that I could wash to the laundromat.
*Dry cleaning what I could afford to dry clean and throwing away the rest.
*Buying a new mattress cover and putting it on my infested mattress all by myself.
*Throwing out half my furniture.
*And even then he had to come back twice, probably because I didn't do everything correctly (given that I was doing it all by myself.)
Arnold put me through none of that. It was AMAZING. Here's why:
*Great price written right on the website--and LESS than what I paid in 2007. That's shocking--you'll see why in a minute--but it was also great because it meant I could call my landlords and say: "Here's what we're doing, THIS is the price, you're legally obligated to pay for it, and we're doing it tonight before the problem becomes insane. Also, it's coming out of my rent." They said, "Oh my god oh my god fine!"
*They guaranteed the work at the industry standard, also right on the website. Another thing I could tell my landlords.
*They're licensed and insured and used proper invoicing, also great for dealing with landlords.
*Ecology Ep showed up the same day I called.
*Arnold brought a small ARMY of people. Four workers, all very sweet.
*The price INCLUDED mattress covers for my bed AND my futon.
*THEY put the mattress covers on (the worst job ever.)
*THEY moved all my furniture--but I didn't have to throw anything away!
*THEY bagged up all the things that needed washing.
*THEY helped me carry all my stuff to the laundromat.
*Instead of putting me through the cost of dry cleaning, THEY brought a steam cleaner and steamed all my good clothes.
*AND they didn't just spray with Ecologically sound (but guaranteed!) chemicals, but they ALSO sealed the cracks in my floors and steamed all my books and things I probably couldn't clean on my own.
*AND they found the bedbug nest. And killed those jerks.
*AND they were extremely kind and lovely about it, from beginning to end. A real plus when you're traumatized by bedbugs.
Also, I asked Arnold to check another property while he was in the area, and he found no bedbugs. He could easily have sold me on more work, but he didn't lie, above-and-beyond compassion and professionalism I found consistent with the negative review and his response listed here. Frankly, his straightforward response to the negative review on his free service was an additional reason for me to hire him.
Arnold told me he has a lot of contracts now with a lot of large shelters, dorms, and schools, and I believe it. As a young single woman, Ecology EP's help was enormous at an unbelievable price. I strongly recommend them to others who need help.
